"push button" zone

[chrisdias]

I'm retrofitting an existing alarm system and one of my zones is a push button on a cabinet door (not sure the best way to describe it).

The normal position for this zone is to have a door closed which pushes in and holds the button in. When the door is opened, and the push button is released, the alarm should trip. It looks pretty standard with two wires running to it like any other zone.

I've tried setting the zone type to "Entry/Exit" and "Tamper". For either type, the zone is secure when the door is open (therefore the push button is released) and tripped when the door is closed (push button pressed).

So, I figured this was a normally open zone input where everything else (doors for example) are normally closed. My understanding from reading the manuals is that in order to support a normally open zone, i have to have EOL resistors enabled.

I did that (it isnt currently set up that way) and put a resistor on a typical door zone. Things worked as expected. I added a resister to this push button zone and I'm getting the same results. If the door is open (push button is released), the zone is secure. If the door is closed (pushbutton pressed) then the zone is tripped.

I know that the zone worked when the old system was hooked up to it.

I've made so many different combinations, I now feel like I'm missing somethign simple

Any thoughts?

 

[Ernie]

Trying to get some background data to assist - temporarily remove the resistor. Under Status>>Test from a console, what are the following:

1. Loop reading when the door is open?
2. Loop reading when the door is open?
3. What type of HAI controller are you using?
4. What zone is this device connected to?

 

[Brian Yokum]

A normally open contact needs to be wired in parallel with the EOL resistor. A normally closed contact needs to be wired in series with the EOL resistor.

Check your wiring one more time. I think this is the problem.

 

[chrisdias]

A normally open contact needs to be wired in parallel with the EOL resistor. A normally closed contact needs to be wired in series with the EOL resistor.

Check your wiring one more time. I think this is the problem.

Ah-ha... This may very well be the problem! I will try it out this weekend.

thanks!

 

[chrisdias]

Trying to get some background data to assist - temporarily remove the resistor. Under Status>>Test from a console, what are the following:

1. Loop reading when the door is open?
2. Loop reading when the door is open?
3. What type of HAI controller are you using?
4. What zone is this device connected to?

Cool - I didnt know i could check this through the console. i'll try this out over the weekend (in addition to the parallel/series wiring suggestion.

Thanks!