Brinks security system is dead

[Kab]

I came back after evacuating beucase of hurracan Rita and turn on all
the switches back on, but I forgot to turn the switch from the attic
where the adapter of the alarm system is plugged in. Everything was
working fine.

I saw a message on the keypad saying something about the AC power. I
didn't pay too much attention to it. Later that day I tried to set the
alarm on and it was completely dead. I went to the main switch and I
turn it on. No luck. I turned everything off and on again, from the
main switch, with the same results.

I called Brinks, disconnected the phone line, battery and adapter. Same
thing. I changed the battery from a previous alarm system, still dead.
I made sure that the power plate had power.

I noticed that when I connect the negative cable in the battery, there
are some sparks coming out.

Any ideas of what is the problem? Brink will come within a month and
mabe it will take a couple of hours, so the can charge me 60+ bucks.

Thx

 

[Mark Leuck]

I came back after evacuating beucase of hurracan Rita and turn on all
the switches back on, but I forgot to turn the switch from the attic
where the adapter of the alarm system is plugged in. Everything was
working fine.

I saw a message on the keypad saying something about the AC power. I
didn't pay too much attention to it. Later that day I tried to set the
alarm on and it was completely dead. I went to the main switch and I
turn it on. No luck. I turned everything off and on again, from the
main switch, with the same results.

I called Brinks, disconnected the phone line, battery and adapter. Same
thing. I changed the battery from a previous alarm system, still dead.
I made sure that the power plate had power.

I noticed that when I connect the negative cable in the battery, there
are some sparks coming out.

Any ideas of what is the problem? Brink will come within a month and
mabe it will take a couple of hours, so the can charge me 60+ bucks.

Thx

Yes sit and wait and have that checkbook handy

 

[Stanley Barthfarkle]

Battery has "deep discharged" and needs to be replaced. Sounds like your
transformer might be blown as well, but replace the battery first- with a
new, fully charged one. Rat Shack has 'em for about $30, and you can find
them on Ebay for about $25 with shipping. You need the battery anyway, and
if that's all that's wrong, you've saved yourself a service call. Check back
with us after you've installed a brand new batt. Good luck.

 

[Frank Olson]

your x-former is dead, so your battery will not charge...(if you see a
message on the kp
that you've never seen before, it's a good idea to pay attention to it!!!)
when you call brinks, tell them that your problem is because of
Katrina....there is
no charge for the first hour due to a disaster......the call will not take
more than 15
minutes to complete

It may take longer. The OP stated there were "sparks" coming out when he
tried to connect the negative lead from another battery. It's amazing to me
how many people try to "fix" something on their own to avoid a service call
that would take a pro a few minutes to correct. I had one customer "decide"
to power his fire alarm panel from another breaker panel while a restoration
company was renovating the electrical room. He cut off the end off an
extension cord and wired the 110 directly to one of the bell outputs
(assuming the larger gauge wire for the circuit matched the gauge on the
extension cord which meant "AC in"). *That* was an expensive service call.
I love the smell of burnt circuit boards... <sigh>

 

[Robert L Bass]

your x-former is dead, so your battery will

not charge...(if you see a message on the
kp that you've never seen before, it's a good
idea to pay attention to it!!!)

Transformers are cheap, readily available and can be replaced by the
homeowner in five minutes or less. The second battery may also need
replacement if it's been in use without a working transformer for a few
days.

when you call brinks, tell them that your
problem is because of Katrina....there is
no charge for the first hour due to a disaster...

He already called them. They said they will come in about a month. I guess
that's their idea of service. :^)

...the call will not take more than 15
minutes to complete

It shouldn't.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
941-925-9747 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[no wires showing]

You are the ultimate numbnut. Did it ever occur to you that many alarm
dealers and their employees were thrown for a loop by Katrina? Save the
coroner some time and slap a toe tag on Bass because you're nothing but
deadweight.

 

[JoeRaisin]

It may take longer. The OP stated there were "sparks" coming out when he
tried to connect the negative lead from another battery. It's amazing to me
how many people try to "fix" something on their own to avoid a service call
that would take a pro a few minutes to correct. I had one customer "decide"
to power his fire alarm panel from another breaker panel while a restoration
company was renovating the electrical room. He cut off the end off an
extension cord and wired the 110 directly to one of the bell outputs
(assuming the larger gauge wire for the circuit matched the gauge on the
extension cord which meant "AC in"). *That* was an expensive service call.
I love the smell of burnt circuit boards... <sigh>

I think it was a while back on this ng someone quoted a service manager
as saying he likes it when folks try to fix their own systems... he
makes a lot more money that way...

 

[Crash Gordon]

Thats a good one and true too.


|
|
| Frank Olson wrote:
| > | >
| >>your x-former is dead, so your battery will not charge...(if you see a
| >>message on the kp
| >>that you've never seen before, it's a good idea to pay attention to
it!!!)
| >>when you call brinks, tell them that your problem is because of
| >>Katrina....there is
| >>no charge for the first hour due to a disaster......the call will not
take
| >>more than 15
| >>minutes to complete
| >
| >
| >
| > It may take longer. The OP stated there were "sparks" coming out when
he
| > tried to connect the negative lead from another battery. It's amazing
to me
| > how many people try to "fix" something on their own to avoid a service
call
| > that would take a pro a few minutes to correct. I had one customer
"decide"
| > to power his fire alarm panel from another breaker panel while a
restoration
| > company was renovating the electrical room. He cut off the end off an
| > extension cord and wired the 110 directly to one of the bell outputs
| > (assuming the larger gauge wire for the circuit matched the gauge on the
| > extension cord which meant "AC in"). *That* was an expensive service
call.
| > I love the smell of burnt circuit boards... <sigh>
| >
| >
| I think it was a while back on this ng someone quoted a service manager
| as saying he likes it when folks try to fix their own systems... he
| makes a lot more money that way...

 

[Robert L Bass]

Transformers are cheap, readily available and can be replaced by the

technically this would void any kind of warranty.....

Technically, if it's a Brinks system there isn't a warranty. It belongs to
Brinks. If they actually gave a rat's jiminex about their customers they'd
service them in less than a month.

and more than likely, the panel needs to be
reprogrammed...

Bullshit! The panel doesn't need to be reprogrammed just because the pwer
went out. If it does, then Brinks is using some pretty old technology.

if they said a month, they are lying...

Well, it is Brinks so this comes as no surprise.

 

[Bob Worthy]

i'm gonna give this one more shot.......i know it's like talking to a wall,
but i'll try.....

Technically, there is a warranty...it's on parts..it's a lifetime
warranty that guarantees all parts as long as they were NOT damaged by
the cust!!..if this guy damages his system due to trying to fix it
himself, then the warranty does not apply
...that SHOULD be simple
enough for even YOU to understand!!



i call BULLSHIT on YOU!!! i KNOW what i'm talking about here.....
it's not "just because the power went out", BUT no one seems
to know exactly WHY it does it...just that it does....if the transformer
"quits",
then the system needs to be REPROGRAMMED....if the x-former basically
"melts", then it AND the battery have to be replaced....you might wanna
try and have at least an IDEA of what you're talking about before you call
bullshit on the suject....

Don't get upset bdebj2. Snidely has a comment on everything, right, wrong
or indifferent. He must of been told to shut his mouth so many times as a
youngster that it has affected his adult social skills. When you catch him
on enough of his own BS, to show OP that when he opens his mouth nothing of
importance comes out, accept the world according to the legend he has built
in his own mind, he will put you on ignore like he has done to me. He took
his ball and went home. Oh well, Kicks and Giggles whiles it lasted.

 

[Kab]

I tried to fix the problem WHILE talking on the phone to a
representative of Brinks. She told me to:
+ Disconnect the power adapter
+ Disconnect the battery
+ Disconnect the phone jack

and do it back again. That didn't work, that's why they are sending
somebody to fix it.

I'm trying to find where the problem is,either the battery is
completely drained or the power adapter is not working. I'll try to fix
it if possible because I want to keep my house monitored in case of a
fire or break-ins, that's why I'm paying for! Well, I won't pay a dime
until they fix the problem.

 

[Kab]

They won't charge me for the 1st hour

 

[Bob Worthy]

They won't charge me for the 1st hour

If it is a problem inherent with their panel, as described in an earlier
post in this thread, why are they charging you at all? It shouldn't take
longer an hour however and I do know they download the programming.

 

[Kab]

There is no power in the KP. I think it's the battery or the
transformer.

Maybe it will take an hour. It takes a month to get an appointment on
saturdays, when I can be at home, not that it will take a month to fix
the problem, sorry for the confusion.

 

[Bob Worthy]

no one seems to want to take responsibility for the problem...
the manufacturer of the x-former says it's a problem with the electric co.
brinks says it's a problem with the x-former...
there will be no charge (1)because brinks will not charge for a "disaster"
(2) it won't take longer than an hour....the reason they say the first hour
is free
is just incase there is flooding in the house or some other kind of home
damage where wires would have to be re-ran, or equipment moved, brinks is
not
stuck hiolding the bill for a 4 hour remodel.....

no, brinks does not download the programming on a regular basis....
if the system is non op, there is nothing they can do...at all...the most
common form
of them downloading any kind of programming is to either change
a master code, or to disable the system for a cust who is moving...
it is impossible for them to download the entire configuration if the
system is not up and running...

No, I realize that. I just know, having done installation/service for Brinks
in the past, that when a tech was on site, they would set up the panel, call
in with the code word for the day/week, and the panel was then downloaded.
Than they would have the tech, or if it was a new construction install, have
the client, which ever the case my be, send signals.

 

[Bob Worthy]

Well, we will find out today because we are doing a service call for them
and we have to call our Brinks contact for the password according to the
service ticket. Hope it isn't a waste of time because they didn't include
any programming instructions.