Re: Problem With ADT System - Need Advice

["tourman" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Crash's comments in my opinion are right on the money, especially the
point about ADT not wanting to really bother about solving your
problems. As long as they get your money, that seems to be their major
concern.

Cats ARE a major cause of false alarms. The two rules of thumb whenever
you use pet motions are 1- Don't mount the motion where the cat can get
within six measured feet of the device, and 2 - Don't aim them at
stairs where the vertical motion of an animal running quickly up the
stairs can fool the motion into thinking it's "looking" at a human.

Many situations can be quite tricky, but I have never found a situation
where I couldn' t inevitably solve the problem. Young frisky cats that
chase each other around the house when you are gone seem to cause a lot
of the problems. Fat old cats sleep most of the time and don't usually
cause any problems. Masking so the motion doesn't "see" directly down
often works. If your panel has a double trip feature, that helps too
(zone doesn't go into alarm unless it trips twice within a given time
period). You didn't tell us what make and model of motions you are
using. Some are much better than others. A dual technology motion(
passive infrared with microwave built in) when also designed for
animals, is significantly better than a regular motion with immunity
built in.

All motion detectors are compatible with all makes and models of panels
(assuming they work on the same 12 volts). It's just that big companies
often standardize on certain makes and models and can't or won't
consider anything else. I have had good personal experience with the
Paradox DG75 motions, which I use standard in all installations, pets
present or not, but they may not be commonly available where you live.
Aritech make a very good pet motion (I can't remember the model
number), and the Bosch devices (DS 820 and 835 I think) I have had very
good luck with also. There are many more but these are just the ones
I've used and had good experience with. The most "insensitive" one
seems to be the DT 500 (which I refer to as "moose proof"). It's weight
limit is 100 lbs, and may be necessary if the extreme situation
warrants it.

At this point, you're probably best to try changing the make and model
of motion detector. And whatever you do, put the motions on trial at
the station for a period of time until you're comfortable the problem
is solved, to ensure no false police dispatches. I'm a reluctant ADT
third party dealer, and my experience with their monitoring station has
been anything but good, but you may be able to get them to do this for
you (or not). Something like.."Trialing pet motions; no dispatch of
Zone X for X weeks on single motion alarms alone. Call dealer and
client only"....or something like that.

Simply circumventing the problem with glass breaks and window contacts
might solve the problem, but at considerable extra cost.

Finally, when your contract is over, use your memory of this service
experience to decide if you want to find another company to monitor and
service your alarm.

R.H.Campbell
Home Security Metal Products
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.homemetal.com

aworkinprogress2112@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I'm looking for some guidance on a problem I am having with my alarm
> system.  Back in July ADT installed a Safewatch PRO 3000 in my home and
> I've been having false alarms ever since.  The home is a three
> bedroom cape with PIRs and door contacts only; three door contacts on
> the three first floor doors, two PIRs on the first floor which cover
> two rooms each, and one PIR in the basement.  The way the system was
> installed/intended to be used is since there is protection on the
> basement level and the first floor and I arm the system "Away" when
> out during the day and at night because we sleep on the second floor.
> Since this system was installed I have had false alarms just about once
> a month, but ALWAYS when we are away and ALWAYS from one of the first
> floor motion detectors.  I am sure the false alarms are being caused by
> our two cats because we never have a false alarm at night which is when
> the friskier of the two cats is ALWAYS locked in a bathroom or else he
> wakes us up.  In addition, none of the door contacts have ever alarmed
> and the one PIR they do not have access to in the basement has never
> falsed.  ADT came out once and changed the two motions but the problem
> continued.  They came out a second time and agreed the false alarms are
> being caused by the cats but can't seem to prevent these without
> changing the system around.  My argument though is that I paid for pet
> immune PIRs and was told they would not false alarm because of where
> they were being installed; far enough away from furniture where the
> cats could not climb.  One time when they came out they tried
> "masking" the PIRs but said "an elephant could walk by them and
> not set them off" so they didn't do so.  The only option they've
> provided me with now is to change the PIRs to glassbreaks and to put
> contacts on the windows which would cost an additional amount above
> what I wanted to spend in the first place.  I am going to use that as a
> last resort but I really want the system to work as installed so I am
> avoiding that route until I've exhausted all other possibilities.
> Any ideas?  Can I simply replace the PIRs with a less sensitive/more
> adjustable device?  Are other PIRs even compatible with this system?
> Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated.