| This article outlines the steps in replacing an existing external sounder to an alarm system. If you are fitting a new sounder then refer to the article 'How to fit an alarm system'.
Introduction
When replacing an existing external sounder, the easiest option is to replace like with like or a sounder from the same manufacturer as the connections will be similar. However, any external sounder can be used with any alarm control panel, but the connections may have to be cross referenced - see the tables below.
Removing the existing sounder
- Open the control panel. Silence the alarm by entering the user code.
- Put the control panel into engineer mode.
- Label and remove the sounder connections at the control panel. The external sounder should sound.
- Remove the cover from the external sounder and remove the sounder's battery lead. This will silence the sounder.
- Label and remove the sounder connections.
- Remove the sounder from the wall.
Fitting the new sounder
- Offer the back-plate of the sounder against the wall such that the cable entry hole is in line with the cable and the sounder is level. Adjust the position so that the mounting holes are aligned with brickwork and not the mortar. Mark the position of the mounting holes.
- Drill and plug any required mounting holes.
- Pull the cable through the rear of the sounder and fix the sounder to the wall. If the sounder is fitted to an uneven wall then packing pieces should be inserted to avoid twisting the backplate.
- Sounder installations vary but in general the cores should be connected to the relevant terminals. Do not connect the sounder's internal battery at this point. Fix the cable to the backplate or tie a knot it to prevent the cable being pulled from the sounder.
- Fix the cable along its route working back to the control panel. Connect the cores to the relevant terminals on the control panel. Note: control panel and sounder installation manuals usually have cross references for sounder/panel connections. Where this is not given, the wiring connections will have to be worked out from the generic wiring scheme given below.
Wiring the External Sounder
The majority of control panel and external sounder installation manuals have charts for connecting various panel/sounder pairings. Where the sounder and panel are not listed the wiring can be determined by matching the functions of the terminals in the panel and sounder.
A typical control panel will have at least 5 connections for connecting the SAB sounder. Sometimes a sixth terminal is present - Strobe +ve, but this is actually the same feed as the permanent +v supply.
- Permanent Negative Supply (0V) - also termed -ve hold off, this is the tamper feed
- Permanent Positive Supply (+12V) - also termed +ve hold off
- Switched Negative to Activate Sounder
- Switched Negative to Activate Strobe
- Negative Tamper Return
- Strobe positive supply (not always present)
A typical wiring scheme for the Txecom Veritas series of panels is shown below as a guide.
The control panel is usually factory fitted with a link across the tamper feed and return which allows you to determine two of the terminals (the link should be removed on installation). The other terminals can then be identified from the installation instructions for panel and sounder.
When the correct connections have been made the final connection is usually to activate the sounder by connecting the sounder's internal battery. The installation manual for the sounder details the procedure. Finally fit the sounder cover, ensuring that the tamper switch(es) close.
Control Panel/Sounder Connection Reference
The table below lists Control Panel connections. To use the table, firstly identify the generic sounder terminals i.e.
- Neg Hold Off Permanent Negative Supply (0V) - also termed -ve hold off, this is the tamper feed
- Pos Hold Off Permanent Positive Supply (+12V) - also termed +ve hold off
- Bell Trigger Switched Negative to Activate Sounder
- Strobe Trigger Switched Negative to Activate Strobe
- Tamper Return Negative Tamper Return
and connect to the relevant Control Panel terminals.
Control
Panel | Neg Hold
Off | Pos Hold
Off | Bell
Trigger | Strobe
Trigger | Tamper
Return |
ADE (Honeywell)
Optima, Accenta | A | D | B | STROBE - | T |
| MDT Avanti | A | D | B | STROBE - | T |
Texecom Veritas/Excel
Range | D | A | B | S | C |
| Scantronic | 0v | 12v | BELL | STROBE - | TR |
| Menvier | HOLD OFF | BELL + 12V | BELL TRIG | STB | TAMPER RETURN |
| Pyronix Sterling 10 | BELL - | + BELL | BELL NO | STB NO | BT |
| Pyronix Conqueror & Paragon E | B/S - | + B/S | BA | STB | BT |
| Pyronix Paragon Plus | B - | B + | BA | STB | BT |
| Pyronix Atlas | BAT - | B + | BA | STB | TAMPER ZONE |
| Pyronix Paragon Super | - B | S + | BA | STB | BT |
| Pyronix Matrix | BELL - | BELL + | PGM1(NO) | PGM2(NO) | BT |
| Gardiner Technology | SCBA | BELL + | BELL | - STB | SCBP |
| Aritech | BHO | BELL 12v | EXT BELL - | STROBE - | 270R TR |
| Pyronix PCX | AUX - | AUX + | PGM1 | PGM2 | BT |
| Castle Care-tech | B4 (Bell Hold off -) | B5 bell Hold Off + | B2 (Bell Output) | B1 (Strobe Output) | B3 (TR) |
| DSC | AUX - | BELL + | BELL - | PSM1 | ZONE |
| Scantronic 9x5x Series | 0v | 12v AUX | OP1 | OP2 | TR |
| Pyronix Sterling Compact | S - | B + | BA | STB | TR |
| Menvier TS510, 700, 900 | 0v | BELL 12v | BELL TRIG | STB | BELL TMP |
| C & K Activ5, Securit | AUX - | BELL + | S - | ST - | 24 TAMPER |
| C & K 800L | V - | V + | S - | ST - | R - |
| C & K 700L | BELL - | BELL + | S - | ST - | R - |
| C & K 703 | 0v | SOUND + | NO/COM | ST - | AT |
| DA Abacus | 0v | + HD | BELL | ST | AT |
Sounder Connections
| Sounder | Neg Hold
Off | Pos Hold
Off | Bell
Trigger | Strobe
Trigger | Tamper
Return |
| CQR Cequra | HOLD OFF - | HOLD OFF + | SIREN | STROBE | TAMPER |
| CQR Multibox | HOLD OFF - | HOLD OFF + | TRIG | STB | RTN |
| Texecom Odyssey/Azura | D | A | B | S | C |
| Gardiner Technology Novaguard | SUPPLY - | SUPPLY + | BELL SW - | STROBE - | R TAMP RET |
| Pyronix Belle/Decibelle | B - | B + | BA | STB | BT |
| Vulcan | HOLD OFF - | HOLD OFF + | SIREN TRIGGER - | STROBE TRIGGER - | TAMPER RETURN |
| Cascade (MDT) Neon | A | D | B | S- | T |
| Elmdene Rapier | 4 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
|
