Diagram of current alarm set up...possible PIR extension?

nv_london · 20 Jan 2011

Dear all,

Please see attached diagram of the lower floor plan of my house.

//www.diynot.com/network/nv_london/albums/

When we moved in the alarm (Abacus 8R) was already in place and set up. All wires/cables are hidden behind walls.

The keypad is near the front door which has a contact.
The control panel is underneath the stairs.
There’s a PIR sensor in the hallway, one in the living room and one in the kitchen (there’s also one upstairs in the landing).

I was hoping to connect another sensor and set it up in the conservatory?!

Is this possible?
Is this difficult?
Where would I start?
Would I need to extend a cable from the control box or from one of the sensors?

Is there a good website with explanations on how to undertake such projects and explaining the set up of alarm systems?

Thanks for any help.

[//www.diynot.com/network/nv_london/albums/]

Alarm · 20 Jan 2011

Its possible. And run a cable from the closest other detector.
You would lose the tamper circuits but this would show as open alarm circuits id cable/pir damaged attacked.
Not the best way but the easiest for you.
Use a spare zone for the new one, or if its full up series it with the closest.
Again not perfect but it works.

The above assumes 4 or 6 core cable in place, if 8 core its going to be easy and give max protection for tampering. Not likely but has to be addressed.

Then a bit of programming if a new zone used. you have the engineers code?

nv_london · 20 Jan 2011

stupid questions coming up...

1. how do I know which cable (4, 6 or

core I have?

2. do i literally take the closest PIR, 'open t up' and run a new cable (which cable) to the new PIR?

3. what sort of PIR do I need?

I don't have an engineers code as we moved into our house and this was all already in place, with no manuals anywhere to be found. How do I go about getting the code?

Alarm · 20 Jan 2011

Your going to struggle without codes.

What is the panel?
Before you start anything you have to be able to "have control of the system".

nv_london · 20 Jan 2011

it's a DA system Abacus 8R

Alarm · 20 Jan 2011

Sorry you did mention this earlier.
My error.

TBH I have not worked on this panel for years. It is that old.
I would suggest you buy something a bit newer.
That is because it can be supported
correctly.
I`m even struggling to think about the programming of this.
It has been that long.
If you insist I can "bone up" on it, but to be fair its replacement time.

Again apologies for not reading your post accuratley in the first place.

nv_london · 20 Jan 2011

no need to apologise, you're the one helping me out.

I don't really feel like updating/replacing as the system is ok, I really just want to add an extra PIR sensor and was hoping there was a relatively easy way of doing this.

Alarm · 20 Jan 2011

Piggy back it onto the nearest as mentioned.
Use the tamper pair as the new alarm pair.
Make the joints in the PIR you coming off.
This will work.

Not the best but will give detection.

nv_london · 20 Jan 2011

Hi Alarm thanks for your time and comments.

Thing is, you really need to explain things to me.

What type of cable do I need to piggy back one PIR to the next?

Do I literally open up the existing PIR and then run the aforementioned cable to the next one?

What sort of PIR do I need?

What's the 'tamper pair' / 'alarm pair' you're referring to?

Sorry, but this is all completely new to me.

Thanks.

Europlex · 21 Jan 2011

nv_london said:
stupid questions coming up...

No such thing, ....... if you don't know how are you supposed to learn?

I don't have an engineers code as we moved into our house and this was all already in place, with no manuals anywhere to be found. How do I go about getting the code?

You are going to have great difficulty, if not now, in the future, with not having the Engineer Code. It's not possible to 'find' it.

It is possible to default the codes on this panel, although for someone who knows so little about alarm systems I think the learning process with all its ins & outs might cause even more problems.

I'm not trying to be defeatist here, just practical.

Pause for thought?

nv_london · 21 Jan 2011

Hi Europlex,

thanks for your comments.

On a seperate but related note, can I still change the bell box without the engineer's code? i.e. by powering down the wholes system? If so, I'll do that first, as the box doesn't work.

Then, once thats done, I'll seriously think about replacing the system itself.

Seeing as though all the cables are hidden away and plastered over, could I reuse the cables running from the control box to the PIRs and just replace the control box and keypad? If so, which system do you recommend?

Alarm · 21 Jan 2011

Yes indeed.

As for a new panel, its up to you on what to spend.
You can get a Texecom Veritas kit for £139.
Menvier (Cooper) for £150.00 ish panel only.

Both will what you want.

http://www.securitywarehouse.co.uk/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=923

nv_london · 21 Jan 2011

Oh blo*dy hell, I should have waited and bought a complete system rather than just the sounder, which I've now already purchased!

Seeing as though I now don't need a complete system and already have the PIRs, sounder and cables in place, what do you think of (
see link) with regards to control box and keypad?

http://www.securitywarehouse.co.uk/...=product_info&cPath=36_102_41&products_id=340

Thanks again!

Alarm · 21 Jan 2011

Yeah thats the Veritas.

nv_london · 21 Jan 2011

Thanks Alarm and Europlex!

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Diagram of current alarm set up...possible PIR extension?

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