Re: Problem With ADT System - Need Advice

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've also used cross-zoning two motions together to solve exteme cases.



"tourman" <rh.campbell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1166978455.711738.280390@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| 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.
|