bell box usually flashes red and green, now just a constant red. done a system test, zones and internal alarm all work ok. but strobe and external bell do not work. changed relevent fuse to no avail. any ideas please. alarm is a challenger sl8.

chris, November 2012

A* find a SSIAB approved firm local to your area, don't use someone from your local rag who only uses mobile no.

e manno, November 2012

Thanks for help, I will not be tackling problem myself just wanted an heads up so I did not get my arse slapped by a cowboy/rip off merchant. So on the plus side you will not be hearing about me dead on my next door neighbours patio, plus if technician tells me it's a problem as mentioned by yourselves I will go with that advice.

Chris, November 2012

Ah that's all good matey,

Thanx :)

e manno, November 2012

NVM`s in new stuff retains programming for 25 yrs or so unless spiked.

Alarm, November 2012

I just want folk to be safe and realise the potential hazards they face, when attempting these type of repairs that's all,sorry Chris if I've waffled on a bit.

The guys not complain about me going on anymore lol,

What ever you decide be safe!!!.

e manno, November 2012

Usual story " man found dead on neighbours patio"

Turned out he was fitting new outside sounder and for what ever reason fell of the ladders and ended up on next door neighbours patio.

By the way the sounder had no lid on,it was singing and the strobe was running.

My advice too all is get an expert in.

e manno, November 2012

How can you give a positive answer to this without telling op to get the multimeter out and do some checks,

Experience is screaming backup battery or the panels buggered but my head is saying wiring/terminal corrosion or the sounder's buggered.

I totally dislike giving advice regarding sounder/strobe issues to a DIYer because it involves getting up there on a set of ladders,removing it's cover being startled by the sounder sounding off and not to mention the high voltages present that run the strobe.

One can easily fall when startled and the strobe,s got a hell of a bite too if a novice pokes about in there and doesn't know what their doing,Very dangerous.

Another thing that's necessary on these DIY forums is a control back up replacement,and we always tell the user to switch power off first,very very important for their own safety,but and there's always a but ......In most cases a full power down can in some cases cause outer problems to the user like a reprogram.

We as engineers work on these systems live yes?

Are we giving advice here or creating another issue for the user,or have I been out of the trade for so long and these modern panels don't revert with a total power loss??.

e manno, November 2012

Could also be corrosion of the wiring or corrosion at the sounder's terminal's, hard to say without metering at the panel.

e manno, November 2012

What the he'll am I saying, " new battery may fit veritas",
Dear me I need to choose my words more carefully. And I call other people.

Yep new battery in sounder, failing that new sounder, worst case new panel,there I think I got that out right?,

Jeez me getting dafter.

e manno, November 2012

Yep probably best replacing battery then sounder first, and see if the panel fires it up, if panel goosed he has new sounder/upgrade and new battery which he have to buy anyway.New battery may suit the veritas?,

Can't see him having any probs with veritas and oddy 3e,

Choices choices he defo be spoiled for choice if he DIY :)

I personally prefer scantronic then galaxy but nowt wrong with the veritas and it's better suited for a DIY install, but hey each to their own :),

e manno, November 2012

Agreed a Texecom Veritas and Odyssey 3e ( much nicer).

Or just replace the sounder and battery and it may come back. Used to have one that the woman would wait till the battery died and then get us to replace and reboot. Still there now to this day.

Alarm, November 2012

It sounds like an accenta/optima Alarm,probably the SL8 C G3 with onboard keypad, seen lots of these over the years that have been rebadged challenger.

Challenger also do the force 10,played with one and it's rubbish,

But there's nothing wrong with your memory matey,it defo is what you say it is,and yes the duff battery has ruined the unit.

I would replace with a tex oddy 1?,

Easy for Chris to wire himself :)

e manno, November 2012

Rebadged Optima IIRC.
Duff battery has corrupted the software at best.
Its old time to replace.

Alarm, November 2012