Hello all!

I am replacing my old Radio Shack Safe House security panel and pad (which I installed myself) with an NX4. I'm using the same hardwired sensors and wiring. On the Safe House there were seperate terminals for NO and NC sensor loops. On the NX for there is only one terminal for each zone and I can find nothing in the instructions about how to connect one type versus another.

The instructions do say for each zone, "Connect one side of zone loop. Connect the other side to com terminal. Open or short causes alarm." This indicates to me that it's set up to handle a NC loop, but there must be a way to do NO loops, as well. Any pointers? Also, the wiring diagram shows the use of resistors on the loops. The unit came with 5 3.3k resistors. Do these have to be used on each loop? What if I have two loops in one zone?

It seemed straight forward enogh until I hit this snag. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Scott

 

NX series panels _alway_ have to have the resister either in series on a NC loop, or across the last device in line on a NO loop. Look carefully at the diagram on the panel door/back of the manual. It gives pretty good examples of the variations you can successfully use.

If your existing zones are homerun to the panel location, you wire them in series if they are NC, and in parallel if they are NO. For best results, the resistor goes out at the last device. Given that you are doing a retrofit, putting it at the panel terminal will work (assuming no existing resistors out at the far end).

 

Thank you very much for your considered reply. I believe I understand and will get it a try. Will post any further questions.

Best Regards,

Scott

 

Scott,
Ran into exact same scenario as you describe replacing old Radio Shack with NX-4. Did the resistors solve your problem. Also do you have to install a resistor across any zones that you do not use?

Ron

 

Actually, have been travelling and have not yet installed the NX4. I will be tackling that in a few days. But apparently, a resister is required whether the zone is NC or NO, just used differently depending on which. The instructions are lacking in this area, but the diagram on the door shows examples of the different zone types and resister combinations. Have you installed yours yet? How'd it go?

Best Regards, Scott

 

All of the manufacturer's instructions are written with the assumption of basic electronic/electrical knowlege, but in the day and age of "disposable" electronics, fewer people are exposed to component level circuit building.

Heck, I read tons of these things, and they lose me at times.

 

Ditto. Flip through an old Moose or new DSC manual some time

DSC is probably one of the hardest (new) manuals to read - yet, surprisingly, it's one of the most popular with DIY'ers. Go figure...

 

Installed the NX 4 with the resistors in place, everything works great. I did put a resistor across the zone and common on the empty zone I had.

Trying to figure out now if I can have the system call my pager if there is an alarm. Any info anyone has would be helpful.

R

 

Program the phone number, the account number and the report format for each receiver you want as a pager, then I think you need to program 18# for Pager also, but I'm not sure about that:
<hr>
0# Receiver Number 1 (20 Digits) I _ F _I _ 1 I _ 8 _I _ ? _I _ ? _I _ ? I _ ? _I _ ? _I _ ? _I _ ? _I _ ? _I _ E _I

11 (B) = *
(Program as 15 * 1 * 8 * 0 * 0 * then 14*# to end) 12 (C) = #
13 (D) = 4 Second Pause
(Don't use 10's for 0's) 14 (E) = End of Number
15 (F) = Touch Tone

1# Account Number (6 digits) I _ ? _I _ ? I _ ? _I _ ? _I 10 _I _ _I (Enter 4 digits, 10 ends, # exits)
(Example: if account is 1234 program as 1* 2* 3* 4* 10*#)

2# Report Format I _14 _I (Enter digit then * to save and exit)

0 = Communicator Disabled
1 = Universal 4/2
2 = 3/1 or 4/1 Fast
4 = Pager
11 = 4/2 Express
12 = 4/2 Fast
13 = Contact ID
14 = SIA

3# Dial Attempts I _ 8 _I (Enter digit then * to save and exit)

4# Events to Report First Bank (Toggle On/Off then * for second bank, # exits)

Default Option ON OFF
ON I_ ON I 1 Alarms and Restores Disabled
ON I_OFF I 2 Opening/Closings Disabled
ON I_OFF I 3 Bypass Disabled
ON I_OFF I 4 Zone Trouble Disabled
ON I_ ON I 5 AC Failure and Low Battery Disabled
ON I_OFF I 6 Not Used Disabled
ON I_ ON I 7 Siren & Telephone Fault Trouble Disabled

ON I_ ON I 8 Test Reports & Download Finished Disabled


Events to Report Second Bank (Toggle On/Off then press * to save and exit)

Default Option ON OFF
ON I_OFF I 1 Tampers Disabled
ON I_OFF I 2 Short Circuit & Ground Fault Disabled
ON I_OFF I 3 Sensor Failure Disabled
ON I_OFF I 4 Sensor Low Battery Disabled
ON I_OFF I 5 Expander Trouble Disabled
ON I_OFF I 6 Failure To Communicate Disabled
ON I_ ON I 7 Reserved

ON I_ ON I 8 Reserved

18# Format Override First Bank (Toggle On/Off then * for second bank, # exits)

Default Option ON OFF
OFF I_OFF I 1 1800Hz Transmit 1900Hz Transmit
OFF I_OFF I 2 2300Hz Handshake 1400Hz Handshake
OFF I_OFF I 3 Checksum Parity Double Round Parity
OFF I_OFF I 4 2-Digit Event Code 1-Digit Event Code
OFF I_OFF I 5 Reserved
OFF I_OFF I 6 Reserved
OFF I_OFF I 7 20 PPS 10 or 40 PPS

OFF I_OFF I 8 10 PPS 20 or 40 PPS


Format Override Second Bank (Toggle On/Off then press * to save and exit)

Default Option ON OFF
OFF I_OFF I 1 Pager Format Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 2 1400/2300 Handshake Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 3 Reserved Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 4 Reserved Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 5 Contact ID Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 6 SIA Disabled
OFF I_OFF I 7 Contact ID or 4 + 3 Disabled

OFF I_OFF I 8 DTMF Disabled
<hr>

Good luck!

 

Generally selecting pager format is sufficient. Location 18 is for custom formats where you are dealing with some form of obscure reciever that doesn't know what to do with one of the standards.

It's been a while, but I think it sends the same codes as contact ID setting, it just doesn't look for a handshake.