Concerned intruder entered and deactivated ADE Gen 4

[Bettina Bobbet]

Hi All

I have a Honeywell Accenta/Optima Gen 4 which has been working without any problems.

The reason I had it installed was because someone I know broke into my house.

Stupidly I left a window fully open before going to work one day and when I returned the alarm was off and it said "default" on the key pad electronic panel. (I have never seen this before)

I am concerned the same intruder entered my house whilst I was away as it would have been easy to do through the open window.

Does anyone know what it means when it says "default" on the keypad screen please? Is it possible for the intruder to disarm the alarm somehow without knowing the code?

The alarm has the ability to set two activation alarm codes. I changed the first from the default setting but not the second code. We only use the first code to set and unset the alarm.

I would be very grateful for responses from people who have experience with this type of alarm

Many thanks

Bett

 

[telectrix]

not sure on this but..... after a mains fail the panel could return to factory default settings. you will know this if the user code you changed does not work, but the factory code works.

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Hi Telectrix
The user code continued to function fine without having to reset it.

I do not think it says "default"on the screen when it is first installed and the codes have not been changed

 

[Wilko]

Hi - Often panels will have a factory engineer's code to allow initial set up. Once the panel is set up the engineer's code should be changed to "whatever you'd like" as it would be fairly common knowledge what the factory code was. Someone may be along who will know if this applies to your specific alarm.

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Yes I changed the engineers code to Code 1 but not Code 2.Code 2 remained the same engineers code.
We have been using Code 1 only with our pin to operate the alarm
But I have never seen the word "default" on the screen before and I cannot see reference to it in the manual

 

[geordie]

Engineers code will not set or unset this system. Only the user code. Only every set up one user code on these systems never set up code two. Think this needs setting up in the settings so it works.
Only way to factory reset this system is by removing the cover and doing the magic part. That’s as far as I will go on a public post

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Thanks Geordie the alarm is working fine with user code 1 using a personal code, but I still do not know why when I came home the alarm was off and said the word"default" on the display panel.
As mentioned I am concerned an intruder entered the house through the window and somehow deactivated the alarm and this caused it to say "default" on the display

 

[telectrix]

search the log. see if the alarm activated within the alloted timescale.

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Hi
I have searched the log but the incident occured a few months ago so it is too late to retrieve anything. I didn't realise I could at the time . I called the helpline of Honeywell but did not find them to be very good and got no where (think i spoke to someone in the USA)
Has anyone installed this type of alarm and have you ever seen the word "default" on the screen. I am trying to work out whether someone tampered with it
Alternatively does anyone know who are specialist installers of this model please?
Thanks
Bett

 

[static zap]

(Some experimentation may be required--Don't have your model)
a) Maybe the alarm never SET properly ..and leaves this ,message after a time-out.
(A missing step / sensor in wrong condition-IGNORED)
b) Compare Key actions of regularly used pin digits -see if they are reliable -OR- Worn ?

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Thanks Static Zap
I had a play with the control panel but couldn't get it to say "default" , non of the pin digits seem to be worn
I'm not sure how to get it to try not to SET properly ...will have to experiment further
I'm wondering if an intruder could have held something against the control unit ie something electrical to deactivate the alarm and cause it to say "default"

 

[static zap]

Sorry to hear ,I cannot confirm your suspicions.
Another thought was some form of mains outage as Telectric mentions(post#2) if the panel is mains fed there should be a switch (elsewhere)
to shut off power (for more -Possibly noisy experimentation.)
Other less likely thoughts..
(Any bad lightening storms on that day... clutching at straws ... (the press is full of Keyless car theft stories - to undermine our confidence in tech )) ... It has a computer in it so may just be getting a little old and glithchy ... -( If it is new
(contact fitter)

 

[Darkwood]

Looking at the engineers manual, there is not message listed as such, is it possible the alarm actually triggered but the zone was not given a name when installed? You could easily confirm this by triggering it on purpose and seeing if the same message appears.

The only other path I can see here is contact honeywells help centre which operates on normal working hours.

 

[MJPD29]

It is very highly unlikely that someone could have turned the alarm off unless they had the code. Default would generally indicate it either hasn't been set and is in a normal state, it was had a power outage and factory reset as already mentioned. Check the log to see what time it was set and unset to see if it matches.or if you even set it in the first place

 

[Bettina Bobbet]

Hi Matthew
Unfortunately the log has expired, I wasn't aware I could check this at the time (so feel a bit stupid)

I'm also thinking as user code 2 hasn't been set, if an intruder knew the engineer's code they may have turned the alarm off.

I would feel better if I could get the control panel to say "default" again.

I have had a few power cuts in the past as cooker clock has been found flashing but it has never appeared to affect the alarm panel and cause it to say "default"

Bett