1 How to Choose an Intruder Alarm Box: 4-Zone, 8-Zone, or 16-Zone?

Many people mistakenly believe that the number of zones on an intruder alarm box should directly correspond to the number of detectors. This is a common misunderstanding.

The concept of a “zone” for an intruder alarm box is as follows: for instance, the living room can be assigned as one zone, doors and windows as another, the kitchen as a third, the study as a fourth, and the bedroom as a fifth. However, this doesn’t mean you must use a 5-zone alarm box. You can group the detectors in the study and bedroom into the same zone code, allowing a 4-zone alarm box to suffice.

In fact, you could even assign all five zones to a single zone code and use a 1-zone alarm box. However, doing so would make it impossible to pinpoint the exact location of an alarm trigger during an incident.

When purchasing an intruder alarm box, always start by determining the number of spaces and areas you need to monitor and their specific requirements. Then, select a suitable model with an appropriate number of zones. As a general rule, it’s wise to choose an alarm box with 2-4 extra zones to allow for future expansion of detection devices and zones.

2 Key Considerations for Installing an Intruder Alarm Box

• Avoid Signal Interference: Keep the alarm box away from large metal objects, televisions, computers, and other electronics to prevent signal transmission or reception issues.
• Optimal Placement: Install the box as close to the detectors as possible to ensure efficient operation.
• Antenna Positioning: Extend and position the antenna vertically while keeping the installation discreet.
• Cable Connections: Ensure that inlet and outlet cables are correctly connected to avoid errors.

3 Maintenance Tips for Intruder Alarm Boxes

To maintain the reliability of the system, conduct a walking test at least once a month. Over time, the alarm box may accumulate dust and grease. Clean it using a soft cotton cloth or sponge dampened with water, and then dry it thoroughly.

Important: Never use abrasive cleaners or organic solvents such as kerosene, acetone, or superglue to clean the box. These substances can damage the surface of the device and reduce the transparency of its top window.

4 Power Supply Method for Intruder Alarm Boxes

Intruder alarm boxes are powered by an external rechargeable AC adapter and an internal rechargeable battery. If the battery voltage drops below a certain level, the power supply to the alarm box will shut off, triggering an automatic protection mode.

When the system’s power supply is restored, the alarm box will automatically resume operation and start recharging the backup battery.

5 What is the RS-485 Bus System?

The RS-485 bus system is a standard for serial data communication. It builds upon the RS-422 standard by adding support for multi-point and bidirectional communication. This allows multiple transmitters to connect to the same bus while enhancing transmitter driving capabilities and conflict protection.

Additionally, the RS-485 standard expands the bus’s common-mode range and is formally recognized as the TIA/EIA-485-A standard.

6 RS-485 Bus System Transmission Equipment

Transmission equipment for the RS-485 bus system typically includes the following components:

• Cables: Category 3, Category 5, and Super Category 5 network cables.
• Controllers: Bus controllers that manage data communication.
• Repeaters: Devices that extend the communication range of the system.

These components work together to support the RS-485 communication format and ensure stable and reliable data transmission.