Accenta Gen4 - Magnetic Contacts Repeat Failure.

[Benjy]

Is the building a wooden shed, or something more substantial like a log cabin?
Door twisting due to moisture?
Dampness getting into the contacts somehow or the controller itself?

Its a large wooden shed. All the years I have had it I have used the same internal type contacts, PIR and shock sensors. The last one I used was the heavy duty for larger gap, however I have hardly any gap and the contacts have always remained level with one another. The door is a reinforced door with three hinges and locks in three places with all the locks locked its basically tightly sealed in place. That's why I could never understand why the problem started. But as others suggest I must check the wiring again properly before looking at the panel.

 

[Spoon]

The cable is the six core, I did away with the tamper just incase it was that but the panel would have indicated PA. It triggers as if the door has opened. The cable is quite short as it is close to the main panel and I have inspected its entire length it has no damage. I will replace it. To improve my knowledge of using a meter what setting should I use to test each core. Don't laugh, I use the beep test.

If the cable is 6 core then don't you have 2 cores free?
2 cores for the tamper and 2 for the reed switch...

If so then swap the reed switch cables with the free ones, at the panel and reed switch.
Alternative is, if you have a length of bell wire, wire this into the Zone 1 and the reed switch as a temp wiring, to see if you still get the fault.

 

[SparkyChick]

If the cables check out fine and the contacts are working.... could be something like a dry joint on the control panel main board.

In the past, when 'interesting' faults have started happening, I've recapped control boards and reflowed them with great success.

 

[static zap]

(long shot)
If magnet is over size and you have steel(screws?)
nearby.... May be reducing snappy-ness of reed action .
Losing some of its "Self cleaning" action.
(good reeds should not do this.!)

( or it's the wiring / panel as others have said )

 

[Spoon]

I wonder if the OP will get back to us?? Let us know how he got on...

 

[Benjy]

I wonder if the OP will get back to us?? Let us know how he got on...

Will do. Last couple of days no false alarms with the contact disconnected and cable shorted. Only thing is this intermittent fault is just that and could take alongtime to reoccur. Going to give the cable connection inside the main panel a wiggle next as poster above mentioned dry joints.

 

[Spoon]

Going to give the cable connection inside the main panel a wiggle next as poster above mentioned dry joints.

@SparkyChick post above is about the components on the control panel.

As I posted above, you say you have six wires going to the door contact. Swap the switch wires out with the 2 spare ones. See if that works.

 

[Toneyz]

Cheers for the welcome.

The cable is the six core, I did away with the tamper just incase it was that but the panel would have indicated PA. It triggers as if the door has opened. The cable is quite short as it is close to the main panel and I have inspected its entire length it has no damage. I will replace it. To improve my knowledge of using a meter what setting should I use to test each core. Don't laugh, I use the beep test.

Don't you mean tamper fault not PA?

 

[Benjy]

Don't you mean tamper fault not PA?

Yeah sorry TP not PA

 

[Benjy]

@SparkyChick post above is about the components on the control panel.

As I posted above, you say you have six wires going to the door contact. Swap the switch wires out with the 2 spare ones. See if that works.

Silly me found I had chopped off the other cores for getting a nice neat install all those years ago.
I just got a 100m 8 core reel for a fiver in Maplin. Replaced the cable to the panel and installed the sealed metal heavy duty contacts. Fingers crossed thats the end of the false alarms. I will keep you updated. Thank you for all your replies.