Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - DSC pc5508z Keypad : Trouble shooting

Hi All

I'm a home owner and had to re-route two system cables as they had been routed through fitted wardrobes which had to come out (wifes orders), I managed to remove the 1st from the passive sensor re-route and reconnect.
The second I had to cut, re-route and reconnect.

Problem:
1. Neither the 'Ready' 'Armed' or 'Trouble' illuminates
2. Unable to set alarm (now in big trouble with the wife)

Status:
1. Power supply ok
2. All passives when activated light up on panel
3. Reconnected wires checked and ok


Your suggestions are truly appreciated.

regards

Gilbert

At this point you have given me a keypad model that works on 8+ DSC power series system models, you need to provide the actual model information for specific help.

That said, clearly one of your splices did not take. If you are not getting a ready light, then you should be showing an open zone, or you are silenced with a fire alarm indicator showing.

Hi thanks for your reply

Where do I find the actual model info...will it be inside the keypad cover or perhaps inside the large panel box where the fused power supply comes in?

More info-

I checked the splices today...they seem ok.

Does open zone mean zone number illuminated on the key pad....if yes no zone illuminated unless the passive or door contact is activated.

The system was never connected to a fire alarm....it was however connected to the telephone which used to be accessed remotely by the installers pc and to my mobile if activated....these were disconnected in 2002.

many thanks
Gil

Yes, as explained in the FAQ for this forum, the model can generally be found on the diagram inside the door to the system cabinet. The keypad is just an interface, it's not the actual alarm control.

If you are not showing a ready light, but are not showing a zone open, (I am assuming that the power light is on), try pressing # a couple of times. You may be in a trouble, tamper, or alarm memory display and simply need to return to normal operation.

Once you have the correct model number, you can get a user and installer manual which provides most of the information you are needing.

Unfortunetly there is no diagram on inside the cabinet.

No ready light showing but the power is on.

Pressed # a couple of times - no change

Pressed *2 and the trouble light comes on and flashes

Pressing it again - the trouble light turns off

The only information from within the panel is taken from the circuit board: 585-300/50 & 16vAC, 50/60 Hz, 2.5A Max

At this point, based on the information provided, there is not enough information to tell you what to check.

You seem to be unclear about what you actually altered, and you don't know your system model so we cannot even suggest which commands to try.

Again, if you are not showing open zones, and your system is not in some form of alarm, you should have a ready light.

have you tried to power down then power up again? do you have the installer and master code? if so, try doing a 902. *8, installer code, 902, wait one minute, then ##. if this doesn't solve anything, take one terminal off the battery, unplug the power supply or take off one side at the panel. put the terminal back on the battery and power up the panel again. you will get a trouble light. *2, 8 will be on. then go to *6, master code, 1, then the time. ## out and see what happens. good luck.

Hi All

Good news!!!, I had isolated the power supply and disconnected the battery......when fully powered up the system returned to ready state and now able to arm and disarm the system.

The trouble light stays on indicating date/time requires programming.....only trouble now is I don't have the engineers code, I'll try your suggestion 'tallcanadian', as I don't know the factory default code?

By the way I looked at the module PC5401, looks identical to mine.

many thanks :thumbup:
Gilbert

On DSC systems, time and date are end user programming. You use the master code for that, not the engineer/installer code.

It sounds, from your terminology, that you are not in North America. That would have been important information, as the model numbers and means of identification are different with the "international" models.

I'm guessing he lives in the Netherlands.

Hi All

I'm in the city of Birmingham England, and its raining again today!!!!

The installation company / engineer never gave me the master code just the end user code.

I've follwed the process from the user manual to program date/time.....with no sucess
:(

A guy informs me that this particular company always change master codes......this ensures that you continue to pay them an annual service/maintenance fee, if you dont then the call out fee is higher.

The company have now split there services providing installations only....and the service & maintenance via a second company who will only support if they are paid up-front.

that's too bad. you going through a lot of grief for nothing. i'm not sure on the laws in england but over here i would have your code in as the master code. you could have them come in and change the master to yours and nothing else. if someone here wanted their own installer code put in, i would have no problem with that either.

It is my understanding that in the UK, sadly, the law is not on your side. There was a long thread awhile back on this forum where we found out the companies like British Gas can pretty much lock out the customer from the system. They often put in traps like tamper switches on the system cabinet that can only be reset by entering the installer/engineer programming.

Hi All

Many thanks for your support :thumbup:

Gilbert