Removing Intruder Alarm External Sounder

Use the “engineer’s” code to completely disable the system. Failing that, drill a hole in the cover and fill it with expanding foam (or so I’ve heard).

Tim

I think filling the box with expanding foam might involve the use of ladders. But yes, the engineer's code ought to fix it.

How long since the alarm was last tested and gave an audible noise? How long has the back-up battery been in the alarm box? Does the alarm make a racket during a power cut?

I just ask because I couldn't find an engineer's code for mine and the company which had installed it had gone out of business ages before. So I went around to the neighbours and said, "Look, I'm doing some work on my burglar alarm, don't be concerned if it goes off." Then I disconnected the control box battery, took a deep breath, and pulled out the fuse to the mains supply and.....

....and nothing. The battery in the alarm box, which hadn't been touched for at least ten years was as flat as a pancake.

Nick

Don't worry about the noise. In my experience it's not that loud and as soon as youve disconnected it/removed the battery the noise will be gone. (How are you going to remove the sounder without using ladders.

The external sounder will have its own internal battery. The bloody things last for years…

Tim

according to the person who does my annual alarm check - the batteries in these bxes ar not relaceable.

It would indeed!

It alarmed all by itself a couple of weeks ago with a feeble burbling noise. Backup battery? Five(?) years.>

:-)

It's in engineer mode now with the backup battery disconnected and one of the PIRs snipped. Silence. Next step is to remove the power. In daylight!

Frank

Removed which battery? The alarm panel?

I'll leave it in position until it rots and falls off the wall (!) or someone with a ladder removes it. It's not possible to stand underneath it.

Frank

The 9448 has a battery inside. The battery can be changed out, while the alarm is disabled. This is just to give some idea, of how you get the door open, without the external sounder firing (and perhaps, the internal speaker inside the unit shown here).

Scantronic product data sheet

Product specification

Product code SDR-WEXT-00 Backup Battery 9V / 180mAh [NiMH?] [two-terminal removal cable] Weight 1.14Kg Operating Voltage 13.8-14.2 VDC <=== no idea where this power source comes from Current Consumption 10mA quiescent, 270mA Alarm Environmental Class IV Intrusion Standards EN50131-4 Grade 2 Operating Temperature -30 to +70C Audio output: min 85dB @1m, max 105dB @ 1m

In the second document, page 4 or so, there is a terminal on the sounder called "ENG".

ENG (Installer Mode)

Setting the ENG input to OV sets the siren in installer (engineer) mode.

You should normally connect ENG to a control unit/expander output configured as type "Installer on Site", which activates when entering the Installer menu at a keypad and deactivates when exiting the Installer menu (at every keypad). Installer mode prevents the sounder and strobe from activating when the lid is opened.

When installer mode is activated, both comfort LEDs switch on continuously for a few minutes. <=== [Proof that unit is ready for servicing]

I think that means, it is one thing on the 9448, to disable the alarm (the 1234 used in the Youtube video). But, there would likely be some other keypad sequence, to enter "Installer On Site".

Once the "Installer On Site" mode is entered (silencing the 9448), keeping the ENG terminal grounded, should keep the sounder from firing. Remove the 14VDC from the sounder, the sounder is still not "disarmed", as the 9V battery is still there. But presumably, as long as ENG is grounded, and the ground connection to the sounder is still there, that could keep the unit inhibited. Your proof of inhibition, is the "comfort LEDs switch on continuously for a few minutes"

This still requires that the multi wire bundle coming from the sounder, be labeled for the ENG signal. And then note where it terminates (because there is no terminal with an exactly similar label on the 9448 end).

Paul

Well, the one in my external sounder box lasted for years. But not enough years.

Nick