Motions and power problems.

What panel are you dealing with? It seems to me you'll want to separate the motions, and the easiest way to replace them with addressable units (without re-wiring).

If you cannot change the coustomers mind then you can either walk away or try make it work in it's present configuration. adding a power supply can help with the voltage drops but it is hard to change a coustomers mind when all he understands is that it worked and not why it isn't now.

I agree with Graham. You should change out the units to two wire addressable devices and double up on the quad to avoid the problem with the voltage drop. You can also pull another wire from the existing control to the last device in the loop to allow the addressable devices two communication paths. Paradox has an excellent system.

Aside from any power problems, what is the maximum recommended mounting height for the motions you are using? 20 feet is too high for many ceiling mount motion detectors.

Doug L

Just install a good power supply - buy a fire alarm supply if necessary - thats at least 2.5 amps instead of that .5 amp one you got now. Then everything will work fine again and use a large 12 v standby battery i.e.

Changes to the temperature inside the warehouse can cause problems and reduce the sensitivity of the IR sensors, if this system was installed in the winter it may well have worked OK then, if the temperature inside the warehouse is now close to body heat then it may cause you problems, I'd also check the mounting height of the sensors.

Doug L

Why not start with just the power supply mods? Add a second power supply as you have said. Split the motions into two groups. Then watch it for a coup0le of weeks to determine if more radical changes are needed. This may be enough to solve the problem.

Also, do the obvious. Check the backup batteries. If they are marginal and the system goes into a battery load test you could see a few detectors opening up at the far end. This depends on how your particular system does its test. Some systems automatically disengage AC during the test. Others don't.

It's possible that the customer knows the sensors are trouble prone. Some customers lie about pre-existing problems in hopes that you'll fix it without charging them. If you're certain these sensors are a problem, explain that the may have just recently have shown up but that the improper wiring and insufficient power supply set him up for the problem.

Best case: He decides to listen to your advice. You make things better and the customer is yours forever.

Worst case: He insists there's nothing wrong and walks away. OK, you lose a customer who would likely have been a source of future headaches. Either way you win. Best of luck with it.

You may have a bad connection on the power + or - somewhere on the run. It is not unusual to have wires get moisture in the splices and corrode which will cause a large power drop. I would start by checking all the connections at the motion detectors, you may even measure the voltage at each one to figure out where the drop is the largest.

I only suggest this because your customer says this setup has worked in the past. 240ma in standby is not too large of load on the power supply. Even if all the motions trip at once you are still under the power supplies rating.

James

Replace the entire system with a Loxxon. It's an excellent system. Bob Campbell (aka Doctor X) is the North American Distributor, and he offers an ASA Participant discount.

S. Smith wrote:

"Just plain stupid." I think that about covers it. Some locksmith installed a piece of s*it, and now the owner doesn't want to spend any more money on the job. And they want you to fix it, preferably for free.

If you tell me that in addition to the power problems, all ten motions are on one zone, then "just plain stupid" doesn't begin to cover the situation. You didn't exactly explain the problem: false alarms? poor coverage? But I think you know where to start.

Fix the power first, so you have 12VDC at each detector. Maybe the units you have now will work on six volts, but most motions won't. Unless you fix the power situation, your equipment selection is very limited.

Second, zone it out, if it isn't already.

Third, when the customer bitches about how it used to work just fine, ask him if he wants his alarm fixed or not. He's not the alarm expert. You are (I hope). If he doesn't want to follow your advice, let him fix his own alarm.

This sounds like a really bad application for motions. Birds, cats, etc., could be causing false alarms, if that's the problem, and fixing the power and zoning it out won't solve that.

Good luck..

Nah, this kind of takeover nightmare fairly screams...."run like hell"....

PS: I sold my Loxxon distributorship to Bob Lalonde. He wants them as boat anchors...:))

RHC