Texecom Pet PIR Problem

[mjdyson]

First time poster, many time visitor! Thanks for all those posts of previous people 

I’m having a few issues with false alarms with my Texecom Elite 48 panel and the Premier Elite Compact PW Petwise PIRs. I’d be really grateful is someone could lend a hand. It’s a recent self-install with the assistance of my old man who used to install many an alarm system back in his prime. Things have moved along a little, but the concepts are somewhat the same. We have a small, young cat who’s inquisitive and moves about a fair bit, so the pet PIRs were a necessity.

Everything has been set up and running well for a few weeks, but occasionally we’ve been suffering with some false alarms. I’ve hooked up the panel to a PC and made sure everything is set – everything looks ok. The PIRs have been walk tested and seem to be operating as you’d expect. Each PIR is run along its own cable direct to the panel, then wired in to its own zone. There are no window/door sensors installed yet.

Given the location of joists and removable floor boards, we installed the sensors in the best place we could find – here I expect some critique as most of the sensors have a window and/or radiator in view. The sensors are at least 8 to 10 feet from the windows and they are pointing into the centre of the rooms.

Could it be more likely that my sensors are being triggered by quick changes in temperature from either a warming up outside (through the glass), or by the radiator? I seem to have killed off some of the problems with setting guard+double knock to the zones, but I realise this decreases the effectiveness of detection.

Would a different type of pet sensor help reduce the number of false alarms? For example, the Texecom Prestige PW (mirrored) OR would it be better to just mask up the areas that the radiator/window lives? Would a window blind solve this whilst we’re asleep / out of the house? Are there any microwave detectors that are pet friendly and would be more reliable?

Alternatively, could it be something intermittent with my wiring? Where would people start?


Thanks,

MJ

 

[Sally2000]

You could start by looking at the alarm log to see which PIR was triggered and when. Are they all at the same time, that coincides with the heating coming on or the sun on the window? Was the cat always in the room at the time?

 

[mjdyson]

It difficult to say where the cat was at which time, or when the sun arrived but timings could be connected.

Last night's false alarms were at 22:30, 23:50 and 05:30. The heating should be coming on at 05:30, but for the other times i'm at a loss. The window in this zone doesnt receive direct sunlight nor does it seem to have caused a problem before - perhaps a door obstructed the view of the radiator until last night?

Would a different sensor be more accepting than a masking sticker?

 

[Sally2000]

Was it the same PIR every time? Can you restrict the cat from that room/s for a night or two?

 

[mjdyson]

Last night was the same PIR 3 times. Difficult to restrict from this area as there isnt a door upstairs or to her litter tray. Creatures of habit they say.

On previous potential weather incidents it was the the kitchen (early morning around sunrise) and in the living room (around late afternoon).

I could cover the sensors with some paper whilst we're in the house and run it to check for wiring faults. I guess I'm just trying to understand if anyone could recommend a config change that could help alleviate the radiator/window/cat woes


Thanks!

 

[Sally2000]

Speaking as an engineer (but NOT specialising in alarms) I don't think it's good practice to try solving a problem until you've identified its source.
The only way you can be certain that it's the cat triggering them is to isolate the cat - that is your 'config change'.

Yes you could try masking the PIRs but what would that actually prove? Only whether that they are/are not being triggered, but not by what is actually doing it.

 

[sparkymarka]

Could be bad siting of the pet detector ! To be honest I think the rx40 pt is a better unit !

 

[EightyTwo]

And the Bosch Blueline is better still (but a lot more expensive)...

I don't know the Texecom unit but most pet friendly detectors rely on the pet staying on the ground. This is a problem with cats and a real problem with kittens! If they jump up on the furniture or climb up the curtains, they will set them off.

Probably, your best bet is to keep the cat in the kitchen and omit this zone.

 

[mjdyson]

Thanks everyone. Last night I kept the kitchen door open and masked the radiator - problem did not return. Since the sensor sees the radiator side on, it may be poor siting - like you say. I think I'll run another cable to a different location and see if it improves things.

The Bosch Blueline and RX40 both look like great sensors and not much more expensive than what we bought anyway. The value of hindsight! They're still cheaper than the Texecom Prestige PW Mirrored PIR, so worth a test. Its worth having something reliable than something that frustrates the neighbours!

Will these sensors be more reliable at the change in temperature through a window in view?

 

[sparkymarka]

It needs to be in a free area,no tables or units where a cat can get within a 1 m of the detector , not looking at stairs ...I've had 10 trouble free years with the rx40pt no need for double knock !

 

[jcb208]

I have 3 cats and use the bosch tritech ,they haven't managed to trigger one yet after 9 months

 

[EightyTwo]

Don't worry too much about windows - unless the sun can shine straight into the detector (or is reflected off a surface), PIRs dont't see well through glass.

Both detectors have temperature compensation circuitry.

 

[mjdyson]

Thanks everyone who commented on this. I bought a few of the Bosch Tri-Tech pet friendly ones and fitted them at the weekend. I'll report back with any findings - hopefully it's successful.

So, I've now got 5 Texecom Premier Elite Compact PWs with a few pre-drilled holes in the back plates. Anybody interested in taking them off my hands for a small fee?

As an aside, they seem like very well thought out unit. The connection terminals on the wall plate that mates with the electronics is a great idea. It made installation a doddle and being sealed, should keep the spiders out! Great recommendation, thanks!

 

[mjdyson]

Thanks everyone who commented on this. I bought a few of the Bosch Tri-Tech pet friendly ones and fitted them at the weekend. I'll report back with any findings - hopefully it's successful.

All has been very quiet this past couple of weeks. I can confirm that these sensors have done the trick! Thanks again all.