Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - DSC - Memory light stays on, can't arm

On my DSC system (probably pc2550) the memory light remains on and I can't arm the system (neither with *0 nor with mastercode)

This follows a false alarm we had last week. I opened the case of an IR sensor to inspect/clean but this triggered the alarm again.

The sensor was clean, closed it but now can't arm the system anymore.

Hints and suggestions appreciated

Thanks Bo

Try pressing #. This will take the panel out of alarm memory mode. The memory normally clears after an arm/disarm cycle.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Pressing # does nothing (just a short key press beep). Memory light stays on.

If I press *2 for the trouble menu the trouble light starts blinking but no number Led lights up, so I don't think there is any trouble logged.

The alarm memory *3 just shifts through the last 3 alarms, seems normal as well.

Any other ideas ?

You don't have a ready light, so you can't arm & disarm to clear the alarm memory. What zone is open? If you can't figure out what is holding the system out of ready, bypass the zone.

The alarm memory light will remain on until the alarm is armed and disarmed once.

You seem unclear as to your system model. Open the alarm cabinet where the backup battery resides. Normally there is a wiring diagram with the proper model number on it.

DSC commands vary a bit from model to model.

The only other possibility is you somehow changed your user code.

Ok, this seems more complex then I thought.

There is no zone open and there are no troubles. If I bypass the zone where the last alarm occured I still can't get into ready mode and arm.

Certainly didn't change my user code, (and even if in that case I would still be able to arm with *0 I presume; disarming would be challenging though :) )

As for the model, I don't have the key of the cabinet, my installer has. Of course I can call him but as the last "routine maintenance session" costed +/- $150 I'd be happy to avoid.

Any other ideas what could keep the system out of ready and the memory light on ?

If you are not getting a ready light, then there is a zone open, or there is something like a panic button or smoke detector holding the system in alarm. Do you have a LCD keypad or a LED keypad?

I'm sorry, but I'm getting insufficient information to provide a meaningful answer. Clearly, either something is preventing your alarm from returning to run mode, or you have an unresolved alarm.

Something obviously changed, but I don't have the information to tell you where to look.

The system has LED keypad's and 6 motion detectors attached (5 IR, 1 radar).

No smoke alarm or anything else connected.

The panic buttons are all released (never even touched those)

I bypassed with *1 all zones from 1 to 6 and even zones 7 and 8 where no detector is assigned. Even then memory remained on and couldn't arm. Cleared all the bypasses but no change.

Is it possible that there is some kind of tampering alarm setting which was activated by me opening the detector and which can only be reset with an installer code ?

Thanks; Bo

I am out of ideas. The only thing left is the external shutdown command that can be done using the downloader software from the installer or monitoring company.

If you are not getting a ready light, but are displaying no zones as open, then that is the only logical answer left.

Team,

I may have been mistaken in the system number of the alarm installed in our house. On a document I found "PC2585".

On the DSC website they have the spec sheet here:

http://www.dsc.com/intl/classic/pc2585/2585spec/2585spec.htm

Would someone have any additional hints with this new piece of info ? Or a technical manual ?

Thanks for your support;

Ah! that actually does make a difference. Try pressing *30 (this is the tamper memory) if it displays any zone numbers, then what happened was that you activated a latching tamper that can only be cleared by going into program mode, or entering *6 + [service code]

Given the model number, I will hazard to guess that you are either in the UK or Australia.

Try *8 + 2580 or 2585. I doubt that it will work, given prior experience with DSC hardware installed by certain UK installers.

Ron,

we're indeed one step further. *30 highlights the zone where I opened the detector.

To clear it, you mention in your post *6 and *8. As I'm not clear about what you mean with *6 + "service code" I only tried *8 + user code which didn't work (one long beep). Also *8+2580 and *8+2585 didn't bring me any further.

Does this mean there's a secret installer code the installing company put on the system ? And is this installers code the only way of clearing the tamper memory ?

Is there a limit by the way to the number of times I can try a wrong code ? (Not that I'm going to try 9999 times..)

PS Australia is quite a distance from here but I probably should have mentioned I'm from western europe (Belgium).

Thanks; Bo

The service code is an optional code that may or may not have been programmed into the system, so you may well not even have one.

There are numerous small, but critical differences in the models sold in North America, and in Europe. One of them is that latching tamper feature that installers in your region seem to be overly fond of. Sadly, the only way to unlock it is by entering programming.

It is possible that the panel is programmed to lockout after a certain number of failed attempts to enter programming, but is fairly unlikely. It is also possible that local, keypad level, programming has been entirely disabled in your system.

The type of configuration you are dealing with has become very uncommon in North America, it's a practice that dates back to the days when most alarm equipment was leased.

Ok, now I understand. What I'll do is try some more codes to enter programming mode. If it doesn't work I'll call the installers.

Sorry to bother you but I have two more questions:

1) How do I know if I've entered program mode succesfully (if I found the right code) ?

2) If I'm in programming mode what's the sequence to clear the tamper ?

Thanks for your help;

The keypad "program/system" light will come on, and the keypad should beep about 3-4 times, rapidly.

Entering programming and exiting programming _is_ the reset.

No luck here; tried a few more *8 codes today but after 2 or 3 tries the alarm went off.

Then the keypads emitted 3 short beeps every 15 seconds for +/- 5 minutes. After that back into "memory" mode.

I'm going to talk to the installing company now.
Will keep you posted.

have you inspected to see if the motion detector was closed properly? the tamper switch could still be preventing you from using the system.

Jean-Paul, thanks for the suggestion but the detector is indeed well closed. I'll try with the installer code, have an appointment a few weeks from here.

Gentlemen, as mentioned in above thread I have a Western Europe implementation of the DSC PC 2585

Question 1:

The battery light came up yesterday (beeps, trouble 1). As the Battery hasn't been changed for nearly a decade I presume it needs replacing. I have the installer code. How should I proceed to replace the battery ?
1) Go into installer mode ? 2) Open the alarm cabinet 3) Just unplug and replace the battery ? Or unplug from main power first (if I find it) ? Other steps ?

Question 2

A few years ago the specification sheet for te 2585 was still on the dsc.com site (http://www.dsc.com/intl/classic/pc2585/2585spec/2585spec.htm) but no longer. I still have the spec sheet but don't have the installers manual. I've browsed the web but have not been lucky so far (searched for alarm, dsc pc 2585 manual etc). Any suggestions or even copies available ?

Thanks; Bo

Try this site:

http://textfiles.damma.nl/D0WNL0AD/DSC%20Security%20Products/pc2585%20v1-1r%20im%20en%2029002617%20r0.pdf

(That came from using the search phrase: "DSC PC2585 installer manual")

Normally, you just unplug the battery and swap it out, no need to power the system down. Don't be surprised if they didn't put one of those annoying tamper switches on your system cabinet door.

MrRon,

Many thanks for your help.

Got a new battery, replaced it and everything runs fine again.
Also the manual was very useful to understand the set-up of the system.

Questions:
The system has 5 DSC branded infrared detectors and 1 slightly larger also DSC branded "radar" detector (that's how the installers explained it to me +/- 10 years ago).

We've had over the years a few annoying false alerts. I also heard that today there are more modern detectors combining both IR and Radar, which will only set off an alarm if both are triggered. This might reduce the chances or false alarms.

Q1) Is it correct that modern detectors would trigger less false alarms ?

Q2) Is it possible to replace the detectors on my PC 2585 with more modern detectors ?

Q3) If yes, could you suggest some detectors and explain how such a replacement would be done ?

In general, modern PIR and Dual tech motions are better than the older designs, so it would be an upgrade.

Hardwired motions are generic devices and will work on _any_ 12vdc based alarm system, so brand does not matter; other than sticking with major makers like Honeywell, Bosch, GE, Rokonet, Visonic, etc, there's no practical difference. Just compare the models feature for feature.

There are lots of online vendors that have this stuff, judge them like any other online purchase.

Finally, _read_the_instructions_! There are differences in how they all label their wiring connections, so you cannot make the connections by guessing.