DSC Manuals: Differences

[Bossman]

My installation manuals are getting so worn out that I'm embarrassed
to break them out in front of a customer, so I'm putting together a
new notebook for the panels I routinely program.

Let me first say, we do not do any access or home automation with
these systems. They are basic system...no fancy PGM outputs to relays
or anything like that.

Having said that, how necessary is it to have every version and
release of every manual for every panel? Are there actually
programming differences, or are some of the differences simply the
default programming values only?

On the DSC website, for the PC-632 I see 50/50, 50/300 etc. as well as
different versions (2.0, 2.1 etc.). How critical is it to have every
version and every release for the 1500, 1555, and 832 panels?

Bossman

 

[Frank Olson]

My installation manuals are getting so worn out that I'm embarrassed
to break them out in front of a customer, so I'm putting together a
new notebook for the panels I routinely program.

Let me first say, we do not do any access or home automation with
these systems. They are basic system...no fancy PGM outputs to relays
or anything like that.

Having said that, how necessary is it to have every version and
release of every manual for every panel? Are there actually
programming differences, or are some of the differences simply the
default programming values only?

On the DSC website, for the PC-632 I see 50/50, 50/300 etc. as well as
different versions (2.0, 2.1 etc.). How critical is it to have every
version and every release for the 1500, 1555, and 832 panels?

I don't run into that many 1500's anymore, but it's always handy to have a
manual for the more esoteric panels in the back of the truck... I use
several four inch binders and have them set up for DSC, Ademco, Napco,
Edwards, Notifier, etc. I have a flip up guard on the shelf front that
keeps them in place until I need them. I also keep duplicates in the office
so I can run off a copy for the guys if they need one... So... I guess the
answer to your question would be dependent on what customers you're
servicing, what the average age of the install is, etc.

Frank Olson
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com

 

[Mark Leuck]

For me very important to get all revisions, the manufacturers tend to add or
change things and it helps to be able to go back and find the differences

I haven't looked at paper manuals in ages, time to get into the 21's century
Bossman and buy a laptop with tons of PDF files

 

[Mark Leuck]

I don't run into that many 1500's anymore, but it's always handy to have a
manual for the more esoteric panels in the back of the truck... I use
several four inch binders and have them set up for DSC, Ademco, Napco,
Edwards, Notifier, etc. I have a flip up guard on the shelf front that
keeps them in place until I need them. I also keep duplicates in the office
so I can run off a copy for the guys if they need one... So... I guess the
answer to your question would be dependent on what customers you're
servicing, what the average age of the install is, etc.

Frank Olson

Binders.... <snicker>

 

[Frank Olson]

Binders.... <snicker>

Drop a binder and what happens?? If they're a good quality "D ring",
nothing...

Now, drop your laptop... )

I've never had a binder stolen from a job site, either... Laptops (even
*momentarily* unattended ones) tend to "sprout legs" and disappear...

 

[Frank Olson]

Subject: Re: DSC Manuals: Differences
From: "Frank Olson" [email protected]
Date: 7/21/2004 12:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <VCmLc.75200$ek5.61544@pd7tw2no>



I also keep duplicates in the office so I can run off a copy for the guys if
they need one... So... I guess the answer to your question would be dependent
on what customers you're
servicing, what the average age of the install is, etc.

Frank Olson
http://www.yoursecuritysource.com



Is this the guys that wear the 4 hats and work a counter?

Nope the ones that wear the 4 hats and "work a van"...

 

[Bossman]

[email protected] (Bossman) wrote in message
Thanks for the input. I do have all the PDF files etc., and can access
any manual, Technical Tip Sheet, Application Note, or Technical
Bulletin in seconds on one of several computers, but I hate to drag a
laptop around everywhere I go. If you're sitting around in an office,
fine, but in the field with toolboxes, file folders, cordless drills
etc., it's one more thing to keep track of and doesn't save me any
time.

I can program most of the DSC, Ademco, and GE systems we install,
including large partitioned systems with zone doubling, etc., in just
a few minutes with the manual that comes in the box...probably almost
as fast as I could connect to the panel with the laptop.

For those rare occasions when I do need to have a specific version of
a manual, I'd rather just pull out a hard copy. Like Frank, I've
always carried around the hard copy manuals I've accumulated. I guess
I'll just download everything from the manufacturer websites and keep
binders in the van. Laugh if you will Mark, but I've never had to
reboot a hard copy manual or had a binder crash in the field

And, I still don't know what the difference in the PC1555 50/50 and
the PC1555 50/300 And how 'bout that 1555MX?

Thanks again,

Bossman

 

[Spike]

Touché, Frank.

have


Drop a binder and what happens?? If they're a good quality "D ring",
nothing...

Now, drop your laptop... )

I've never had a binder stolen from a job site, either... Laptops (even
*momentarily* unattended ones) tend to "sprout legs" and disappear...