Service Engineer Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 I have seen it on some of the posts in this part of the forum !!..DIY ALarm Installers..!! Even the forum name is slightly derogatory. Why use the exclamation marks?Sorry it wasn't meant to be derogatory, I usually think of the exclamation marks as meaning "Caution". It's just a way of highlighting the fact that this is a DIY section of the site to our Trade members. Sometimes they forget where they are posting, and get carried away with the information they give.What I am looking for here is some help and support while I carry out this DIY project.And you will get it, we are only limited as to the advice we can give by how far certain manufacturers are willing to let us go.Most on here will be reluctant to specify much in the way of what we class as DIY equipment, but you wont get much better than the Texecom stuff which although available to the DIY'er is also used by many installers. ........................................................ Dave Partridge (Romec Service Engineer)
Deltaseven Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 The first system I installed was as a DIYer (Fitted 2x DSC PC2580 panels, and linked them together). I look back at that installation and CRINGE! It was awful (I didn't realise it at the time though.....). I can understand that you are looking forward to the challenge of installing your own system, and wish you luck! With your background, you should be able to manage the connections and programming without too much trouble, but I would suggest that you look very carefully at your cable runs before you start - most DIYers find it very difficult to hide the cables as well as a pro. Also, be aware of your insurance company's requirements before you install - if they have told you to have a system fitted, or if they give you a discount, they usually insist that it is installed / maintained by an approved installer. Good luck, D7
dpaengineer Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 Are there any features that you specifically require on the premier that are provided by the veritas R8 / R8+ /excel. I ask this because the premier is an absolute swine to configure (without pc connection to panel and the right software), where as the veritas range are alot easier for a first time DIY'er and they offer a fair ramge of features. I'm not saying your thick or anything but i think (though i may be wrong) every pro who has installed a premier had a bit of chew to start off with. Also which premier was you thinking of going for? Trade Member
Guest ALSEC Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 If they couldn't supply and install what I specified I would find that out in my initial call to them and wouldn't invite them to tender. Oh no how will we all survive!!! I didn't realise that you were tendering out the extensive security system in your house consisting of a premier with 5 passives and a smoke head!! Sorry mate but who really gives a toss about the fact you can write computer programs - where is the relevance?? You are missing the point, you either install the system yourself or get a firm in to do it all for you - you don't call Dell and ask them to bosch together a PC from all the **** you've got lying around in the garage do you??
Guest Dobbin Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 Alsec Was that really called for? A bit childish and doesn't deserve a reply! This is suposed to be a professional forum. DAVE - have a word with him mate! Everyone else. Is this the sort of person that you Want in your trade or on this forum? He is an exact example of what I was talking about earlier! Perfect! It is people like him that will give your trade a bad name! Well thanks for the excellent advice. It is exactly what I need. I will take it into account and decide what it is I want and what kit I am going to use. I can then get your opinion (excluding Alsec) on what I intend to do. Dobbin
Service Engineer Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 Alsec, there was no need for that reply. You had a bad day or something..? Sorry mate but who really gives a toss about the fact you can write computer programs - where is the relevance??I think Dobbin was just trying to get accross the fact he's not stupid.If they couldn't supply and install what I specified I would find that out in my initial call to them and wouldn't invite them to tender.I personally don't see the problem with Dobbin wanting to specify what equipment he has installed, and then finding an installer willing to fit it, or supply & fit for him.If Dobbin sourced and supplied the equipment then as far as the Installer is concerned, only his installation of that equipment would be guaranteed and any callouts not found to be the fault of the installer would then be chargeable. If the equipment were to go faulty it would be upto Dobbin to source/supply the replacement and get it fitted, or he'd get his installer to supply & fit a new one. If Dobbin does his homework it wont be too hard specifying good equipment. ........................................................ Dave Partridge (Romec Service Engineer)
Zak Posted July 30, 2005 Posted July 30, 2005 If Dobbin sourced and supplied the equipment then as far as the Installer is concerned, only his installation of that equipment would be guaranteed and any callouts not found to be the fault of the installer would then be chargeable. If the equipment were to go faulty it would be upto Dobbin to source/supply the replacement and get it fitted, or he'd get his installer to supply & fit a new one. 62929[/snapback] That's fine in principal and I agree, to a point. But from experience, when you get involved fitting equipment that you did not supply, when things go wrong the client never wants to pay call-outs etc. It can end in tears and something we steer away from. I think, to be perfectly honest, when people phone up and tell us what equipment they want (hello, I want a Scantronic xxx with NovaGard 2T, and Pyronix detectors) it would annoy me immensely - whether rightly or wrongly, mainly because they have absolutely no basis to specify any particular brand, and don't really understand what they are talking about. As Lurch said, professional installers fit professional equipment that they install day in day out, and know it well. I can understand frustration when someone calls up telling us how to do our job. Regarding Dobbin, there is absolutely no issue with him going to an electrical trade counter, buying his own gear, and installing it himself as a project. Why not? There is no reason why it should be a problem. Yes, in an ideal world alarms would only be installed by regulated alarm companies, but do you always call in an IT company to set up a small computer network? I think Pete's post sums it up well. Zak Tankel - Managing Director - Security First (UK) - www.securityfirst.uk.com Disclaimer: Any comments or opinions expressed by me are my own as a member of the public and not of my employer or Company.
breff Posted July 31, 2005 Posted July 31, 2005 I agree mostly with you Zak, except a home network wont keep half the neighbourhood up all night because it keeps false alarming. The opinions I express are mine and are usually correct! (Except when I'm wrong)(which I'm not)
Guest Dobbin Posted July 31, 2005 Posted July 31, 2005 Everyone Thanks for your support and help. I am looking forward to the project it will be reassuring to know there are so many experienced people out there who I can call on for help if I get stuck! A bit more background. The house I will be fitting the system in is a three bedroom semi which I am going to get renovated and also getting a major wrap around extension on the ground floor. I will probably be getting the electrical system re-wired and I also intend to flood wire cat5e and hi-quality co-axial the whole house so I can install multi-media throughout every room. I was, therefore, going to get the alarm cable installed on first fix along with the cat5e and co-ax. This way there shouldn
Nova-Security Posted July 31, 2005 Posted July 31, 2005 2. There seems to be a general assumption that everyone that works in your trade is honest and above board. Is there any vetting carried out before someone can become a security alarm installer and buy the alarm systems that are only supplied to trade? 62941[/snapback] 10 years vetting,taken very serious by the inspectorates. www.nova-security.co.uk www.nsiapproved.co.uk No PMs please unless i know you or you are using this board with your proper name.
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