Receive "Fire Alarm Restored" immediately after triggering the fire alarm

[trtv]

Hello,

I've the EVL4 DSC. I sent the command "060,1" to trigger the fire alarm. That worked. However, after receiving an email with the subjects "Security Event: Keypad [F]ire Alarm", I immediately received another email "Security Event: Keypad [F]ire Alarm Restoral". This is even before I enter my code to turn off the fire alarm.

This looks like a bug to me. The second email should not have arrived until the panel is disarmed.

Anyone sees the same problem?

Thanks,

[GrandWizard]

That is how DSC panels work. If you hit the F key on your keypad it will generate a Fire panic and immediately restore because you let go of the button. Fire panic is different from tripping a fire zone.

Try it yourself from a keypad

[trtv]

Thanks. I did notice that on the panel as well. Is there a way that we can trigger a fire zone programmatically then? The use case would be having some motion sensors on the 2nd floor. If those sensors got trigger, then I will start the siren.

[GrandWizard]

Sorry, I am not following you. Why do you want to trigger a fire alarm? You can connect your smoke detectors directly to your panel if they are connected smokes/COs.

[trtv]

Ah, my alarm system is hard wired to doors and windows in the basement and first floor. I do have additional battery-based motion sensors on the 2nd floor. So I'd like to trigger the alarm if those sensors are triggered and when the house is arm-away. Thanks.

[GrandWizard]

Are you saying that your wireless sensors are not connected to your panel? What are these?

What panel do you have? All Honeywell and DSC panels offer wireless motion detectors.

[trtv]

I run my home automation system with many sensors. And yes, I have a bunch of Zigbee sensors that are stand alone. These are used for various purpose. One of which would be to trigger the alarm system. I can programmatically trigger the key paid fire panic, but as you've answered previously, the DSC panel doesn't behave quite as expected. As such, I am looking for another sort of alarm trigger that won't be restored until the user enter the code.

Oh, I believe have the DSC 1616 system.

Thanks.

[GrandWizard]

Use a PGM tied to a zone to put the panel into alarm when armed.

So create an away burg zone on a free hardwired zone and program PGM 1 to momentary (2 second). Then wire the PGM to your hardwired zone. You can then use either the TPI or the built-in webservice in the Envisalink to trigger that PGM and that will put the panel into alarm as if an away zone were tripped.

[trtv]

Thanks GrandWizard. I am assuming that these are either the TPI commands 601, 620, or 654. They don't work for me. I am using an add-on with OpenHab. Perhaps this is a limitation (the add-on might only support Application Commands). I will check with the add-on author. Thanks for your help.

[GrandWizard]

I don't know if this helps but you can also trigger a PGM from a webhook. See this thread

http://forum.eyez-on.com/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5192