Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Questions about an older system- Adding sensors or replacing.

Questions about an older system- Adding sensors or replacing.

First, a description of the system. The system in my house was probably put in by the builder 15 years ago. It is labeled Scantronic/Acron, Spartan 600 and I have 3 keypads, and the system is not currently monitored just a loud ass siren. I also have the owner’s manual and sales flyer that lists many of the specifications, if you need to know anything ask and I'll see if it’s listed.

Now my situation. All of the windows on the ground floor and basement of the house are hardwired, except for the rear sliding glass door, and the 2 windows in the great room. A motion sensor protects these. Why they didn't hardwire those as well is beyond me. The problem is that we have a dog and if we set the alarm the dog would obviously trip the alarm. I know we could bypass the sensor each time we leave but this is a pain, people forget, and the in-laws just wont get it. I can hardly get them to set it when we are out of town. Not to mention that it leaves a likely point of entry (rear door and window) unprotected.

What we would like to do is remove that motion sensor all together and put sensors on the sliding glass door and the 2 windows. If I could add wireless that would be great! But if not, what would be involved in adding wired sensors to those locations? Would we be better off replacing the control unit and 3 keypads with a newer system that will work with our existing hardwired sensors and has the ability to do wireless? If new is the best solution than what do you recommend and about what’s it going to cost me?

Would like to not spend the $$ if I can easily add the sensors, but also realize that the 15 year old system may need to be updated.

Thanks

This is a long out of production system. Wiring in more contacts _can_ be done, but you would be better served by spending the cash for a current production system.

These old Acron/Scantronic systems require an external eeprom programmer to make any significant changes to the core configuration.

You _could_ tap the wires for the motion to convert that loop into contacts for the door and windows, but I think you would come out better looking at a something like a Concord express or ultra system that will give you hard wired zones _and_ wireless out of the box. That way you could add a keyfob to ease arm/disarm for the technophobes in your family.