jj71 Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 Looking for advice on disabling our current alarm and replacing then replacing it (north London). We've moved into a house with an old Castle Euro Meridian G2-16 (grade 3 with MSX card fitted) installed by Banhams. It had a separate phone line for remote access, but that got disconnected when the previous owners moved out, which caused an error code on the alarm (and means we can't use the alarm at all now). Banhams won't give us a reset code, and say it needs an engineer visit to reset it (for £200+). A few times now the internal alarm/sounder (but not the exterior alarm) went off for 15 minutes at random, the keypad is not accepting the fobs or user code we had. I replaced the battery inside and that seemed to fix it the problem for the time being but who knows. So first off we just want to disable the thing we have completely so the alarm doesn't go off. If I could do that myself that would be great, but happy to pay someone. Any advice on this? Secondly I want to replace the unit with something more up to date, but I want to have full access to reset the thing myself. I guess this means I want the installer code. Banhams said they won't do that (which I get), but I don't want to be on the hook for £200 a pop for a reset or a £25/month contract. I'd love to have something that works with my home automation setup (I have a pretty broad home automation setup so could probably hook into most things...). In terms of security, I'm not after Fort Nox cyber security stuff, I'm just looking for something to keep the scallies out. We have wired PIRs and wireless door/window sensors (there's an Inovonics wireless extender next the main unit). I'd like to reuse these if possible. Are there any installers who covers north London who could do this kind of install and give me the installer code too? Cheers, Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 If you want the system replaced professionally then you don't need to do anything with the existing system. They are not designed to be easily disabled. If the system design is fine then wiring and detection could probably be re-used. The installers code is not for the user mainly due to liability no installer with any sense would do this, for this reason it also doesn't conform to standards. Issue with integration is what the system can control, if your HA was compromised would they be able to disable the alarm. Most have there own app now if that's your thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj71 Posted February 27, 2023 Author Share Posted February 27, 2023 Appreciate the reply. Maybe I don't need the installer code, but I want to be able to reset an error without having to pay the installer £200 or a monthly subscription. Maybe some kind of admin code? Like I said, I'm not worried about high cyber security or someone compromising my HA, it's much less likely that will happen compared to some kid climbing the garden wall and heaving a brick through the window or forcing the patio doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 I would argue it's as likely if not more likely to happen. Internet stuff has 24/7 uptime and can be accessed from anywhere in the world with minimal interaction. A kid throwing brick would need to choose your house out of all the other houses in the village/town/city. Point being security is all about layers against risk, if you have a backdoor in the layers what's the point in paying for the outer layers... Someone maybe able/willing to takeover your system and make it audible only clearing the errors and allowing user reset but if you need to replace it just do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJames Posted February 27, 2023 Share Posted February 27, 2023 The cheapest best option: You may well find a company that are willing to default and re program the alarm for you, Banhams have quoted you a non-contract callout charge ( we charge the same) £25 pcm for maint is a bit steep our annual fee starts at £90.00 pa. If you want something you can look after yourself with no service then there is plenty of DIY tat on Amazon. As SWB decommissioning the Meridian is not the easiest of tasks if you dont know what your doing, you would need a ladder to get to the bell, and ideally to have a good understanding of electronics the stobe can give you a shock if you are not careful. You have a working alarm system installed by a pro company, so most likely a proper system that will work as its supposed to if the worst should happen (assuming you have set it) in your shoes I would work with what you have, so phone around some smaller co's (I recommend you use an accredited company NSI or SSIAB) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj71 Posted March 2, 2023 Author Share Posted March 2, 2023 On 27/02/2023 at 14:29, PeterJames said: The cheapest best option: You may well find a company that are willing to default and re program the alarm for you, Banhams have quoted you a non-contract callout charge ( we charge the same) £25 pcm for maint is a bit steep our annual fee starts at £90.00 pa. If you want something you can look after yourself with no service then there is plenty of DIY tat on Amazon. As SWB decommissioning the Meridian is not the easiest of tasks if you dont know what your doing, you would need a ladder to get to the bell, and ideally to have a good understanding of electronics the stobe can give you a shock if you are not careful. You have a working alarm system installed by a pro company, so most likely a proper system that will work as its supposed to if the worst should happen (assuming you have set it) in your shoes I would work with what you have, so phone around some smaller co's (I recommend you use an accredited company NSI or SSIAB) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj71 Posted March 2, 2023 Author Share Posted March 2, 2023 Thanks for the advice. I guess my frustration is that I (probably) have a working system, but I just can't access it, and that I need a contract or call-out fee to reset it now and in the future (I'm assuming here that it does work of course). I was wondering if there's a way to avoid the on-going cost for a working system. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixwheeledbeast Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 If it was sold with a working alarm system then take it up with estate agents. Something that should be checked when moving IMO. No-one is going to come out and make it audible only for free and regulations require it to be programmed like that for signalling. A working system will always need maintenance. Some people find someone to throw whatever junk in, annoy the neighbours when it doesn't work and bin it when it breaks. Many just don't realise it needs maintenance until its unreliable and the electronics are now burnt out. Shop around, I would say what you have been quoted for maintenance is over double what I'd expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al-yeti Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 16 hours ago, jj71 said: Thanks for the advice. I guess my frustration is that I (probably) have a working system, but I just can't access it, and that I need a contract or call-out fee to reset it now and in the future (I'm assuming here that it does work of course). I was wondering if there's a way to avoid the on-going cost for a working system. Cheers. Dude Seems you basically wouldn't buy an alarm altogether as you don't pay? Local engineer, even if you paid him £200, will service it give you codes and then won't maintain it in future unless you pay whatever he charges for call outs and servicing or do some your self And that will be cheaper than you installing new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterJames Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 18 hours ago, jj71 said: Thanks for the advice. I guess my frustration is that I (probably) have a working system, but I just can't access it, and that I need a contract or call-out fee to reset it now and in the future (I'm assuming here that it does work of course). I was wondering if there's a way to avoid the on-going cost for a working system. Cheers. I get it, you purchased a house with a burglar alarm and thats what you expected to get. Instead you got a house with a faulty burglar alarm, I feel your pain I just purchased a house with solar water and electric and a few weeks in the solar water stopped working. Thats the way the cookie crumbles I supposed, you pays your money and you takes your chances. Im fairly handy and no engineering codes are required to fix it. I will be paying someone else to fix it though, I understand my limitations and I know that I can earn more money doing what I do, than I can save trying to fix it myself. Plus not fixing it properly will work out far more expensive. So when did you buy the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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