Disabling My Intruder Alarm

[MoonMan2]

I have an intruder alarm installed in my house that is powered by the lighting circuit. It was installed around 25 years ago.

This is the consumer unit:

This is the alarm unit, installed above the consumer unit:

There are several of these motion sensors throughout my home:

This is the alarm control panel at the main entrance to house:

This is the external apparatus:

I'd like to disable the alarm but without removing any of the components; just to stop electricity running through the alarm system altogether. I would expect this to stop these motion sensors flashing red each time I walk past them.

Of course I would like the lights to still work!

 

[Mottie]

What is it you want - to turn the red sensor lights off but still to work? What lights? I don’t understand.

Is your code 1227 or something like that?

 

[Stuart981]

You can just disable it but the external bell box battery will need disabling as well. Not sure what you mean by the lights.

 

[pcaouolte]

They mean that it is on the lighting circuit but they would still like the house lights to work.

Is there a Fused Connection Unit next to the alarm? If so you will need to remove the fuse. The box in your second photo will have a battery inside it which will need to be disconnected. The sounder on the wall will also have a battery inside it which also needs to be disconnected.

Expect this to create noise. Don't do it at 6 o'clock on a Sunday morning. The outside sounder may sound for 20 minutes or possibly until it's internal battery goes flat when you start taking covers off to remove batteries.

If you go up a ladder to the sounder, wear ear defenders and expect it to make a lot of noise when you open it, don't get a surprise and fall off the ladder. The strobe circuit in that outside sounder operates at high voltage and can cause a nasty shock.

 

[Mottie]

I would imagine after 25 years, any backup batteries would be well dead. Just disconnect the alarm power wire from the lighting circuit at the breaker. If, by any small chance there is some life left in a 25 year old backup battery, it won’t run for long.

 

[MoonMan2]

What is it you want - to turn the red sensor lights off but still to work? What lights? I don’t understand.

Is your code 1227 or something like that?

I don't want the alarm to work at all! I want all electricty to it STOPPED.

When I say 'lights' I mean that the alarm is powered by the houses' normal (downstairs) lighting circuit. If I switch the 'downstairs lights' MCB in the consumer unit to off position, ALL power to alarm is gone (but I have no lights for downstairs!)

Yes, my code is a 4 digit number.

You can just disable it but the external bell box battery will need disabling as well. Not sure what you mean by the lights.

You know how to disable it? Please tell me how!

So the external unit (loudspeaker [bell]) contains a battery? What would happen to the battery and the bell box itself if no power is recieved by the external bell box?

 

[pcaouolte]

You know how to disable it? Please tell me how!

See my post above.

What would happen to the battery and the bell box itself if no power is recieved by the external bell box?

When the bell box receives no power from the alarm system the bell should start to sound using its internal battery. If the internal battery is dead it might do nothing, if the battery is still good it could keep going for an hour or two.

 

[Mottie]

You know how to disable it? Please tell me how!

I would imagine after 25 years, any backup batteries would be well dead. Just disconnect the alarm power wire from the lighting circuit at the breaker. If, by any small chance there is some life left in a 25 year old backup battery, it won’t run for long.

 

[pcaouolte]

Just disconnect the alarm power wire from the lighting circuit at the breaker.

Do you really want the OP, with unknown electrical expertise, disconnecting wires inside that CU? Just looking at the breakers on the CU gives an indication of what the the wiring inside it is likely to look like and we have no idea if an isolator is fitted before the CU to allow the work to be done safely.

 

[sparkymarka]

Open up the alarm box disconnect the battery and pull the fuse with a bit of luck
The external bell battery is flat ….if it rings wait 20mins if not ….ladder out

 

[sparkymarka]

This fuse

 

[MoonMan2]

Open up the alarm box disconnect the battery and pull the fuse with a bit of luck
The external bell battery is flat ….if it rings wait 20mins if not ….ladder out

Hmmm, I don't have a ladder that will reach that high.

What if I try just switching off my MCB downstairs lights at CU (hence disabling power to alarm and external bell box) and WAIT?

If the house alarm doesn't go off then that would mean the battery in bell box is truly dead.

Is this a good idea?

 

[sparkymarka]

No because there’s a battery inside the control panel , you would have to remove that first …

 

[MoonMan2]

No because there’s a battery inside the control panel , you would have to remove that first …

How about:

1) Remove/disconnect battery from inside alarm control panel (above CU).
2) Switch off MCB for alarm (downstairs lights).
3) WAIT

If no alarm goes off, then battery inside bell box is dead.

 

[mattylad]

When you do this, make it clear by having you or someone else outside under the alarm box that you are testing it.
That way a concerned neighbour may not call the police and say an alarm has gone off.
Also leave a sticky note inside with the code on.