Intercom systems - Flats

[Ridgey88]

Hey all,

I do electrical maintenance for a company which does warranty work for all the major house builders over the country i.e Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes etc.

I haven't done intercomm systems before so i need to go on a few courses and was wondering what the most common brands and types of intercom systems you would generally come across. in blocks of domestic flats.

Thought are much appreciated.

Kirk

 

[dragon-av]

There are loads and they are all different but fairly simple best bet is find out what systems your sites are running and then do some courses for those systems they are almost all LV based come are twisted pair some TP and coax

Telehawk is fairly complex system, BPT are quite often used as are Videx most dont actually need a training course as such a good read of the manuals and the tech support nimber covers most aspects.

 

[mk1karl]

im sure i have a wiring diagram somewhere for the sytem used by Barteak, Harron homes, Morris, etc.., im sure its called A-phone or something?
anyhow i will see if i can find it and try to send you a copy

 

[Ridgey88]

Thanks, appreciate it

i have a few wiring diagrams for the BELL systems which look fairly simple !

but having no experience fitting these or any door entry systems its abit hard to say whether i can do it or not. i.e dont really want to turn upto a job to fix a system with no experience doing it! thats why i thought a course maybe worth while. dont even know if there are any courses available??

systems that incorporate a coax would surely be ones includeing a video feed?

Thanks again

 

[mk1karl]

ive personally never done one with a coax but yes presumably for a video feed.

again, ive only worked on 1 type of door intercom system but the only real problems ive had is the transformer pack as this can incorporate other gubbins inside too, there can be a couple of those tiny glass fuses (like you get in burglar alarms) and one may have blown or someone has turned the pot down for the volume.
there has only been 1 occasion when it wasnt the transformer pack and that was when mice had chewed through one of the twisted pairs going to the button station.

 

[dragon-av]

Coax for some video based systems, Bell is very simple but can be confusing depending on the original installation if your working mainly with one type of system on site then carrying a spare transformer and handset on the van is a good idea but as your doing maintenace you should be able to get the docs easily ( cheap laptop and 3G dongle very worthwhile)

YOu may well get complaints about poor audio and video quality or worn out/abused panels so you need to be sure who pays for what in those circumstances, Domestic systems are fairly basic its only when you get into RFID and Proximity layered systems that it gets more complex than switch

 

[musicmaster050]

yeah i have been doing sum maintenance for a friend who owns a locksmith shop and the common problems i find is power surplies and also sticking keys on the keypads nothing a little wd40 cant solve

also i do take my iphone 3g phone with me incase i need a wiring diagram from the net

 

[Ridgey88]

Thanks for the replys all !

i generally thought that the most common problem was the transformer/power supply.

thing is i like to know exactly how everything works, e.g if you give me a fault on a heating system i.e with the wiring, then i would have no problem. i specialised in heating controls for 3 years and some are so complex it baffles some people, but give me something simple i haven't done and i feel like an apprentice again.

point is, how do you know whats what i.e diagnose the faults? easy on the power supply, but others?

cheers all !

Another thing is; where do you source spare parts?

would your local wholesaler stock them i.e Edmundsons?

Cheers All !

 

[sunshinefish]

Thanks for the replys all !

i generally thought that the most common problem was the transformer/power supply.

thing is i like to know exactly how everything works, e.g if you give me a fault on a heating system i.e with the wiring, then i would have no problem. i specialised in heating controls for 3 years and some are so complex it baffles some people, but give me something simple i haven't done and i feel like an apprentice again.

point is, how do you know whats what i.e diagnose the faults? easy on the power supply, but others?

cheers all !

Another thing is; where do you source spare parts?

would your local wholesaler stock them i.e Edmundsons?

Cheers All !

Hi, I agree that the most common problem was the transformer/power supply.The power is very important .If the power supply has problems video door intercom system will not work!