home Fix label Security Systems label_important Home Alarm Systems category Optima

Wires cut to sensors - rejoined but sensors still dead?

A carpet fitter cut through all the wires to the three sensors for my Optima XM alarm. We rejoined the wires, but when I arm it, an audio signal and red lights show Zones 2/3/4 not active. The sensors do not show activity light when they are passed. A programme check shows an attack report, which I cleared and reset - but still no joy.

TomUK, December 2010

home Fix label Security Systems label_important Home Alarm Systems category Optimadone

wot,has someone asked you to buy em a beer acorn????:-)

gts, January 2011

Aaw shucks, I'm all embarrassed :-)

acorn, January 2011

great tom uk,we all glad to be of service,happy new year to you and yours,

gts, January 2011

GTS/ACORN/NICK - Take a bow guys.
Went to Maplin's today - bought 10 pack of 1.6 amp fuses for £1.99 - disconnected alarm from power and battery - inserted fuse - switched back on - alarm working prefectly, all for the cost of a 10p fuse!
Only job left is to solder wire twists tomorrow.
Thanks a million from a very happy punter!

TomUK, January 2011

Kind words there Nick and appreciated.
There are a couple of other forums doing similar and again for free.
Pop into thesecurityinstaller.co.uk and have a look.
Once you have 5 posts and can prove your trade the florum opens up even more with access to all sorts of manuals and other good stuff.
A few muppets there but hey, they get everywhere :D

Alarm, December 2010

Glad you came back, wondered if you would.

Maplin for the fuse, DON'T use a fuse of a different value, it's what it is for a reason (get spares, just in case)

Solder as you say, no problem.

It's good to find someone who listens to advise and is willing to take it, it's a pleasure (from all of us) to do business) thank you.

ps
Tom, we'll make an alarm engineer out of you yet :-)

acorn, December 2010

Just when I was celebrating you have me worried again!
Took panel off and guess what - left hand fuse on PCB blown. Just coming on to thank you again and ask where best to source a replacement fuse and I find the worrying info about joining wires!
They are on a wooden floor against the skirting - just twisted at present and insulation taped. Would it be enough to solder over the twists?
Replacing cables would be a nightmare because they enter the house at landing level and then go under the floor down to sensors in the lounge, diner and kitchen ceiling. Don't really fancy ripping new carpet up to replace cables completely!

TomUK, December 2010

By the way Guy's, have a wonderful evening tommorow and all the best for the new year, And as far as i can tell guy's we are the only engineers in the UK offering constructive advice to the public, and for free,
Keep up the good work all, with 100 years plus experience between us,

Nick, December 2010

Oh Acorn i am totally with you on this one, Carpet fitter should have insurance, its not the owners problem. A quick fix wont work, solder to make it air tight, even better just replace the cable, other wise as Acorn says the cable will Oxidise and your end up with a floating resistance and false alarms.

Nick, December 2010

Ah, there is a right & wrong way to rejoin the wires, if you did not solder I would suggest as they are under the carpet that they have just been twist joined.

In time they will oxidise and give you problems, might be next month if they are on a concrete floor or in x yrs time if on a wooden floor, but trust me you will have problems.

The correct way would be to fully replace the cables between the controls & the detectors, this of course is not very practical so SOLDER & wrap.

Get the company in & make sure they solder.

acorn, December 2010

and we both thank you for giving info,its a pity a lot of people dont give any info,and drive us nuts.

gts, December 2010

and thank you for your reply mate,we just try on here to save people dosh,the engineers on here have over a hundred years between us,(god do i feel old )in the alarm game

gts, December 2010

OK guys! Just trying to provide all the information I could. First time on site - not sure of expertise on here, which is why I quoted the manual.
Already been quoted around £70 by local firm (by e-mail) to rectify fault and if this is the way I go, you can be sure the carpet company will be getting a copy of the invoice.
However, if it's just a case of changing a fuse I'll have a go. Had panel off in the past to replace battery, so no probs there.
Thanks again for your replies!

TomUK, December 2010

no offence ment tom uk,you are talking to two very experience engineers,we know what the manual says

gts, December 2010

and i do hope that you are paying attention acorn,
what the manual says :-) happy new year to you both

gts, December 2010

dont we know it acorn,

gts, December 2010

a blown fuse is a blown fuse,take acorns advice mate.,

gts, December 2010

By the way, you're not the first this has happened to, he's done it before & will do it again.

acorn, December 2010

As the problem was caused by a carpet fitter, who should have been more careful, I strongly suggest you get a local alarm company to come in, replace the fuse/s & give a quick service & pass the bill on to the carpet fitter/company, their mistake, their bill/insurance

acorn, December 2010

Thanks gts. Can you be more specific about which fuse. According to manual I downloaded there are two. One is for strobe/bell (1.6 amp - 13v). The other prevents excessive battery drain (1.6 amp). Both these are described as mounted on the PCB. However, it then states that, if an integral fused mains connector has been fitted to the control panel, this should also contain a 1.6 amp fuse. Is this the one you mean, or if this has blown wouldn't the panel be completely dead?

TomUK, December 2010

open the panel replace the blown fuse,be careful there are mains voltage present,after you replace fuse,close panel,press reset

gts, December 2010

the fuses in the panel are blown

gts, December 2010

link Click here to see other fixes for Optima XM.