Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Ademco vista 20p fire trouble wireless smoke (remove from attic?)

I am getting a fire trouble alarm at the keypads for the wireless smoke detector in the attic. If I clear the trouble after a few minutes it comes back on and starts beeping again. I can't use the system now because the trouble condition comes back a few mintues after dearming or arming the system. Basically, the attic smoke detector has been nothing but trouble so I'd like to remove it from the system altogether, but the manual is slightly confusing. I do have all the programmer's notes for zone info and other identifying info. I really need to remove the problem detector from the system completely, so any help here would HUGELY appreciated. Thanks.

ADEMCO VISTA 20p control panel

It's pretty straight forward. You use the *56 menu mode in programming, change the zone type to 00 (unused), then delete the wireless transmitter serial number.

Why on earth would they have installed a smoke in an attic?

"Perfect paranoia is perfect awareness."

Some people just go for overkill.

Yea, but that's what they make heat detectors for.

There is way too much dust and particulate matter in an attic for a smoke. Additionally, the honeywell rf smokes have built in heat detection set at 135 degrees--too low for the attic. If you want fire protection in the attic you need 194 degree heats. Unfortunately Honeywell does not have a wireless heat for this temperature, mostly do to the heat affecting the wireless board. I would remove the smoke, clean with compressed air and try installing within the house.

There is way too much dust and particulate matter in an attic for a smoke. Additionally, the honeywell rf smokes have built in heat detection set at 135 degrees--too low for the attic. If you want fire protection in the attic you need 194 degree heats. Unfortunately Honeywell does not have a wireless heat for this temperature, mostly do to the heat affecting the wireless board. I would remove the smoke, clean with compressed air and try installing within the house.
Since it's attic, and the wireless heats are just standard heat detectors attached to a fire rated wireless transmitter, you could get a 194 heat and run a wire to put the transmitter in the garage or a closet.

"It's a joke, son, it's a joke...."

Yes, smoke heads in unfinished attics are generally a bad idea. Heats are the way to go if you are worried about combustible materials stored in the attic. If there is nothing up there but insulation, I wouldn't bother.

If there is nothing up there but insulation, I wouldn't bother.
Though I always do attic heats with my fire systems, I started to agree with you. But exactly 1 week ago a friends house burned to the ground. Cause of fire - started in the attic at the chimney.

Plus heat detectors are so cheap. I have one in each closet. Reason - I once put a system in a house being half rebuilt after a fire. Cause - box on a shelf in the closet, to close to the lightbulb.

I always do the garage, laundry, attic, and anyplace with furnaces & waterheaters; or combustibles such as workshops.

In my area we get alot of fires caused by lightning strikes and the heat detectors can be a great benefit in the attics. Good idea Integrator97 on the rf switch to a 194 degree heat.

In my area we get alot of fires caused by lightning strikes and the heat detectors can be a great benefit in the attics. Good idea Integrator97 on the rf switch to a 194 degree heat.
Years of experience (showing my gray beard :( ).

I had lightning strike a customers house once. Punched a hole in the roof about 3 feet from the siren at the gable vent. there were 6" pieces of 18/2 stapled about every 2 feet or so along the peak, for about 20 feet till it went down to the alarm panel. Burned up the rest of the wire, disintigrated. Blew the locked door open on the panel and left a large black mark about 12" in diameter on the door. Also took out the HVAC unit in the attic. Fortunately this was over the garage, and didn't start a fire.