520-750-0002
PO Box 5003 Tucson, AZ 85703
Elite Security Group
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Security System Usage Tips in Tucson

Home Security System Usage Tips in Tucson

Tips for Using Your System

Some systems operate in the same way, while other systems have more unique operational features.

We’ll provide some of the general features for some systems, and some unique features of others.

This will not replace using your manual to operate your system, and will not cover all features for all systems.

Tips for DSC, Caddx, and Concord systems:
Tips for Ademco / Vista systems:
General System Problems and Solutions (Common to all Security Systems)
Keypad Functions and Display Procedures for DSC and Caddx Systems
Tips for DSC, Caddx, and Concord systems:
  • The memory light or trouble light will not prevent arming your system. Review your manual for additonal information on these 2 (different purpose) displays.
  • If your system will not arm, it is for a different reason.
  • Pressing the #key on the keypad clears a previous entry,
  • Press the #key 2-3 times in a row at the begining of any system operation procedure (arming, disarming, silences a beeping keypad, after reviewing the (* 2) trouble procedure ( *key, 2 button, confirm display info with manual, #key).
Tips for Ademco / Vista systems:

To clear the keypad from a previous Alarm (memory), “Trouble”, or “Check” display:

  • Follow the same procedure you use for disarming your system – do this procedure completely 2-3 times in a row (it will beep after each completed sequence).
  • If this does not clear the display, the original problem still exists and must be corrected before you’ll be able to arm your system.
  • Follow instructions in your manual or the Ademco streaming video link provided under “System Manuals” in this web site.
  • Make sure you are using the correct function key, after you enter your 4 digit access code, “1” Off, “2” Arm / Away, “3” Arm /Stay, etc..

“FC” Display on Keypad:

  • “Fail to Communicate“, your system has attempted to send signal(s) to our Monitoring Facility and was unable to complete the call to our facility.
  • This may be due to a phone company system equipment problem (offsite of your property), within the phone company phone line network, or a missing phone line.
  • Test your system’s communication, by activating an alarm with the siren sounding for a minimum of 30 seconds, then disarm your system.
  • Call our monitoring personnel (before you test your system) to let them know your testing your system, then call back a few minutes later to confirm their receiving the signals you activated.
  • Compare the memory display’s zone numbers with the zone received by our personnel.

General System Problems and Solutions (Common to all Security Systems)

Security Is Communication

Many people are switching phone service providers between traditional phone companies, digital phone services from cable TV companies, internet phone service companies, cellular phone companies, and others.

When switching companies most clients find that not all services are created equal, and are compatible with the many other systems they also may have. This has been very true with security system’s communications and connections.

Cable companies almost always FAIL to move your security connection to your phone line correctly, if at all. This results in a minor to major service call expense on your part to have our techs come out to “fill the void” created by the cable company’s phone service installers. New methods of installation designed to make it easier for the cable co., can make it next to impossible for your security connection to be completed.

Internet companies VoIP (voice over internet protocol): your security system cannot communicate reliably over the internet without an expensive upgrade of complete replacement of the system to an IP addressable security control panel.

Many people find that the problems encountered when switching phone service providers, are not worth the hidden costs and failed support compatibility.

Ultimately security communications is becoming more dedicated cellular based for best communications security and reliability. Currently security cellular is undergoing a change from 2G to $G or CDMA cellular. The “Sunset” of 2G will occur in 2016. All 2G cellular communications will need to be replaced / upgraded as soon as possible in 2016.

If you currently have cellular communications for your security system, please call our tech support 750-0002, if you have not made arrangements to have the new digital system installed into your security system.

Missing Phone line:

  • The system monitor’s the status of your phone line connected to your security system.
  • It will block your using the phone line for a few seconds after arming, disarming the security system, or during, and immediately after alarm activation, while it is communicating with our monitoring facility.

One of the most common problems, is also the most critical, your phone line services. Whenever there is a problem with your phone line, the conclusion is that the security system is causing the problem.

  • This conclusion is wrong, most of the time. It may beep the keypad, or show a trouble display, but the system is notifying you of the missing phone line.
    Please read “True Scary Story” section of this website.

Procedure for Confirming Phone Service Problem or Security System Problem

There is a phone jack inside your metal security cabinet. This is the system’s connection to your phone line. If you unplug it, the phone line is uneffected, while disengaging from the security system.

  • If your phone line is still dead or having problems after unplugging this (RJX31 phone line interface) jack, it is the phone company’s service that is missing.

The RJX31is known as a “shorting block” in the telecommunications industry. When the phone company’s personnel test the lines inside your home or business, they may tell you the problem is the short they found on the wiring inside.

This short may actually be the “shorting block” required by the FCC, they just don’t understand this when testing your wiring. You may need to tell them the facts about RJX31 “shorting block” phone line interfaces for security systems.

What to do while you have a phone co. repair person at your home

Have the service repair personnel wait (after they have finished their service work), while you plug your security system back into the RJX31 Jack inside the cabinet.

Pick up your phone immediately after plugging in the security system. The line may be dead 30 seconds to a minute after plugging the security system in – this is correct and will only last for a 1-2 minutes at most.

  • If not and you hear clicking sounds or tones, then your system was is not connected correctly – Request the phone co. personnel to re-connect the line seizure connection for the security system, at the outside phone service location at your house. If he can’t or won’t correct the problem, schedule a service call with our tech support – 750-0002. Normal service call costs will apply.

If you don’t have a phone line, then tell the phone company service personnel to check their service again.

  • Check your keypad trouble indicator, and call (520) 318-3719 to confirm that a signal was received. If not, then test your system by following the instructions provided in your manual or on this web site.
  • If there is not a trouble light after 3-5 minutes and you have a phone line (after your system communicates with our monitoring facility), then everything should be good.

If still no signals received, or phone line, unplug the system at the RJX31 jack in the cabinet and call Elite Security to schedule a service call.

Keypad Functions and Display Procedures for DSC and Caddx Systems

DSC Trouble Display:

These are general trouble display review procedures – please refer to your manual for additional information.

A “trouble” will be indicted by the trouble light which will remain ON until the trouble condition is cleared or corrected. If you cannot determine or remedy the cause of the trouble, you may need to contact your phone company, an electrician, or Elite Security Tech Support to schedule an on-site service call. We cannot fix, nor determine your system’s trouble condition over the phone.

To view the type of trouble condition, press (*) (2) on your keypad. One or more zone lights will turn ON, indicating the various trouble conditions identified below.

DSC 1550, 2550, 3000

  1. Low system battery – remove battery and take to a battery store for replacement ($25.0-$40.00), or call Elite Tech Support (319-1775 8am-3pm weekdays) to schedule having this replaced (aprox. service cost $85.00 plus battery $25.00)
  2. AC power failure – check to confirm system power transformer is plugged into the electrical outlet and there is no damage to wires between transformer and security system, or check electrical outlet the system is plugged into by plugging a lamp into the outlet to confirm power, or check electrical breakers in electrical panel, or call an electrician.
  3. Day Zone Trouble – call tech support.
  4. Telephone line problem – call phone company for service repair
  5. Communication failure – call the monitoring station (318-3719) and place your system into “test’, then arm the system (wait 2 minutes), and then activate the alarm siren by opening a door. Let the siren sound for 30 seconds then disarm the system. Wait 3-5 minutes to call the monitoring station again to confirm their receiving the alarm signal – if not, call Elite Security Tech Support (319-1775) to schedule a service call.
  6. Bell circuit trouble – call Elite Security Tech Support to schedule a service call.
  7. Smoke detector circuit trouble – call Elite Security Tech Support to schedule a service call.
  8. Loss of system time – reprogram system time as described in your system’s user’s manual.

To exit Trouble Condition menu push (#) on the keypad.

DSC PowerSeries 832 (model 5010) / 864 (model 5020)

Press (*) (2)
Zone Light & Type of Trouble
1…………………………… Service required. Press (1) and one or more of the zone lights corresponding to the following system troubles will turn on:

  1. Low battery (see DSC #1 trouble above)
  2. Bell circuit trouble (see DSC #6 trouble above)
  3. General system trouble (call tech support to schedule a service call)
  4. General system tamp. (call tech support to schedule a service call)
  5. General System Supervisory (call tech support to schedule a service call)
  6. Not used
  7. PC5204 module low battery (call tech support to schedule a service call)
  8. PC 5204 AC power loss (see DSC #2 trouble above)

2…………………………… AC power loss (see DSC #2 trouble above)
3…………………………… Telephone line trouble (see DSC #3 trouble above)
4…………………………… Communication failure (see DSC #4 trouble above)
5…………………………… Zone fault – press (5) and the zone lights corresponding to the faulted zones will turn ON, then call tech support to schedule a service call.
6………………………….. Zone tamper – press (6) and the zones lights corresponding to the tampered zones will turn ON, re-secure the cover of the sensor for the zone, if this does not clear the zone, then call tech support.
7………………………….. Low zone / sensor battery – press 7 and the numbers corresponding to the zones with battery trouble will turn ON, carefully remove cover (without breaking cover clips that hold the cover in place) and replace battery with new battery from battery store. When replacing the battery make sure the polarity is correct before inserting the battery (do not touch any other part of the circuit board components when replacing battery) or call Elite Security to replace battery for you (approximate cost is $85.00 plus cost of battery).
8…………………………. Loss of system time (see DSC trouble #8 above).
Press (#) to exit.

To view trouble conditions from an LCD display keypad: press (*) (2) a message will be displayed, use the scroll arrows (< >) to view additional information or trouble conditions.
Press (#) to exit.

Zone Bypassing: Enter (*) (1),

  • Enter your 4 digit access code (the bypass light will light),
  • Enter the 2 digit zone number(s) (example 02, 11, etc.) to be bypassed (as the zone is entered the zone light will turn ON) (if you entered the wrong zone number, re-enter the incorrect number again and that zone light will turn off).
  • Enter (#) to exit, when all the zones to be bypassed are entered.

Access Codes: entering or changing a system user’s 4 digit access code,
Enter (*) 5,

  • Enter the system’s MASTER CODE, the keypad will display the user position numbers assigned. These can be changed or erased.
  • Enter the user position number you wish to add, change or delete (single digit for DSC 1550, 2550) (two digit all others, ie. 02 or 18),
  • To add, or change – enter new 4 digit code
  • To delete – enter * * * * over the existing code.

Caddx NX 8 & NX8E Trouble Conditions

The “Service Light” will be on if the system needs service. Press (*) (2) to display the trouble condition. One or more zone numbers will be displayed in the LCD window. Below is a list of corresponding conditions to the numbers displayed. You may be able to correct these conditions yourself, or call for service (319-1775) after you’ve identified the specific trouble condition and have determined you need to schedule a service call.

1………….System Fault:

  1. Over current fault – call for service.
  2. Siren trouble – call for service.
  3. System cabinet tamper – close cabinet door, or call for service.
  4. Expander power – check all electrical outlet for power that system devices / cabinets are plugged into, or call for service.
  5. Expander low battery – replace this battery, or call for service.
  6. Expander cabinet tamper – close cabinet door, or call for service.
  7. Expander trouble – call for service.
  8. Ground fault – call for service.

2………….Zone Tamper – press (2) to display the zone sensor tamper. Secure cover, or call for service.
3………….Zone low battery – press (3) to display the number(s) of the zone senors, change battery (confirming correct polarity 1st), or call for service.
4………….Zone loss of supervision – press (4) to display the zone sensor(s), then call for service.
5………….Zone trouble – press (5) to display the zone, then call for service.
6………….Telephone fault – press (6) to display fault:

  • 6. Phone line cut, disconnected, or missing phone line service from phone company – call phone company for repair.
  • 7. Back up communications (cellular) communications fail – call Elite Security for service.

7………….Failure to communicate – signal not received by monitoring facitlity, test security systems communications by placing your system on “test” with the monitoring facility, and activating your alarm system panic button.

Wait 2-5 minutes and call the monitoring facility to confirm their receiving your panic button signal. If they did, then your system is communicating after a phone company equipment failure occurred – if not, then confirn you have a working phone line to the security system – if not call the phone company for repair.

If no signal is received and phone line is working at the security control cabinet – call Elite Security for a service call.

8………….Loss of System time – using your system user’s manual, re-program the system time into the system keypad.

Press (#) to exit trouble condition display mode.

PO Box 5003, Tucson, AZ 85703 - 520-750-0002

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