How to get DSC alarm system to communicate with my PC? (hacks/mods ?)

Dec 14, 2005 29 Replies

New building we bought had a 4010 panel in the telephone room and some small expansion panel in a second floor closet.

Total number of sensors is:

(6) motion sensors (5 are IR, 1 is IR/Microwave combo unit) (2) entry/exit doors (2) seldom used/emergency doors (2) heat sensors (2) horns (2) keypads

First thing we did was check the internet for instructions on how to reset the 4010 to it's factory master and installer codes. We did that, and downloaded pages and pages of manuals and work-sheets for the thing, and then thought this was crazy. We found a spare 1550 unit (with keypad) sitting in a storage room, and we ripped out our own 1550 from our old building before we left.

So I ripped out the 4010 and the expansion panel and re-wired everything:

Zone 1: Main door Zone 2: Secondary door Zone 3: 3 motion sensors wired in series Zone 4: 3 motion sensors wired in series Zone 5: 2 seldom used/emerg exit doors wired in series Zone 6: not used (might hook one of the heat sensors to it)

Replaced the two 1410 keypads with the two 1550 ones. Hooked up only

1 horn. ->Didn't have to run any new wire Like trading in a Cadillac for a Chevette

Practically speaking - not really.

The 1410 was over-kill (for us, for this building) although I suspect that a "professional" alarm installer would not agree.

It's been my experience that installers seem to insist that every sensor be connected to it's own separate zone. The bigger the building, the more zones, the deeper the pockets of the customer, the bigger the panel, the more $$$ the installer makes.

Practically speaking - not really. Fewer sensors per zone = more information at the central station, faster troubleshooting of future problems, and an overall net savings for the customer. js

There is a terminal on the board that goes low on arming and the high when disarmed. You can use it to trigger a relay to indicate the arming status to a Home Automation Controller. It's called the PGM terminal and you want to program it to "07" to do this. It's in the installation manual which you can d/l here if you need it:

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From:Security Guy snipped-for-privacy@Guy.com

Have fun troubleshooting multiple pirs on one zone.

Remember, I only monitor 1 installation.

Not dozens, or hundreds, or more.

How many of you guys have to chase down a faulty pir on a daily or weekly basis?

How often do you think I'm gonna have problems with my 6 (six, only six, 2 sets of 3 wired in series) given the fact that they were already mounted, wired and adjusted by someone else?

Only once.

Then ........ after two or three days/weeks/or months of trial and error, trouble shooting with indefinite results, trying to find out which unit is falsing, you'll get the point and change it. But .......on second thought, if you can't understand the reason for doing it ahead of time ...... maybe you wont change it then either. Because ...... after all, what are the chances of it ever happening again ........ Right?

Well I never have to chase that kind of problem down, because I always put only 1 pir on a zone...same for gbs.

six, 2 sets of 3 wired in series) given the fact that they were | > already mounted, wired and adjusted by someone else? | | Only once. | | Then ........ after two or three days/weeks/or months of trial and | error, trouble shooting with indefinite results, trying to find out | which unit is falsing, you'll get the point and change it. But | .......on second thought, if you can't understand the reason for doing | it ahead of time ...... maybe you wont change it then either. Because | ...... after all, what are the chances of it ever happening again | ........ Right? |

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