Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Basic understanding for PC1555

I recently stopped paying for monitoring services and went through a false alarm event on my PC1555. This time the System light stayed on and after reading for a few days, I found the step to turn off TLM and the dialer. First though, I played around to find the installer code, so I followed the:

press *8 + installer code - system light was blinking
Press 380
Press 1
press #
press 15
press 7
press #

However, the system light remains on. I suspect I have to power down the panel by removing the AC and the battery. Is this right? Also I read the manual and I am not sure on the steps to set the time and date. My question is for the 10 digits, do I put the time first or the date?

* 6 + Master code + 1 then
1208082315 - something like this then
#

Thanks in advance.

Rionsito

According to page 12 of the user manual:

"Setting the System Date and Time
To set the system time, enter [6] followed by the Master Code. Press [1]. The keypad will now accept
10 consecutive digits:
• Enter the Time in Hours and Minutes using the 24-hr format (00:00 to 23:59).
• Enter the Date in Months, Days and Years (MM DD YY).
NOTE: If you have an LCD keypad, your installer may have programmed your system to display the time
and date while the keypad is idle. If this is the case, you may have to press the [#] key to clear the
date and time before entering an access code to arm the system, or before performing any other
keypad function."

Yes, clearing the failure to communicate trouble will require a power down and reboot (it's a DSC glitch).

ok,

I was able to clear the failure to communicate trouble by removing the power and battery. I set the new time as well, but now the alarm won't go off. I arm the system and open the doors but nothing. I can hear the chime and see the sensors working but no sound.

What went wrong?

Please advise

Thanks

Did you default the system to get the installer code? If so, your zone configuration likely needs to be reset.

If not, what happens if you take the siren wires and connect them directly to the battery? You may simply have a bad siren.

Also, you _are_ waiting long enough for the exit delay to time out? The factory default on DSC panel is 120 seconds (yes, 2 minutes!).

I did not default the system, this is an adt system so the 6321 worked like a champ. My assumption is that somehow the siren is set to silent right now. I tested the system

* 6 + Master Code + 4 #

and the alarm sounds for 2 seconds. I also pressed the Panic button and the alarms goes off so I think the siren is ok. So to recap when I arm the system stay or away and I purposly open a door to trigger the alarm it does not go off. In the away mode I can see the armed buttom (red) blinking.

Hope this gives you a better idea.

Thank you for all your help. Wife is terrified now since alarm won't go off....

Ok,

I have been doing some more testing and when I use the [9] Arming Without Entry Delay, after the 2 minutes default when I opened a door, the alarm goes off, but if I am in the stay mode and I open any door including the sliding door and front door which used to trigger the alarm, it does not. I need to go for a walk since I am getting a little bit confused. I need to understand how the panel functions are set. Right now when I press and hold the function key (panel) # 1 - the alarm is suppossed to arm in stay mode, when I press Functon Key 2the alarm is supposed to go into the away mode problem.

For tonight, If I just do the * 9 arming without entry delay which mode would this be. I get up and walk to the bathroom many times during the night and do not want to trigger the alarm.

If the only changes you made were to the communicator and TLM setting, then I think you may be overthinking this.

If you simply arm your system with the user code (ignore the function keys), does it arm normally?

Zone programming doesn't change spontaneously. Either this has been your configuration in the past, and you hadn't caught it, or you may be mis-interpreting your system behavior.

Read your _user_ manual as well as the keypad command section if the installer manual.

Again, this is one of those where second hand information is very difficult to work with.

Thanks MrRonFL for your input and for taking the time to try to help me. I am always told I am the slowest in the family. You are probably right, I am probably over thinking.

I could had sworn that prior to my issue with the System light, the alarm used to go off as soon as my front door, slide patio door were opened when in stay mode. I will need to read the user manual to get familiar as to how to arm the system in stay mode without having to hold the number 1 on the panel, I guess this is the function key that the installer setup for the original owner. I am sure it's not that difficult but I am making it difficult for me right now, I am trying to put my master code first but the system gives me continued beeps which gives me the impression that it is setting the alarm in the away mode. which is not what I need when I am at getting ready to go to sleep obviously.
As you can see, there is so much for me to learn still.

Once thing I notice is that on the panel door, there is an instruction to quickly arm the system by pressing * 9 + master code and the system gets armed, however the armed red light starts blinking. Is this normal?

Thank you again

Rionsito

I was able to get my hands on a different user manual for my alarm system and was able to get more information which tells me that my problem (which is not a problem) has to do with the fact that in stay mode the alarm does not sound right away, I have to be patience and wait for the timeout delay. I also got the answers I was looking for the stay arming and the flashing armed light.

Again Thank you MrRonFL for pointing me to the user manual.

Stay Arming
This feature, if enabled by your installer, will allow you to arm the perimeter zones while leaving the
interior zones inactive so that you can remain on the premises while the system is armed. When you
enter your security code to arm the system and do not exit the premises through a designated Exit/
Entry door, the system will arm in the Stay mode, automatically bypassing the interior zones.
The interior zones can be reactivated at any time by entering [Q][1] at any keypad. If you reactivate
the interior zones, be sure to only inhabit areas not covered by motion detectors. To access areas
protected by motion sensors, you must enter your security code and disarm the system.


Arming Without Entry Delay
If you wish to arm your system without the entry delay, enter [Q][9] then your access code. The Armed
light will flash as a reminder that the system is armed and has no entry delay. An entry through any
zone programmed as a delay zone will create an instant alarm.