Re: DSC Power 832 Puzzle (Long)

["Stanley Barthfarkle" <sbarth@xxxxxxxxx>]

The primary power draw problem with your configuration occurs when the
system goes into alarm (but you knew that) since the siren draws a big
amount of juice. The start-up of a self driven 12vdc siren (or more than
one) is an even bigger (at least double the siren's rated draw current),
albeit temporary and very short surge of juice, which is usually enough to
cause the CPU do do funny stuff- such as locking up, failing to dial out, or
dying a quick electronic death. Other devices also use slightly more power
when in an alarm condition, such as motion or smoke sensors, and the CPU
itself is working harder, drawing slightly more juice.

With your configuration, I would do 3 things- address the standby current
issues by installing a DSC power supply module, install at least a 12vdc 7ah
backup battery, and run a 12vdc low-draw relay off of the siren output,
hooking up fused power directly from the battery through the relay to the
sirens.

You also have a motion sensor that falsed. Is the wire nicked somewhere,
causing a ground fault swinger when the humidity rises? Have you sprayed for
spiders lately? Kids leave any mylar balloons in that room? Anything hanging
from the wall or ceiling that moves when the a/c kicks on? Any mirrors in
sight of the detector? House mouse close to the detector? Motion mounted
loosely on the wall? Motion sensor old? Motion sealed against insects
properly? Have ghosts? ;)



"Armond Perretta" <newsgroupreader@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:S9adnWVtiP2Ne7LeRVn-hA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> alarman wrote:
>> "Armond Perretta" <newsgroupreader@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote ...
>>>
>>> Setup:  Power 832 5010, 2 LCD5500 Keypads, 5208 PGM board, Escort
>>> 5580 board, 5108 zone board, 5132 wireless board.  All window and
>>> door sensors hard-wired, 4 PIRs hard wired, 2 key fobs (in cars) on
>>> the wireless board.
>>
>> You have grossly exceeded the capability of your power supply. Before
>> you do anything else, read the installation manual pp 7-8 regarding
>> current ratings of the modules and accessories. You will need an
>> auxiliary power supply like a PC5204.
>
> Bob, Stan, and alarman have probably nailed down the major issue with my
> system: not enough power.  I get different answers on the power draw
> depending upon which set of _DSC-supplied_ data I employ, but basically it
> looks like this:
>
> 2 LCD 5500Z keyboards     170 ma
>
> PC 5108 zone expander         35 ma
>
> PC 5132 wireless board        130 ma
>
> Escort 5580TC                     150 ma
>
> PC 5208 PGM board             20 ma
>
> 2 Ademco Aurora PIR              8 ma
>
> 2 Ademco 998 PIR                 30 ma
>
> Total draw (approx)               543 ma
>
> Since the Power 832 is rated to supply 550 ma, this is entirely too close
> for comfort.  I unplugged the transformer and removed the battery
> immediately after reading the responses to my post.  I will install a PC
> 5204 with battery and transformer as soon as they arrive.
>
> Since I have been running this system for about 2 years with such a large
> draw, is there any chance that the power supply on the main board could
> have
> suffered permanent damage?  Right now everything seems OK when I power the
> system up.
>
> --
> Good luck and good sailing.
> s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
> http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare
>
>
>
>
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