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An
alarm for the 21st Century
|
Website: www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~iscam email: iscam@globalnet.co.uk |
If you are looking for a system integrated with some revolutionary features and you appreciate it’s going to cost a little more then read-on, because this article covers the installation of one such system, the Cytech ‘Komfort 8000’.
Operated
from a Telephone?
The unusual part of the Cytech system is that it has no keypad, all it’s functions are accessed using a standard touch-tone telephone and all commands are achieved by listening to and following instructions from a voice menu, this makes operating it so simple. An external Doorphone Facility incorporating microphone, speaker and combined doorbell / exit terminator switch gives the occupant immediate contact with persons at the front door by ringing the internal phones. This can even be achieved remotely , if the system is armed and the doorbell is pressed, the doorphone is linked via the dialer to your mobile or place of work, allowing two-way conversation with the person at the door! Operation of a lock release can be achieved from any telephone keypad. No more missed parcels or missing a spontaneous visit from a friend ! Yes, you can disarm the system and allow the friend in if you wish. This principle can also enable people with mobility problems to automate the basic operation of appliances in the home.
Customer Specification
For this particular installation our customer was involved in designing and building their ideal home and initially was looking for a system which would function as a monitored Intruder alarm but when they were away it could also operate the curtains, and lights within the house. This would give an added security dimension and would occur in a random manner to simulate the appearance of the property being occupied. Optex VX-40 external movement detectors were used to operate perimeter security lighting from the 12 volt outputs (via relays) and are used to also announce perimeter activity when the system is unset and can prime the intruder alarm system when set so as to give a confirmed alarm once an internal detector is triggered.
Alarm Tracking
Customers often ask what they should
do if they are in bed and the alarm activates? This is a difficult question for many
reasons but probably the worst thing they could do is to disarm the system and run
downstairs (or vice versa), but this is usually what happens. Bear in mind that on
monitored systems today, this could result in an abort signal being sent the Central
Station.
Komfort has a solution to eliminating the uncertainty on such an occasion. Alarm Tracking is a means of interrogating the system to find out whether there is movement downstairs, where it actually is thus helping you to decide if it is safe to switch off the alarm and go downstairs. This is achieved by picking up the phone, keying in your code and selecting the alarm tracking mode; movement is reported as it happens. This interrogation can be done if you are in the property or even if the system has called you remotely on your mobile phone.
Internal Microphones
As if this wasn’t enough you can receive the alarm call on your mobile and listen to the sounds within the property picked up from a small microphone which may be sited on the side of an internal speaker enclosure for example.
‘Bolt on Bit’ Fatigue
Recent changes in Industry policy have been catered for in its design such as alarm abort and alarm confirmation have been included without the need to add the dreaded modules, as have remote reset, speechdialler, daily test signals from digital communicator along with 3-way calling, timed shunts and even an answer machine with 8 individual code protected mailboxes.
The shunt zones are Intelligent and were included enabling the shunting of PIRs whilst curtains are operating, and also shunting of the Garage PIR whilst the motorized "up an over" door was opening to allow the customers car to be parked without switching the alarm off first.
Security System Integrity
The system includes many safeguards normally expected on UK security systems such as full tamper protection, code protection, serial communicator connection, battery monitoring, remote reset and user restriction from engineer menus. The zones inputs are end-of-line and all communications formats are supported (Ademco Point ID, Radionics and Surgard) in fact you can take your pick from 13 different transmission protocols. There is also a full voice log of 100 events with date and time stamp and description of events.
Other features include:
Inactivity monitor for the elderly, medication reminder, ‘home-alone kid’ (when the child enters their code the dialer notifies a parent at work that a child is safely home)
Saving energy by controlling lights using the existing PIRs. The same approach can be used to trigger alarm inputs of a CCTV system to present the correct camera image where movement occurs for recording or viewing purposes.
Infra-red signals are also available, they emit from each 12v output, these can control IR devices such as domestic VCRs and television channel switching.
Appliance Control Option
X10 power line carrier.
Particularly useful as a retrofit is the inclusion of an X10 interface module (TW7223 or PL513). You can transmit coded control signals to lights or appliances around the property. This involves no additional wiring but simply requires the inclusion of X10 lamp, socket or wall-switch modules to replace existing sockets and switches. We decided for cosmetic reasons to use a separate container with a DIN-rail (AD10) and isolation switch to feed the lighting circuits from.
This approach is more suited to a project where the house is being built from new or being fully re-wired, a cooperative electrician is very useful in the latter case.
Installation Approach.
A planned approach is needed to make the most of the vast array of features which are available. We found out early on where our customer wanted to draw the line, but we did allow for additional cables to be run to allow for the inevitable future request for more protection.
We also found ourselves running telephone extensions everywhere because the Komfort must be first to be connected to the BT line and all other phones are then linked in parallel from the Komfort.
An 8-zone expansion board was used to give a total of 16 inputs (detection zones) and 16 outputs (switched 12-volt, relays were used to give a dry voltage free contact to each of the curtain controllers) of which only 10 were used to operate the curtains, a pair for each curtain, one for open and one for close).
The zones were wired to the panel using two end of line resistors 2K7 and 4K7, other configurations are possible but we required full circuit open and short circuit monitoring, this helped to minimize some cabling because only two conductors were needed.
Yes there were some problems
Our first was trying to find a curtain controller which could take an external trigger. We eventually found a supplier who adapted a well-known brand of curtain controller/motor with great success and Cytech modified their software to give suitable 12v outputs for open and close.
We also found that one of our Central Stations had difficulty recognizing the ‘kiss off’ tone following Ademco Point ID communication. This couldn’t be fully understood why so we linked the system to the Station which worked correctly.
Initially, we realized that an option had been selected that relays messages from the answer-phone to the programmed telephone numbers, this was promptly switched off in the user menu
Programming
This being
quite honest is quite involved, because there is so much you can do with the system, the
trick is knowing where to stop. It does take getting used to being able to access the
parameters which are usually set by manufacturers. Cytech call theirs action codes,
responses and location values. Fortunately their manuals are extremely well written
and come as three volumes, User, Installation and Applications Manual.
I think I prefer using their PC interface software: CS-Xpress which runs under the Microsoft Windows © environment and allows you to see all the programming as a selection of pages in an overview.
Is it just a Gimmick?
The voice menu system is quite an attractive feature and is unlike any other alarm system, and it’s surprising how quickly you become used to it and you find yourself taking short cuts up and down the menus very quickly. There is no doubt that some of the features will appeal and others will not, but if you are concerned about the additional security that an apparently occupied house can give then the ‘Komfort’ system will provide it for you. The integration of so many facilities within one system, undoubtedly offers significant security advantages, yet it costs only a few hundred pounds more than a decent monitored alarm system. It is also more cost effective when compared with purchasing each facility individually.
What will it cost?
A pricing structure is currently being agreed with the manufacturers but it is likely to be in the region of $500 for the main CPU with AFM module being purchased as an option along with the X10 modules. I would suggest that you would be looking at an overall system price range to the customer of between $2000 to $4000 depending of course on complexity and size of the system.
Who will buy it?
It should be realized that this system is really for the discerning customer who values security, it really isn’t intended to fit into the grudge purchase or alarm for Insurance reasons category. It does also appeal to the customer who wants to ‘keep up with the Jones’ .
It can’t be thrown in and could take you a good weeks work to plan, install and commission, but for customers who are attracted to the security concept usually expect it to come with a serious price. Discerning customers also need to be discerned by the installer first.!
