VIGILANTLY PROTECTING FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES SINCE 1993

Support

At American Alarms we take service seriously. Getting you the answers you need quickly is important to us.

Please click on the brand of your system below for the answers to the most commonly asked questions:

DSC

Honeywell/Ademco

Interlogics/GE

GE/Caddx

Moose


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: There is a strange noise. What should I do? (The Most asked question we get)

First, try to determine where the noise is coming from. The security system only produces couple of different sounds, and these come from the keypad or the siren. If what you are hearing does not sound familiar, here are some common sounds that are confused with the security system noises:

Chirping (one single beep every minute or so) – Typically, this is coming from one of the smoke detectors that came with your house. It means that the 9-volt battery needs to be replaced. This noise has nothing to do with the security system.

Buzzing – There is nothing that normally buzzes in the security system. In a small number of cases, this noise could be a malfunctioning power supply (transformer). These are plugged into a receptacle in your home, close to the main security box.

Beeping – There are a large number of household items that might be responsible for this noise. We have found many different culprits for this noise: cell phones, fax machines, computers, alarm clocks, etc.

Q: The phone company said that my security system is causing a problem with my phone/ DSL/Internet.

Security System BoxThe best method to check this before ordering service from the phone company or American Alarms is to open your main security panel  (it is a beige metal box usually found in your basement or in a closet that usually has an American Alarms Security decal on it.)

Inside you will see a 2-inch by 2-inch beige square device with a large phone plug connected to one end of it.

 

Square Box

Unplug this and you will remove the security system from the phone line. If this resolves the issue, contact us to schedule service. If this does not resolve the issue, the security system is not interfering with your phone or DSL/Internet connection, and you should contact your telephone provider.

Q: The security system no longer beeps when I open my doors.

Check to ensure that you have your door chime function turned on by viewing at the keypad that it does say the word “Chime”. If you do not see this and would like to enable the chime feature, enter your 4-digit code then 9 consecutively taking no longer than 1 second between key presses.  Follow the same procedure to also toggle off this feature. If the door chime function is turned on and not chiming, contact us to schedule service.

Q: My keypad is beeping and I do not know why.

Systems beep to alert you of a trouble condition or during arming entry/ exit period. Some conditions occur because of situations in the home outside of Sun Ray Security control. Issues such as loss of phones or power are a common occurrence. You can silence the trouble beeps by entering your 4-digit code and Off consecutively taking no longer than 1 second between key presses. You can then view the trouble condition by pressing the Star (*) button.  If after following the troubleshooting guidelines you need service please, contact us to schedule service.

Q: Is there anything I should do regarding my security system if the power goes out?

No. The system comes equipped with a standby battery backup. When the power returns, the system will begin recharging the battery automatically. The system will remain in the same status that it was in when it powered down (i.e. armed if the system was on, off if the system was off).

Q: I tested/set off the alarm system and no one called me.

Be sure to let the system stay in alarm with the sirens sounding for at least 30 seconds before silencing or canceling the alarm.

For standard telephone clients:
Ensure that your phones are operational by placing a call. If this works, contact us to schedule service.

For VoIP clients:
As above, also ensure that you have an Internet connection. If both are working, contact us to schedule service.

For Cellular/ Radio clients:
Contact us to schedule service.

Q: How do I add a user code?

Only the master code will allow you to add, delete or change other user codes. Each code is associated with a user number. For example, the master code on most of our systems is user number 01 and is the most important code as it is the only code that will allow you to make these changes. When programming a new code, all key presses must be entered consecutively taking no longer than 1 second between each  key press.  You can test the new code by trying to arm and disarm using this code. Any additional codes set up for other users such as other family members or neighbors will start at the next available user number and so on. It is always important to keep track and list these users with the name, user code and user number associated and will prove useful to reference when the time comes to make a change. Be sure to always update the user code list with American Alarms 919-460-5995 for records of who is and is not allowed on the premise. For more detailed instructions pertaining to your specific system, follow this link and click on the system keypad that resembles the model you have or follow the link at the bottom of that page if yours is not listed and do a search for the make and model that you do have.

Q: I am having my door/window replaced, is there anything I should do regarding the security system connection?

Your door or  window installer may take care of this for you. If so, please test the system by turning on your door chimes, open the window(s)/ door(s) and listen for the beep once they have completed the work. If you hear the beep with each opening, the security system has not been affected. If not, or if your carpenter is unable to do this, contact us to schedule service.

Q: When I come in a door, the alarm goes off immediately. Why is this happening?

Are you coming in the correct entry door? Sun Ray Security sets up a limited amount of entry doors for maximum protection. If this is the same door you have always come in and this just started, or if you have changed your main entry point into the house, we may need to reprogram the system to accommodate this. Please contact us to schedule service.

Q: There are no lights on my keypad and the system won’t turn on.

  • Check to make sure that you have power in the home.
  • Ensure that the power supply (transformer) is still plugged into the receptacle.
  • Ensure that all of your breakers are in the “ON” position or reset breaker.
  • The transformer maybe plugged into a resettable ground fault protected receptacle and may need to be reset by simply pushing the reset button.

If all of the above are correct, contact us to schedule service.

Q: My alarm is going off and I can’t get it to turn off.

  1. Security System PlugUnplug the security system power supply transformer.
  2. Then disconnect or pull off one of the wires that is attached to the battery.
  3. This will power down the security system. Once you have done this, contact us to schedule service.

Q: I am switching my phone service type or provider, is there anything I should do regarding my security system?

Your new provider may take care of reconnecting your system for you. You should test your system once they have completed the work. If the system does not transmit signals through your new provider’s service, or if your new provider is unable to connect the system, contact us to schedule service.

FIRE SYSTEM FAQs

What happens if my Commercial Fire Alarm System is tripped?

From the fire alarm panel, make note of any lights (yellow or red) or on the newer systems, messages displayed on the LCD screen.
This will help tremendously in restoring your alarm system to 100%.  Most problems are minor and can be handled over the phone.

If the power has failed for any reason, your system may have went to battery backup power, and discharged the batteries slightly.
This will cause a trouble condition while the batteries recharge to normal levels.  Once fully charged, the trouble signal will resound requiring the trouble switch to be moved back to NORMAL.

Contact Sun Ray Fire & Security & a technician can come to check the battery voltages.

The alarm systems are designed to operate over 24 hours on battery power.

Check to make sure all switches for the alarm panel in the proper position!
If your alarm panel is sounding the trouble indicator and/or showing a yellow general trouble light only, check the TROUBLE SILENCE switch.  It may be signaling that no true trouble condition exists, and the switch just needs turned back off.

Fire code requirements state that the trouble switch must not be in the trouble silence position if no trouble actually exists; this causes the “trouble ringback” signal.

This is the source of many service calls which are not needed.

Assume any alarm indication is valid and follow the facility’s fire notification procedures!
Until an alarm condition is determined a ‘false alarm’, do not silence the alarm notification signals!

Checking The Fire Alarm Panel

  1. Open the alarm panel door if you have not done so already.
    DO NOT PRESS RESET!
  2. Make note of any lights or messages displayed on the alarm panel before pressing any buttons or moving any switches.
  3. Locate on the control panel a button or switch labeled “ALARM SILENCE” or “ALARM ACKNOWLEDGE”, and press this button or switch now.  The signaling circuits should now silence.You will still see alarm lights lit or messages displayed.
  4. Using a zone map, find the area of the building that the alarm zone occurred.
    You should now walk through this area, looking for what caused the alarm.Manual pull boxes do not close completely when activated, and will need to be reset before clearing the alarm condition at the alarm panel.
    Most smoke detectors have a red light that blinks about every 10 to 15 seconds.  If this light is lit solid, this detector is in alarm.

    Air handler units (AHU) may have duct detectors that have a remote annunciation that displays a solid light (usually RED) that indicates an alarm condition.

  5. Once you’ve determined which device is in alarm, write the device’s location and the alarm panel’s zone number that lit up so that the technician can inspect the zone.
  6. You may now choose to reset the panel; find the RESET button or switch, and press or switch it  now.Make sure all switches are in their normal state.

    If the alarm re-occurs immediately
    , you most likely have a manual pull box open in the zone that is in alarm.  Try to find it and restore it before resetting the panel again.If the alarm re-occurs 15 seconds or more after resetting, it is probably a smoke detector device in the zone that is in alarm. Call American Alarms to advise that a detector is false-alarming.

Most states have very rigid laws regarding how the Central Station handles Commercial Fire Alarms.  Therefore, if a Commercial Fire alarm system transmits a code, the following should happen.

  • Central Station will not call the premises for verification, but will call the Fire Department immediately.
  • You should contact the Central station immediately and indicate the cause of the alarm. 1-919-460-5995
  • The Central Station will put you in touch with the Fire Department, so that you can indicate the cause of the alarm and answer any other questions they may have.
  • Most Fire Departments will choose not to cancel their dispatched run to the premises.
  • Attempt to reset the system. Should alarm continue, press the silence button. A alarm light will stay lit will be silenced until the system can be serviced.
Most Commercial Fire Alarms are required to be inspected and tested at least once a year contact American Alarms to set a system check 919-460-5995.

 


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