Re: Ademco Vista10-SE installing new 5808 problems?

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thomas Hellmer wrote:
> Hey guys. Bought my house a few months ago that had an old Vista 10-SE
> system installed that works fine on the security side, but always gave
> device troubles on both 5808 smoke/fire detectors (there were 2). Those 5808
> units self-test buttons worked fine, and they seemed to actually work as
> stand alone smoke detectors, but the system would never recognize them in
> test mode and every 24 hours or so would register the "check" device errors
> on the panels throughout the house. I tried repeatedly to enroll and
> re-enroll them but they never would send their serial number upon tripping,
> and entering them manually didn't seem to help either. I figured the
> wireless transmitters had gone out or something, so I deleted both of them
> from the supervised RF mode, and just let them hang as stand alone units.
> Then this week I bought a brand new 5808 in the box thinking I would
> reinstall just one so I would have at least one in the panel system with the
> big loud horns and strobes. Well, yesterday I went in and totally deleted
> the two old  5808's from the system, and re-enrolled just the new one.
> Everything seemed to go smoothly, tripped the test button and it filled in
> the SN, assigned alpha, etc. Then after I exited, it tested ok and displayed
> in the code+5 test mode.  So I mounted it, thinking everything was fine.
> Then today when I came home from lunch, the panel was giving the old "check"
> device# error, and on the alpha pad had the Fire trouble code.  I tried the
> test button, batteries in and out, etc - even rebooted the whole Vista panel
> with backup battery out. Nothing. So I went back into the programming mode,
> and everything seemed fine, but just in case I deleted the serial number and
> tried to trip it to let it insert it again and it never would - batteries
> out for several minutes, in and out of the tamper mounting ring, etc.
> Nothing.  So I deleted the whole device entry, and just for a whim, dragged
> out one of the old ones that would never respond before, and amazingly it
> fired right up,and even sent its serial number into the enrollment
> automatically. It wouldn't ever test though when the panel was put into test
> mode. The new one simply will not send its number or respond in test (code
> +5) mode at all now (it does still do its own test when the recessed button
> is pressed) - maybe the battery has to be out for over 24 hours? Anyway, I
> was just wondering if there was some special trick with the 5808 units and
> the Vista 10SE panels - some particular loop, zone, etc??  I enrolled it
> like the old ones - Zone Type 09, RF, Loop 1, I left the report codes as 11,
> and 00 - although it is not a monitored system so I wouldn't think that
> would matter. I had it as Zone number 17, and put in another as Zone 18
> (those were how they were setup when I bought the house), but neither are
> working with the actual system. There are enough empty zones. Everything in
> the house - all wireless devices are all on Loop 1. Anyone have ideas?  I
> used to be an electronics and computer repairman as well as a computer
> programmer, so none of this seems difficult to me, just not having worked
> with them before and having such limited written technical resources has me
> stumped on this problem. I have the install guide, operations guide, and
> manuals that come with the new 5808. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
> Thomas

I couldn't spot anything you have done wrong.  If I were having that
problem while installing a system I would check my receiver, its
location or change the panel board since you have three unique devices
with the same problem - you have to look at what they have in common:

RF receiver
RF receiver location
Panel

Also, for testing - I like to use a product called Smoke Check.  I have
seen 5808's that work just fine with the test button but wouldn't
respond to smoke.

Good luck and if you have any doubts - get a couple detectors from the
hardware store to use until the system is working.

Better safe than sorry.