Testing your alarm after phone changes

If you have changed your phone service your security system needs to be tested. Many times with a phone service change your security system may not have been hooked back up properly.

How do I go about testing my home security alarm system and how often should it be done ?
The manufacture says "weekly" but "Monthly" is great, but no longer than 6 month between testing. A Total Protection technician can do a full system check for a $35 trip charge or you can test it yourself by following the steps below.

Always have the central station place your account on "test"or no response while you are testing. This can be done by calling the toll free number printed on your Keypad, if you don't have a sticker call the local office 583-7233.

Arm your system and trigger a signal by opening a door or window. You will need to let your alarm ring for about a minute, when your alarm is transmitting its signal, your house's phones may not have a dial tone. Then call the central station back to verify that the signal that you sent was received.

If the communications part passed the test, now you can move onto the next part. The security system has a chime mode setting by opening and closing each contact point you can verify each door and window is being recognized by the system.

Smoke, CO and heat detectors should NOT be tested by using a match, burning paper, or other means, as that may cause damage to the units or necessitate a cleaning or maintenance. Caution should be used when doing such. Most of our smoke detectors have a test button that can be pressed some of the buttons and are recessed. If you don't feel comfortable testing your smokes and would still like them tested please call for a service technician.

Panic buttons can be tested by pressing them (please make sure you are in test first). How your system reacts to them is dependent on programming and if such features were enabled.

Once you are satisfied everything is working the way it should be, clear and reset the system to its everyday "normal" disarmed state. Call your central station and verify the proper transmission of a signal and return the system to service.

Keep in mind, by doing such an "audit" of your system, in conjunction to paying attention to maintenance details, your likelihood of a false or malfunction does go down without you knowing about it. By no means is this a substitute for servicing or maintaining your system.

Total Protection still recommends that you have your system checked by one of our service technicians each year. Call to find out how you can get additional discounts on system checks (normally $35).

Changing Keypad Codes

One of the most important things to do with your security system is code management. If you have not changed you code in a while (or ever) it might be a time to do so. This is important if over the years you have given out your security code. It is a new year so lets show you how to get a new code. I have this set up so under each picture is the instructions for that system. If your keypad looks different and it may. Call the office for specific instructions for your alarm. These are the four most common Total Protection systems.



To change user code on a Concord 4 alarm panel

1. Press 9, then current master code
2. The key pad should then say Time/Date
3. Press the B key one time
4. The key pad should say User Codes
5. Press the # key one time
6. Press the B key until the display says either Partition Master or System Master
7. Press the # key one time
8. The key pad should then show your current alarm code
9. Enter your new 4 digit code, then press the # key to save the new code
10. To exit out of programming press the * key until the screen says User Codes
11. Press the A key until the screen says Exit Programming/Ready
12. Press the # key one time and the key pad should show the current time and date.



To change user code on an Allegro alarm panel

1. Press 8, then your current master code
2. The key pad should then say Codes
3. Press the # key once
4. The key pad should then say Primary
5. Press the # key once
6. The key pad should then show your current 4 digit code
7. Enter the new 4 digit code you would like to use
8. Press the # key once
9. Press the * key until the key pad says Exit
10. Press the # key once, and the key pad should show the current



To change user code on a Simon 3 alarm panel

1. Open the front cover of the key pad by pressing down the small tab on the top center of the key pad, the front cover should then fold down
2. The alarm system will then say “Use the red numbered keys to enter 4 digit ID”
3. Using the red numbered keys enter your current 4 digit master code
4. On the top row of buttons press the Add button
5. Then, on the second row of numbers press the Access codes button
6. Press the Access codes button until the alarm system says “Master code” (Should only need to press one time)
7. Press the Done key at the bottom of the key pad
8. The alarm system will then say to use the red numbered keys to enter your new 4 digit master code
9. When finished entering your new code the alarm system will then repeat your new master code to you. Close the front cover to exit programming




To change code on Ademco Vista 10
Change Master Master Code + 8 + 2 + New Master Code twice (Keypad should beep)
(If this does not work panel is older version, Master Code is in location *20)

Add Code Master Code + 8 + User (3 to 7) + New Code (Keypad should beep)
(Old Vista-10's have Users 2 to 7)

Erase Code Master Code + 8 + User (3 to 7) wait 5 seconds (Keypad should beep)
(Old Vista-10's have Users 2 to 7)

Testing Your Security System

Testing Your System
Your security system is on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you have it set for intrusion detection or not. Even when it’s turned "off", it’s still ready to respond to fire and environmental sensors. All of the sensors are constantly "checking in" with the main panel, even if your system is set to off. Combine the fact that your system never gets a "rest" with the fact that it’s performing the most important job of any appliance in your home - protecting the lives and well-being of family members from the risk of a fire or home invasion. This is why it is so importance of regularly testing it.

Even if you don't test your system regularly the system will monitor itself for many things. Those who design security systems try to design into them very sophisticated self-diagnostics. As an example, with Security Pro Wireless Systems every sensor in the system is designed so that it must send a radio signal into your main panel twice every 64 minutes. The main panel is constantly "Checking" or supervising all the devices to make sure they are all still functioning.

Let’s say the sensor at your front door is sending in it’s regular "check in" signal. It would identify itself as sensor #1 and report on the condition of its battery. This is an important part of why Security Pro Systems are so reliable. The main panel continually gets reports from all of the devices, that they are still functioning as radio transmitters, and that their batteries are still good. Of course if a sensor in your system fails to check in - or checks in with a low battery message.

But there are some things your system needs "help" to test. As an example, how do we know the switch at the basement door is still working? In order to test that switch, the door must be opened - and the system cannot open your doors and windows - so it needs your help.

Testing Your Monitoring Service

If you would also like to test the monitoring of your system you must call the monitoring station first to place your system in "test". This is a toll free number and should be located on your keypad. If you cannot find this number call our local service office 801-583-7233 and we can assist you. The monitoring center will ask you for your Name and Password. Once the operator has confirmed that you are in test, just generate an alarm signal in your system. It is easiest to arm you system like you are leaving then open a door or window that is protected. Also press the police panic on your keypad, You should hear the siren sounding. Wait about a minute and then turn the system off. Now call the monitoring station and check to be sure they received your alarm signal. If you are finished testing, just tell them to put your system back on line.

Beeping

Keypad, Main Panel Or Speaker:
Usually if the keypad is beeping, it's either a chime in response to a door or window that has just opened, or it is echoing a trouble beep from the main panel. If you have an ITI or GE Security Pro System, you will hear a series of five or six beeps every minute if the system has detected a trouble condition. You can stop this beeping by pressing the * or Status key twice. If that doesn’t work turn the system off at the keypad (even if it's already off). That will force the system to reveal the cause of the beeping and should stop the beeping for at least twelve hours. If the condition has not been corrected the system may begin beeping again twelve hours later.
What If The Beeping Still Doesn't Stop?
If you have followed the above steps and still hear a recurring beeping, it is most likely that the beeping is coming from a device unrelated to your security system. Over the years we have had many calls from customers who were absolutely certain that the beeping was coming from or related to the security system. Instead of their security system it has been: A builder or homeowner-installed smoke detector, a pager, a wireless doorbell, a carbon monoxide detector, a cordless phone or a cellphone with a low battery.