What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC – We’re going to assume you mean AC that’s been induced into an alarm zone loop – most likely via AC cable emanations – which is causing false alarms.
What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC When You’re Working By Yourself?
What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC – We’re going to assume you mean AC that’s been induced into an alarm zone loop – most likely via AC cable emanations – which is causing false alarms.
We think the quickest way to clarify a problem zone loop – especially if the false alarms are constant, as they might very well be with induced AC – is to shift the loop experiencing false alarms to the panel terminations of an adjacent loop which is stable.
If the false alarms follow the cable, then there’s a problem with the loop – possibly caused by AC. If the false alarms now occur on the formerly stable loop, then the problem is at the panel.
Let’s assume that the false alarms followed the loop and continued to occur when connected to stable zone terminations at the panel. The first thing to do is switch the loops back and check for induced AC on the loop that has a false alarm issue.
What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC?
You’re not looking for lightning bolts – with both wires removed set your DMM to its lowest AC setting. You want to test each of the wires while ensuring your meter remains connected to panel ground. If you find AC you’ll need to consider your options.
To filter induced AC out of the zone loop you might pull the zone cable out and start all over again using a different cable path – this could be a big job. Alternatively, you could add a 50 microfarad, 25-Vdc electrolytic capacitor to each side of the loop, with each capacitor connected to panel earth.
I say the capacitor will filter out the AC but what it really does is even out voltage variations in the loop by absorbing AC voltage spikes that might cause false alarm triggers. These spikes are stored in the capacitor and then discretely discharged back into the circuit – including its earth – after the spikes have concluded.
The result of a capacitor’s resistance to voltage change, along with its ability to slowly release the voltage it stores, is more stable voltage in a zone loop – or in any circuit that capacitors are installed to support.
You can find some electrolytic capacitors from the team at Mouser Electronics right here or read more SEN news here.
“What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC When You’re Working By Yourself?”
What’s The Quickest Way To Troubleshoot Zone Loop AC When You’re Working By Yourself?
A professional writer and editor who has been covering the security industry since 1991, John is passionate about clever applications of technology and the fusion of sensing and networking. A capable photographer John enjoys undertaking practical reviews of the latest electronic security systems.
