Glossary of Terms:

Abort Period:

When an alarm is initiated, the internal sounder is activated first for a limited period of time which is the abort period set by the installer. If you cause an alarm accidentally, you can disarm the system within the abort period before the real sirens start and before the alarm is reported to the remote responders.

Alarm:

There are 2 kinds of alarm: Loud alarm - both internal and external sirens blare out constantly and the control panel reports the event by telephone. Silent alarm - the sirens remain silent, but the control panel reports the event by telephone.

A state of alarm is caused by:

• Motion detected by a motion detector
• Change of state detected by a magnetic contact detector - a closed window or door is opened
• Detection of smoke by a smoke detector
• Tampering with any one of the detectors
• Pressing the two emergency buttons simultaneously (panic)

Arming:

Arming the alarm system is an action that prepares it to sound an alarm if a zone is “violated” by motion or by opening a door or window, as the case may be. The control panel may be armed in various modes (see AWAY, HOME, INSTANT and LATCHKEY).

AWAY:

This type of arming is used when the protected site is vacated entirely. All zones, interior and perimeter alike, are protected.

Chime Zones:

Allow you to keep track of activity in the protected area while the alarm system is in the disarmed state. Whenever a chime zone is "opened", the buzzer beeps twice. The buzzer doesn't beep, however, upon closing the zone (return to normal). Residences can use this feature to annunciate visitors or look after children. Businesses can use it to signal when customers enter the premises or when personnel enter restricted areas.

Note: Your installer will never designate a 24-hour zone or a fire zone as a chime zone, because both zone types actuate an alarm if disturbed while the system is in the disarmed state. Although one zone or more are designated as chime zones, you can still enable or disable the chime function.

Control Panel:

The control panel is a cabinet that incorporates the electronic circuitry and microprocessor that control the alarm system. It collects information from various sensors, processes it and responds in various ways. It also includes the user-interface - control keys, numerical keypad, display, sounder and loudspeaker.

Disarming:

The opposite of arming - an action that restores the control panel to the normal standby state. In this state, only fire and 24-hour zones will sound an alarm if violated, but a “panic alarm” may also be initiated.

Disturbed Zone:

A zone in a state of alarm (this may be caused by an open window or door or by motion in the field of view of a motion detector). A disturbed zone is considered “not secured”.

Entry Delay:

This is the time that the panel gives you to enter the premises (once you have been detected by a delay zone detector) and turn the system off without triggering the alarm. Selectable from 0 – 90 seconds.

Exit Delay:

This is the time that the panel gives you to exit the premises once you have pressed the “arm” button, without triggering the alarm. Selectable from 0 – 90 seconds.

Forced Arming:

When any one of the system zones is disturbed (open), the alarm system cannot be armed. One way to solve this problem is to find and eliminate the cause for zone disturbance (closing doors and windows). Another way to deal with this is to impose forced arming - automatic de-activation of zones that are still disturbed upon termination of the exit delay. Bypassed zones will not be protected throughout the arming period. Even if restored to normal (closed), bypassed zones will remain unprotected until the system is disarmed. Permission to “force arm” is given or denied by the installer while programming the system.

Glass Break:

An alarm detector specifically designed to “listen” for the sounds of breaking glass

HOME:

This type of arming is used when people are present within the protected site. A classic example is night-time at home, when the family is about to retire to bed. With HOME arming, perimeter zones are protected but interior zones are not. Consequently, motion within interior zones will be ignored by the control panel, but disturbance of a perimeter zone will cause an alarm.

Instant:

You can arm the system AWAY-INSTANT or HOME-INSTANT, thereby cancelling the entry delay for all delay zones for the duration of one arming period. For example, you may arm the control panel in the HOME-INSTANT mode and remain within the protected area. Only perimeter protection is active, and if you do not expect somebody to drop in while the system is armed, alarm upon entry via the main door is an advantage. To disarm the system without causing an alarm, use your control keypad (which is normally accessible without disturbing a perimeter zone) or use a keyfob transmitter.

Latchkey:

The Latchkey mode is a special arming mode in which designated "latchkey users" will trigger a "latchkey message" to be sent to a telephone or a pager when they disarm the system. For example, if a parent wants to be sure that their child has returned from school and disarmed the system. Latchkey arming is only possible when the system is armed in the AWAY mode.

LCD:

Liquid Crystal Display (a digital display that uses liquid crystal cells that change reflectivity in an applied electric field; used for portable computer displays and watches etc.)

Magnetic Contact Detector, Wireless:

A Magnet controlled switch and a wireless PowerCode transmitter in a shared housing. The detector is mounted on doors and windows to detect changes in state (from closed to open and vice versa). Upon sensing that a door or window is open, the detector transmits its unique identification code accompanied by an “alarm” signal and various other status signals to the control panel. The control panel, if not armed at that time, will consider the alarm system as “not ready for arming” until it receives a “restored” signal from the same detector.

Motion Detector, Wireless:

A passive Infrared motion sensor and a wireless PowerCode transmitter in a shared housing. Upon sensing motion, the detector transmits its unique identification code, accompanied by an alarm signal and various other status signals to the control panel. After transmission, it stands by to sense further motion.

Non-Alarm Zone:

Your installer can designate a zone for roles other than alarm. For instance, a motion detector installed in a dark stairway may be used to switch on lights automatically when someone crosses the dark area. Another example is a miniature wireless transmitter linked to a zone that controls a gate opening mechanism.

Pet Immune:

The detector is capable of ignoring small animals, allowing the alarm to be turned on when pets have been left inside. Some care is required insuring that pets cannot climb up on furniture close to the detector.

PIR:

Passive Infrared Receiver (An alarm device that is sensitive to the thermal signature of living things)

Quick Arming:

Arming without a user code. The control panel does not request your user code when you press one of the arming buttons. Permission to use this arming method is given or denied by the installer while programming the system.

Remote Responder:

A responder can be either a professional service provider to which the home or business owner subscribes (a central monitoring station) or a family relation/friend who agrees to look after the protected site during absence of its occupants. The control panel reports events by telephone to both kinds of responders.

Restore:

When a detector reverts from the state of alarm to the normal standby state, it is said to have been “restored”. A motion detector restores automatically after detection of movement, and becomes ready to detect again. This kind of “restore” is not reported to the remote responders. A magnetic contact detector restores only upon closure of the protected door or window. This kind of “restore” is reported to the remote responders.

Smoke Detector, Wireless:

A regular smoke detector and a wireless PowerCode transmitter in a shared housing. Upon detection of smoke, the detector transmits its unique identification code accompanied by an alarm signal and various status signals to the control panel. Since the smoke detector is linked to a special fire zone, a fire alarm is initiated.

Spatial Diversity:

This term refers to the receiver inside the control panel.  Although not unique to Visonic wireless alarms, it is rare to find such sophistication in a domestic and light commercial wireless alarm.  In essence, the control panel has two separate receivers.  The aerials are separated so that any signal that is unable to get through to one because of a phase null or dead spot, must therefore be received by the other.  A word of warning!  Some cheaper panels have two aerials - but they do not have two receivers!  Spatial Diversity is what gives Visonic panels their extreme range.  Line-of-sight is around 500m.  But where Spatial Diversity really shines is in a real-life building application.  Concrete floors, multi story building are no obstical to the Visonic PowerMax.

Supervised:

This refers to the various detectors and components of the wireless alarm system.  All detectors are constantly supervised by the wireless alarm panel for 4 conditions - 1/  Alarm (if something has been detected), 2/  Tamper (if the detector is being tampered with), 3/  Supervision (every detector sends out an "I'm OK" message that is picked up by the control panel - normally every hour.  If the panel does not hear from the detector with the allotted time, a supervisory alarm will be raised. And finally,4/   Low battery.  If the detectors battery level is getting low, it will report this to the control panel, along with its supervisory report.

User Codes:

The PowerMax Pro is designed to obey your commands, provided that they are preceded by a valid security access code. Unauthorized people do not know this code, so any attempt on their part to disarm or defeat the system is bound to fail. Some operations, however, can be carried out without a user code as they do not degrade the security level of the alarm system.

Zone:

A zone is an area within the protected site under supervision of a specific detector. During programming, the installer allows the control panel to learn the detector’s identity code and links it to the desired zone. Since the zone is distinguished by number and name, the control panel can report the zone status to the user and register in its memory all the events reported by the zone detector. Instant and delay zones are “on watch” only when the control panel is armed, and other (24-hour) zones are “on watch” regardless of whether the system is armed or not.