Upgrade or renew existing system?

[aaron1234]

Good morning. I currently have an Optima Compact G4 alarm system; the system still works great, but the two external bell boxes require replacement (covers have crumbled, etc.).

My question is, do I replace the existing system with something new (preferably hard-wired) or keep the current system and replace the external bell boxes?

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

Personally, I would just change the sounders if the panel is OK and suits your needs. I like Texecom sounders but others might have different opinions

 

[aaron1234]

Personally, I would just change the sounders if the panel is OK and suits your needs. I like Texecom sounders but others might have different opinions

thank you! something like this? https://electricalwholesalers4u.com/products/texecom-fcc-0843-premier-elite-odyssey-3e-external-sounder-strobe-unit-cover-white-blue?variant=44703722045686&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Shopify Custom GMC Feed&utm_content=Texecom FCC-0843 Premier Elite Odyssey 3E External Sounder, Strobe Unit & Cover White-Blue&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwveK4BhD4ARIsAKy6pMItsOa0t1idCm2xY2ux7udgfP1Hzsbv8z6ZNU5GP9Y3Ps03Amikv5gaAvCkEALw_wcB

also, Can I replace the keypad with one that has a tag, or is that not available on this panel?

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

That's what I have on mine but the Ody 1 or Ody 2 are available for the usual vertical or horizontal boxes. The Ody 3E is quite loud on my house but this may be due to the ocation of other houses around me. If you need to have two sounders then the second would need to be SCB as the power supply will not cope with two sounders.

The panel you have does not have tag capability

 

[aaron1234]

That's what I have on mine but the Ody 1 or Ody 2 are available for the usual vertical or horizontal boxes. The Ody 3E is quite loud on my house but this may be due to the ocation of other houses around me. If you need to have two sounders then the second would need to be SCB as the power supply will not cope with two sounders.

The panel you have does not have tag capability

Thank you! I assume the Odyssey 3E has SCB mode? Ah, yes, it does, so one sounder will need to be on SCB mode and the other on SAB?

 

[sparkymarka]

As per PM fit a backlit bellbox …..either pyronix or texecom ….

 

[aaron1234]

thank you. Can you send the link that you recommend, pls?

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

One thought I had ... do you actually need two live sounders? Is one a dummy?

 

[aaron1234]

One thought I had ... do you actually need two live sounders? Is one a dummy?

I currently have two live sounders, one at the front and the other at the back.

 

[aaron1234]

As per PM fit a backlit bellbox …..either pyronix or texecom ….

Texecom Odyssey X-BE External Sounder with LED Backlight (WDC-0001)

Texecom Odyssey X-BE External Sounder with LED Backlight (WDC-0001) The Texecom Odyssey X-BE Sounder with Integral LED Backlight brings innovation and a modern twist to external sounders, providing unparalleled performance and extensive features to benefi

www.adk-security.com

this will do? I would however need to buy a cover separately.

 

[securespark]

When I started fitting alarms, most domestic panels didn't have enough grunt to run two live external sounders (or the other way to look at it was that external sounders were power-greedy, taking up the vast majority of the power output of the panel).
If you wanted two, you had to fit an aux PSU.

 

[aaron1234]

When I started fitting alarms, most domestic panels didn't have enough grunt to run two live external sounders (or the other way to look at it was that external sounders were power-greedy, taking up the vast majority of the power output of the panel).
If you wanted two, you had to fit an aux PSU.

ah interesting, is this easy to fit?

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

Texecom Odyssey X-BE External Sounder with LED Backlight (WDC-0001)

Texecom Odyssey X-BE External Sounder with LED Backlight (WDC-0001) The Texecom Odyssey X-BE Sounder with Integral LED Backlight brings innovation and a modern twist to external sounders, providing unparalleled performance and extensive features to benefi

www.adk-security.com

this will do? I would however need to buy a cover separately.

Looks right - you can get complete sounders but the price is usually about the same as backplate + cover

 

[aaron1234]

Looks right - you can get complete sounders but the price is usually about the same as backplate + cover

Thank you, not sure what to do in terms of the power now lol

 

[securespark]

ah interesting, is this easy to fit?

AFAIR.
But it was 1988!