Sorry To Ask What Might Be A Dumb Question

[sixwheeledbeast]

With ours you can use both types of Biscuit, so it may be an option

However you can't mix biscuits, also think about how long stocks of biscuits going to be available?

With an iD system biscuits can fail.

If you go down the keeping an iD system going, your only holding off the inevitable rewire IMO.

[PSE]

As with any system, Components can and do fail from time to time, Thats electronics for you.

I have early Karizma's, Ultimate's and Karizma Plus systems out there on maintenance.

These have been serviced regular and maintained every year as required.

From memory, I think we have had probably a handfull of iD Biscuits go down on us in the last 15 years.

As for mixing old and new, I know its not recomended, but it works as I have 3 systems like this, all commercial.

Its one of them faults at the time, needs must because we have not got the matching type on the van as a spare

So I just pop in the opposite old or new in to get it back up. These have been working fine for years and still measure

perfect with the old and trusty iD Tester that I got from ACT 14 years ago, The iD line current and biscuit mA remain constantly stable

Never to this day have they false alarmed or developed a line fault, short or the dreaded NVM CHECKSUM FAULT

One of the main changes from the old to new style was the biscuits consumption of 2.5mA and 100Mtr max cable run

Over the years I've found that people forget to add the 10nF capacitor at the midway point of each iD line, this does help the iD line.

Regards

[sixwheeledbeast]

From memory, I think we have had probably a handfull of iD Biscuits go down on us in the last 15 years.

As for mixing old and new, I know its not recomended, but it works as I have 3 systems like this, all commercial.

All of are iD systems are takeovers, Karizma's and Ultimate's

Out of them site's if there's a fault it's 80% likely the biscuit's died.

Mixing biscuits may not be recommended and you may get away with it on a Karizma.

Had experience of sites upgraded to an iD Expander and had random zone tamper's if biscuits were mixed.

Having to open every sensor to find the mixed one's is a nightmare.

[PSE]

I agree, It can be a real nightmare.

One of the routine things I do on a service, is drop the iD Line from the panel and add it to the iD Tester

The tester has an adjustable gain on it, you can play about with the Line, to see any suspect or rogue biscuits that may fall over.

I'm sure that soon enough these will need replacing, but for now, they are going strong... or have I spoke to soon.."Phone call @3am" lmao.

You are correct aswell, it is the totally random tampers that appear, mainly rogue ones that dissapear faster than they appeared.

I must be really lucky to have had no problems, I'll leave it at that, I dont want to speak too soon..

[MrHappy]

iD tester is a bit rare?

[Gfear]

Thank you to all of you for the replies. I think I've certainly learnt something here and I appreciate the help. Carried on searching yesterday and came across a Risco Nova 'add-on' to allow the addition of wireless contacts that communicate with the Nova which is then hard wired into the panel. Does anyone recommend or have experience of this piece of kit? Is this what antinode is suggesting in the previous post?

Also, some of the 'ID biscuits' have been removed so adding a panel to use ID might be a pain and, because I know very little compared to you kind people, I felt that something more simple in terms of the panel would be better for me. I understand the issue with the latching issue as well but may have to live with that.

One more question if I'm not pushing my luck too far here! The inertia/shock sensors are all the same unit and all have been left unwired now, giving me no idea how to connect them. They are made by Sensor Technologies UK Ltd and have the letters 'SXV' in large text on the printed circuit board followed by the charcters 'CTRK 0420' in smaller text. The voltage part I guess is straightforward, with positive to the '+' terminal and negative to the '-' terminal but there are three other terminals in the same block (T1, T2 and L) and another terminal with A1 and A2. Lastly, there is a 4 pole DIP switch. Number 2 is currently up and numbers 1, 3 and 4 are down. Can anyone help further?

Thanks again. I'm very grateful.

Gary

I think from everything I've read from you guys with experience that I am happy to go the 'no ID, no biscuit' route but can anyone help on the questions above regarding the Risco Nova and the shock sensor? Any help would be gratefully received as I'm off work this week and needed to get it finished (if possible !!) by Sunday evening.

Thanks in advance.

Gary

[antinode]

A1 and A2 will be the alarm contacts, T1 and T2 will be the tamper contacts. Can't help you with the DIP settings as it's not a model I've ever come across...

The Nova receiver is OK for adding one or two extra detectors to a wired system, but you are limited to four devices. You can pair up transmitters to share zones, but it starts getting more complicated than it's worth. I would definitely look at a hybrid system. That will do all you need out of the box with the minimum faffing about.

[Gfear]

Many thanks antinode. I'll leave the DIP switch as it is but really appreciate the help on the terminals. I'll let you know how I get on.

Because I need to only add back and front door to the wireless side of things so that they are on a separate exit/entry zone, would the Nova suffice as there will be no need to add any further wireless devices in the future?

[sixwheeledbeast]

Never used a Nova but normally use Visonic MCR-308 with MCT-320 contacts to add wireless contacts to existing wired systems.

Although if your replacing the panel I would think about getting a hybrid one as mentioned.

[Alarm Protection]

The Risco nova receiver is ok but from what you gave said I would fit a hybrid system.