Adding a Risco IR beam detector to a Scantronic 9448+

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Hi all,
Please bear with me on this, it's my first post and I've limited knowledge on alarm systems.
I self installed a 9948+ some years ago, it has door/window contacts and PIRs feeding into it - all works well and has a autodialler too.
The street lighting in my estate has been changed to LED and it's left all the houses in the shadows. I want to improve my security particularly when the alarm isn't set; It dawned on me that the alarm has a chime function that can be set to ding anytime. So, is a IR beam detector (or 2) the way to go to 'protect' my drive and back garden during unset alarm condition (with a chime) and what happens when the alarm is full/part set ? Does triggering the IR beam then set of a full alarm (not really what I want). For example, at night I have a part set program that leaves out the hall PIR only. Ideally I'd like that to continue but the IR beams to just chime if activated.
Any pointers will be gladly accepted!!
James
 
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You must not have any device external to the protected property that could active the outside sounder, I am not familiar with the panel you have but if it allows a zone to be programmed on chime alone but NOT extended the alarm when its armed then ok.
However I feel uneasy with your proposal it seems " heath robinson " to me and not good practice.
At one time you could purchase outdoor auto lighting systems that also activated internal audio warnings on a small control panel inside the property which also gave a visual indication of which unit had detected motion.
Sadly I cannot remember the main brand names now but perhaps someone else can.
 
Sadly I cannot remember the main brand names now but perhaps someone else can.
GJD

The 9448+ is a bit limited on this front. You can't program a zone as "technical" or "security". You only have full set and part set so you can't program a level without the beam zone. :(

You could take up sparkymarka's suggestion or replace your 9448 with something like a 9651. Alternatively, you could use the beams to trigger a completely separate "bing-bong" using a transistorised relay. Beams, psu, relay and doorbell?
 
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You must not have any device external to the protected property that could active the outside sounder, I am not familiar with the panel you have but if it allows a zone to be programmed on chime alone but NOT extended the alarm when its armed then ok.
Is that your personal opinion or some building regulation?
 
You must not have any device external to the protected property that could active the outside sounder, I am not familiar with the panel you have but if it allows a zone to be programmed on chime alone but NOT extended the alarm when its armed then ok.
Is that your personal opinion or some building regulation?

I was part owner with my late husband of an approved security company employing 15 engineers before we retired and sold the business.
Any detection device that could active an intruder alarm must be inside the protected building otherwise false alarms will occur, this is not good for neighbours Police or the credibility of the alarm system.
 
so no specific regulation then, and common sense can be applied to the individual situation rather than a 'must not'

Do IR beams cause that many false alarms, I considered them myself as I thought they we're pretty reliable?
 
Fit the beam and connect to a Buzzer in your bedroom and another in a suitable position downstairs.

Also fit an isolation switch somewhere convenient, in case you need to be outside working, parking extra cars (visitors etc), there will be times when it will be necessary to turn it off.

Don't connect to your alarm system, postman, deliveries, Witnesses etc. will give false alarm activations. The buzzers at night are all that is necessary, works well have had that arrangement at 3 different houses over 30yrs

Keep it all away from the normal alarm, as it isn't one, and there will be no problems. Fit its own power supply, 12vDC. then full isolation will be complete.

Takex is a very good make, perhaps a PR-11B would do the job as it will only be a short distance, another advantage of this detector is that it is only powered at one end, the other is a special type of reflector.


Ps. I would say that 95% of people who answer questions here are all experienced security (alarms & more) engineers of many years standing, so we know what we are talking about.

Sometimes in answers we will leave out a piece of information or possibly get a bit 'short' with people, nothing really meant it is just frustrating sometimes with saying the same thing or answering the same question over and over.........

There is a Search facility top right of every page.


This comment is NOT directed to anyone in particular.
 
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so no specific regulation then, and common sense can be applied to the individual situation rather than a 'must not'

Do IR beams cause that many false alarms, I considered them myself as I thought they we're pretty reliable?

You are missing the point , if you have detection outdoors of any kind you will suffer false alarms ie from postmen etc as Europlex points out.
 
By the time you have purchased , power supply , buzzer , switch..... And so on , 9448+ .... Chime on zones for normally day to day operations , set it at night if you want waking up via internal speaker
 
so no specific regulation then, and common sense can be applied to the individual situation rather than a 'must not'

Do IR beams cause that many false alarms, I considered them myself as I thought they we're pretty reliable?

You are missing the point , if you have detection outdoors of any kind you will suffer false alarms ie from postmen etc as Europlex points out.
like I said it depends on the situation. I was considering an IR beam to protect the rear windows of my house that are above a ground floor extension, there is a large vulnerable window for the bathroom. I cant use a PIR in there due to the humidity so considered an IR beam running across the house at high level (so the postman wont trigger it). Due to the costs involved I settled for vibration detection on the windows frame sealed the best I could with silicone with the hope it will last in the humidity and steam the bathroom generates, 18 months later it's still seems to be ok.

Using your 15 years experience, in my example would you still recommend the IR beam not to be used outside?
 
Of course you can use beams outdoors, that's what they're for! The point that satnav10000 is trying to make is that they would be on the outside of the "final exit" and, therefore, outside the "protected area". There are rules about putting stuff outside the protected area but I think that it's alright for beams. Naturally, you shouldn't set them when you leave the premises, only use them when you're at home. This means that they need to be in the part set but not in the full set - a bit tricky with the 9448. You will need to omit them every time you leave.

Mount them around waist height so that cats/dogs/foxes/deer can walk underneath and set the trigger time quite long (say, 300mS) so that flying birds won't trigger them either. This will cover you for walking people and vehicles but not people sprinting (but it's difficult to sprint with a 42" TV under your arm!).

I still think that the bing-bong is your best option, staying away from your alarm.
 
so no specific regulation then, and common sense can be applied to the individual situation rather than a 'must not'....................
So you are not going to switch the alarm on when you are on holiday then?
 
so no specific regulation then, and common sense can be applied to the individual situation rather than a 'must not'....................
So you are not going to switch the alarm on when you are on holiday then?
If you read my post above I considered an IR beam to protect a vulnerable window on the first floor above a ground floor extension, as the beam would have been fixed to the house wall about 12 foot from the ground then there would be no reason not to switch the alarm on whilst on holiday?

I do have remote access via a Comwifi (when working :rolleyes:) and also a 3rd party GSM dialler so I'd have no qualms about setting it whilst away. Like I said though I settled for shock protection and so far so good.
 

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