Need to disable a zone with DSC PC1500

[John Sevinsky]

I have a DSC PC1500 with a motion detector hooked up to zone 3. One
day, the zone 3 LED was lit all the time on both keypads. I checked
the detector and the wiring, and they were good. I disconnected this
detector and just put a resistor across zone 3's terminals, and it
still says that the zone is active. I even replaced the resistor, and
I still have the same problem. So, it looks like the problem is with
the alarm electronics.

Is there a way I can disable this zone in EEPROM? I couldn't find a
way to do it.

John

 

[Julian Vivaldi]

are you sure you are using the proper value'd resistor?

 

[Frank Olson]

I have a DSC PC1500 with a motion detector hooked up to zone 3. One
day, the zone 3 LED was lit all the time on both keypads. I checked
the detector and the wiring, and they were good. I disconnected this
detector and just put a resistor across zone 3's terminals, and it
still says that the zone is active. I even replaced the resistor, and
I still have the same problem. So, it looks like the problem is with
the alarm electronics.

Is there a way I can disable this zone in EEPROM? I couldn't find a
way to do it.

John

Try shorting the loop with a piece of wire. The board may not be programmed
for EOL resistors. You also need 1000 ohms to properly "safe" the zone on the
1500. If you still have a problem, try bypassing the zone from the keypad.

 

[Paul]

Are you sure that the zone hasnt been accidently bypassed!!!!

 

[John Sevinsky]

Try shorting the loop with a piece of wire. The board may not be programmed

for EOL resistors. You also need 1000 ohms to properly "safe" the zone on the
1500. If you still have a problem, try bypassing the zone from the keypad.

I do know that the board is programmed for EOL resistors since I'm the
one that programmed it. And, I'm using a 1K resistor, just like the
other five.

As for bypassing the zone on the keypad, do I have to do that every
time I arm the system? Or is there a way to permanantly bypass the
zone?

John

 

[RH.Campbell]

Sir, from what I have heard so far, I suspect your board is shot ! I have
seen this sort of situation happen a few times on this model of panel;
however, it always seems to be Zone 5 that goes defective and cannot be
closed. There is no real practical way to use this system as is without
bypassing the zone each and every other time you want to arm it. Also,
frankly, if the board is suspect as it is, arming it could end up costing a
false alarm fine or the like (if that is applicable in your area).

My suggestion would be to simply buy another board. They are inexpensive and
available at around $32 dealer cost, so at retail they might cost you a few
bucks more. Most any dealer that handles DSC usually has a few boards
kicking around in his truck for takeovers where the original board is
locked....

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

 

[Mark Leuck]

He could have a bad resistor, I've seen that many times on the 1500

 

[RH.Campbell]

Well, he can quickly determine that for sure ! Simply short zone 5 with a
wire first, then with the proper resistor (a new one) second, and if the
zone doesn't close on the keypad in one of the cases, his board is bad....

I kinda got the impression he had thought of the above himself though....

RHC

 

[John Sevinsky]

Yeah, I thought of all that. Since I'm only using four of the six
zones, I was thinking that I could just not use zone three if I could
disable it in EEPROM. But, it looks like I need a new board. Oh
well.

Thanks for all the help!

John