Garage alarm fault.. Help needed.

[gordon stephenson]

Hope one of the electrically minded members can assist me,
My garage alarm system has magnetic door sensors and also vibration sensors on the steel mesh covered windows, Just noticed today that one of the vibration sensors has a red LED light showing all the time,it usually only comes on if it is triggered.Looked inside the cover and all looked ok,the tamper alarm on it still works and the alarm is triggered if I bang on the window frame so all appears to be operating, So why would the LED be constantly lit, don't know how long it's been like this but getting worried about my tools being stolen if there is a fault.
P.S the alarm is a 4 zone Optima XM ( if this helps)

 

[the snooper]

try disconecting the power to it 12v ive had pir's do this but they reset after the power to them has been cut

 

[gordon stephenson]

Thanks Snooper, Will give it a go tomorrow,

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

High humidity can also encourage the sensor to show fault as it puts a film of moisture across the circuit board & compnents within the unit.
So a very damp steel is most likely the cause .

I'd ensure the edges of the unit are sealed by using a thin film of clear mastic put on on on a dry day so you don't seal moisture in the unit .

 

[gordon stephenson]

I tried knocking the power off as recommended by the snooper,but it didn't reset. I have ordered a new unit but still can't understand why the LED is lit but the vibration unit still appears to be fully operational

 

[octo0072000]

alarm

Mike over the road had the same problem warning led for 1 zone ended up with new system can't get bit's for old one turns out it was a fault on the main board the box in the loft

 

[gordon stephenson]

My problem must be the sensor it self, as the sensor on my other window is OK and they are both wired into the same terminals in the control panel

 

[harvey639]

try putting some wd-40 in it, it should get rid of ant moisture on the board.

wd 40 was invented for this purpose

http://inventors.about.com/od/wstartinventions/a/WDFourty.htm

 

[MattF]

I tried knocking the power off as recommended by the snooper,but it didn't reset.

Did you disconnect the backup battery too?

I have ordered a new unit but still can't understand why the LED is lit but the vibration unit still appears to be fully operational

If it's working, wouldn't worry about it, personally.

try putting some wd-40 in it, it should get rid of ant moisture on the board.

Wouldn't use that stuff anywhere where electronics are concerned. IPA, (Isopropanol, Isopropyl alcohol), is the best thing to use, (make sure that the unit is disconnected first, obviously).

 

[harvey639]

Wouldn't use that stuff anywhere where electronics are concerned. IPA, (Isopropanol, Isopropyl alcohol), is the best thing to use, (make sure that the unit is disconnected first, obviously).[/QUOTE]

wd-40 was invented for drying out wet electronics, so i cant see a problem with using it. alarm systems are low voltage anyway

 

[the snooper]

Wouldn't use that stuff anywhere where electronics are concerned. IPA, (Isopropanol, Isopropyl alcohol), is the best thing to use, (make sure that the unit is disconnected first, obviously).

wd-40 was invented for drying out wet electronics, so i cant see a problem with using it. alarm systems are low voltage anyway

wd40 was invented for repelling water from low voltage electrics, not electronics

 

[gordon stephenson]

No did not disconnect the back up battery when I tried to re-set,Did check the back-up battery afterwards and voltage was down to 2.3v,have since fitted a new one but sensor still seems faulty, Will try knocking off the power and battery tomorrow and see what happens'

 

[Robotstar5]

Will try knocking off the power and battery tomorrow and see what happens'

Be prepared for the outside sounder going off when you remove the "holdoff" signal, if it doesn't the SAB battery needs replacing as well.

 

[gordon stephenson]

It will have been a long time since the SAB battery has been changed,so i might as well check that one out too,
Thanks for the tip, Robotstar5