I have a Wickes wireless alarm system with 4 pir detectors, 2 door alarms and a key fob. I have been having problems with the alarm going off now for a few months and have changed all the batteries in the Pir 's but it is still going off for no reason. It's not always the same zone that triggers either! Any help, ideas appreciated please!
Wicked wireless alarm setting off randomly! Help
- Thread starter Sutty99
- Start date
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Maybe the wireless signal from the sensors are, when they reach the control panel, close to the minimum signal strength that the panel can receive.
Then something affects the signal strength and the panel can no longer "hear" one of it's sensor sending the "I am still here" message so the panel assumes the sensor is either missing or has failed and in this situation the panel has to raise an alarm.
Then something affects the signal strength and the panel can no longer "hear" one of it's sensor sending the "I am still here" message so the panel assumes the sensor is either missing or has failed and in this situation the panel has to raise an alarm.
Thanks for your reply but why would it just suddenly start doing this as we have had the alarm for about 7 years and haven't moved the sensors or anything?! The battery is now out of the sensor and it's still setting the alarm off, without any battery, ow can this be possible? We have cleaned the pir's, changed batteries several times and just don't know what to do next. If it is as you have suggested how do we fix this ? Any help appreciated.
Many things can alter the signal strength, components in the sensor getting old is one reason. Parking a car close to the wall the sensor in fitted to ( car outside, sensor inside ) can create radio echos at the control panel that alter the signal enough for the panel to not recognise it.
With out the battery the sensor cannot send the " I am still here " message to the control panel. So the panel thinks the sensor is missing or defective and raises an alarm.
On a wired system the panel knows the sensor is there by way of the wires.
In a wireless system ( a good one ) the sensors have to send a message at regular set time intervals to tell the control panel they are still there. Some sensors will change the message to say they are working but their battery is getting low.
In a poor system this feature may not be there or the time between messages is very long
A sensor sends an alarm message as soon as it senses motion.
The panel expects to "hear" at least one of these " I am here" messages from all its sensors within the set time period. Even in a good system this period can be as long as a hour. So it can be an hour before the panel realises a sensor is missing or dead. Sending them more often to reduce the time it takes for the panel to know a sensor is missing will reduce battery life.
In poor system ( but with long battery life ) the period maybe a day before the control panel knows a sensor is missing. Not much use if there is an intruder at that time.
With out the battery the sensor cannot send the " I am still here " message to the control panel. So the panel thinks the sensor is missing or defective and raises an alarm.
On a wired system the panel knows the sensor is there by way of the wires.
In a wireless system ( a good one ) the sensors have to send a message at regular set time intervals to tell the control panel they are still there. Some sensors will change the message to say they are working but their battery is getting low.
In a poor system this feature may not be there or the time between messages is very long
A sensor sends an alarm message as soon as it senses motion.
The panel expects to "hear" at least one of these " I am here" messages from all its sensors within the set time period. Even in a good system this period can be as long as a hour. So it can be an hour before the panel realises a sensor is missing or dead. Sending them more often to reduce the time it takes for the panel to know a sensor is missing will reduce battery life.
In poor system ( but with long battery life ) the period maybe a day before the control panel knows a sensor is missing. Not much use if there is an intruder at that time.
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A
Alarm
Typical, bet your neighnours are happy.
A
Alarm
Awaits the Yale predators...................
They are busy.......changing batteries.
A
Alarm
ROFL.
Nice one.
Nice one.
remember they could be looking / listening for the system set beep outside !!!!!
Oasis
Oasis
Y
yaleguy3
If your alarm is 7 yrs old it looks like the battery INSIDE your panel has failed.
Is the control unit plugged in or battery operated?
If it plugs in via a transformer you probably need to change the internal rechargeable pack.
Is the control unit plugged in or battery operated?
If it plugs in via a transformer you probably need to change the internal rechargeable pack.
Havent been here for ages, nice to see the same old trolling going on 
I guess a system that probably cost a couple of hundred pounds and worked perfectly for 7 years and now likely needs a small adjustment is a total waste of time
Is it true that wired systems NEVER go wrong?
Oh yeah they do and you get charged how much to fix it?
Gotta laugh
I guess a system that probably cost a couple of hundred pounds and worked perfectly for 7 years and now likely needs a small adjustment is a total waste of time
Is it true that wired systems NEVER go wrong?
Oh yeah they do and you get charged how much to fix it?
Gotta laugh
How do you know it is "a small adjustment" ? It might be that a near by neighbour has installed some wireless based equipment that uses the same radio frequency and a data format that the alarm system accepts as alarm indications from one of it's sensors. In which case it is not going to be fixed by a "small adjustment"
No that is not true, they do sometimes. like any electronic equipment, go wrong.
Probably a significant sum but in return in 99% of repairs the fault is clearly identified and properly repaired.
With all wireless systems, but especially those using a general licence for the use of the radio frequency, there are many variables affecting the equipment about which the owner of the equipment can do nothing.
You may consider this trolling. But wouldn't you want to be fully informed about the shortcomings of something you were buying to protect you, your loved ones and the contents of your home ?. Salesmen sell by listing the good points of the product. Only under pressure will they mention the shortcomings and even then that is assuming they are aware of the short comings of the equipment they are selling.
How do you know it is "a small adjustment" ?
How do you know it isn't a small adjustment? Maybe the OP should try YG3's advice before making all sorts of speculations about sudden interference from neighbours
often its the simple things that go wrong isn't it
what I consider trolling is the changing batteries remark, which is a cheap and ignorant shot. How many devices use batteries that they rely on?
Cars, mobile phones both are used for critical situations perhaps we should have wired ones!
As you say wired alarms are also subject to failure perhaps the user isn't aware of that and thinks he is protected when he isn't what then same scenario isn't it?
As for shortcomings ALL systems have them wired included, very expensive to install, expensive to repair, often linked to costly management contracts,not infallible.On top of that never yet seen any verifiable proof that they stop more burglaries than wireless or even dummy boxes with flashing lights
I think the constant sarcasm whenever someone mentions a wireless system is that the installers of wired ones see ANOTHER lost sale, so they have to denigrate them to feel superior.
Installing a wireless system is pretty easy and doesn't require half your house getting stripped out and redecorated. It is CONSIDERABLY cheaper and likely for the average person more than adequate for the job
How do you know it isn't a small adjustment? Maybe the OP should try YG3's advice before making all sorts of speculations about sudden interference from neighbours
often its the simple things that go wrong isn't it
what I consider trolling is the changing batteries remark, which is a cheap and ignorant shot. How many devices use batteries that they rely on?
Cars, mobile phones both are used for critical situations perhaps we should have wired ones!
As you say wired alarms are also subject to failure perhaps the user isn't aware of that and thinks he is protected when he isn't what then same scenario isn't it?
As for shortcomings ALL systems have them wired included, very expensive to install, expensive to repair, often linked to costly management contracts,not infallible.On top of that never yet seen any verifiable proof that they stop more burglaries than wireless or even dummy boxes with flashing lights
I think the constant sarcasm whenever someone mentions a wireless system is that the installers of wired ones see ANOTHER lost sale, so they have to denigrate them to feel superior.
Installing a wireless system is pretty easy and doesn't require half your house getting stripped out and redecorated. It is CONSIDERABLY cheaper and likely for the average person more than adequate for the job
My comments are not meant as sarcastic and neither do I have any financial interest in promoting the sale of wired alarm systems.
My opinions and concerns are based on my professional experience of designing equipment that used radio as a communication link in safety critical and, in some cases life critical, applications.
That is undeniably true and is the major selling point for wireless systems.
That is an interesting point. The sensors for a wireless system have to have the extra components for the wireless links. They should therefore be MORE expensive if they are built to the same standard of sensing function as wired sensors. Of course one saves the cost of a reel of wire but that has to be offset by battery replacement costs.
Only likely, if one wants security likely is not a word to use in the description of its suitability and relaibility.
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