Another burglar alarm problem

This afternoon i attempted to replace 3 of my 5 PIR's for my alarm system.

I used the engineer code to put the system into tamper to prevent the alarm going off an replaced the first PIR.

At this stage i came out of tamper / engineer and did a few tests on the new PIR, seeing that the LED came on at the right time, making it chime etc and everything was fine.

I then installed 2 more in the same way but much to my regret now i did not test them seperately after installation.

When i thought the job was done i went to my main control panel (Accenta/Optima G3) and tried to reset.

When i pressed the keys they now only made a VERY quiet beep, i tried to reset the system, i get a beep beep as if it is setting but much quieter and slower than normal and the alarm does not set - the beep just continues.

I have triggered the internal alarm by opening the main box and this too is very quiet (when the tv was on you couldnt hear it)

The alarm has gone back into day mode but none of the PIR LED's are coming on.

I have gone back to check each of the PIR's and they look to be wired in the correct way (like the first one that worked ok).

I also disconnected the battery and turned of the mains hoping it may reset itself.

I am guessing that maybe i have shorted / blown a fuse in the main unit, or i may need to disconnect the PIR wiring from the main unit and attach it again? can anyone reccomend the best way to diagnose the fault?

ideally you need a multimeter, it sounds like you have blown a fuse ( i also previously mentioned the pirs you have are a waste of money didn't i )

i am really strating to wish i had not bothered with this whole project, i had to at least change one PIR as when i took the cover off to look at it last week i broke the cover!

From what i have read so far the most likely way to blow the fuse is the wires accidently touching - does this sound right to you?

Are the fuses in the control box standard household fuses or specialist kit - i could try replacing them if i cant get hold of a multimeter, having said that a lad i go to the gym with is a sparky so if i really need one he might help.

it does sound like how you blew the fuse.
they are usually 20mm glass fuses, probably 1A (but look to see) available form maplin or any good electrical wholesaler (but i favour maplin)

Test panel fuses with a MM, as breeze suggests.

If they are intact, the best way to solve the problem would be to remove all wiring from the PCB, reinstate factory links (indicated on the PCB with a line between terminals), and clear the NVM.

Then reconnect things one by one as suggested in the installation manual, having first ensured the devices at the other end of the circuit cables are correctly wired.

If you do not follow the above, I respectfully suggest an alarm engineer!

Is your pane one of those that has terminals that are shared between different zones?

Maybe this is where you have gone wrong.

Thanks for the advice so far, i think if the problem extends beyond fuses i may call in a pro - just looking at the amount of wires in the main box tells me i could do more harm than good messing with it.

As regards the fuse change, the manual tells me i must power down the box to do this.

Obviously i need to disconnect the 12V battery and then turn off the mains power to the house (there is no switch on my consumer unit dedicated to the alarm so i will turn the lot off)

Once i do this the external alarm will go off, is there any way to stop this or do i just need to work quickly before my neighbours get too upset?

answer to your question is no, because if there was, it would defeat the whole idea of a self conatined sounder.

It is also unlikely you need to down power the system i would just change the fuse for the same as which you allready have.

some do not like to be powered up with a load connected (which is what you will be doing if you down power to change a fuse, hence reply above

one fuse was all that was needed, it was the one that was marked "internal speaker".

Thank you.

I wont be making the dog jump about to test the 'pet' sensors until the weekend but at least i can get my front and back doors covered until then.

thing is how will you make the dog jump? that means you will have to be in the room?

breezer said:

thing is how will you make the dog jump? that means you will have to be in the room?

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i bought some special invisible paint off ebay for myself , honestly we dont have doors between the downstairs rooms it is a bit open plan so i will be hiding round corners throwing his ball, he is only a westy and they have short legs so the only real jumping he can do is onto the chair which i will have to look at.

I will have to put certain areas on chime and leave him alone to run around and see what happens - i wont be setting the alarm fully and trusting the new sensors until i have done a lot of testing.

fair comment,

that invisible paint, how will you know when it arrives?

sawm24 said:

Obviously i need to disconnect the 12V battery and then turn off the mains power to the house (there is no switch on my consumer unit dedicated to the alarm so i will turn the lot off)

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Your panel should be protected by a 2/3A fuse.................