Setting Viper Shock Sensor With Calibration Tool... Required?

[mbsproperty]

Hello,

I wonder if you may be able to help.  

 

We decided upon the security firm to upgrade our existing alarm as they offered what we thought suited us better than the other three firms wanted to install.

However, three weeks later we are thinking maybe we should have used someone else.

 

Just one of the queeries I had, and asked about was the actual calibration of the shock sensors, I was told thay are fine, they work as they are, they don't need any adjustment.  I seem to recall many many many years ago seeing an installer spending a good while going through each room calibrating each and every shock sensor, maybe this is not required and technology has moved on I thought...?

 

We have had two false alarms, one with a cat thinking the glass door was open and walking into the glass, and the other by drawing a cuirtian (a slight brush against the glass maybe).  I'm thinking when the window cleaner comes if we are out he also is going to set the alarm off.  

 

Looking in to it a little more I see there is a calibration tool available for use with vipers,

http://www.securitywarehouse.co.uk/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1367

I'm guessing this should be used, to set the viper to more of a window smashing activation rather than a cat testing to see if the door is open or not?

 

The tool is set to 6Kg/cm2, would this be the force needed to smash toughened glass with a center punch/screwdriver?

 

What I'm asking really, should the calibration tool be used to adjust each viper individually using it on the opposite side of the window/door from the viper (furthest from..) , and only activate around the 6Kg/cm2 mark?

 

Much appreciate you thoughts,

Cheers

M

 

 

 

 

[Secware]

Yes the sensors should be individually setup per window. However its hard to generalise.

It depends on the window fram material and glass type etc.

Regarding your false alarms. If a bird flys into a window then it is highly likly to activate, same as your cat walking into the door. Its an impact.

You can set the detector to double knock but then obviously the window isnt going to smashed twice.

Also yes your window cleaner probably will activate it.

Most vibration detectors are looking for whats called a 'gross' attack (big impact) or a pulse attack (lots of little impacts)

Obviously hail storms, thunder etc can cause nuisance trips. Vibration needs careful design and is not always the best solution.

[mbsproperty]

Yes the sensors should be individually setup per window. However its hard to generalise.

It depends on the window fram material and glass type etc.

Regarding your false alarms. If a bird flys into a window then it is highly likly to activate, same as your cat walking into the door. Its an impact.

You can set the detector to double knock but then obviously the window isnt going to smashed twice.

Also yes your window cleaner probably will activate it.

Most vibration detectors are looking for whats called a 'gross' attack (big impact) or a pulse attack (lots of little impacts)

Obviously hail storms, thunder etc can cause nuisance trips. Vibration needs careful design and is not always the best solution.

Thank you for your reply much appreciated,

I don't suppose there is a guide somewhere suggesting the force to set the vipers at depending upon type of glass and frame material?

After a bit of a search I came across 4Kg/cm2 for toughened glass and using a center punch would need less..

Can't find much on plate glass, and would guess the 6Kg/cm2 or a smidge more would be fine for laminated.

 

We have two sizable cats that do fight/or play fight pretty much every day, and they do have free reign in the house.  We also have two children so we thought pet pir's were out, when set night time, cat's could fight and kids could wonder down stairs both setting off the alarm.  If the pirs could be set to what body size to alarm at, a small burgler would not have a problem ;-)   Hence the vipers...  

 

Yes we do understand that window cleaner with a long pole washer for 1/f and a bird flying into a window would set the alarm off, as the vipers would assume someone is tampering with the window.  But a cat tapping his paw on the window or a brush of a curitian seems a little too sensitive.

 

Thanks again, quite willing here to buy a calibration tool and give it a go setting the vipers, if I only had an idea roughly what each window should be set at, can't be much worse than existing  ;-)

 

Cheers

[admin]

There isnt a hard and fast written rule as it depends on many factors. Training and experience is the only way. Id agree a curtain brushing the window is too sensitive but if you have large windows you may not have enough detectors for the size of the protected unit and they have been wound up too high.

[mbsproperty]

Yes agree, and think from various things our guy is lacking in training & experience!

Once stung twice shy, we will have to ask around for a better recommendation,

Or attempt setting up and adjusting bits ourselves, can't really make it any worse  ;-)

A couple of other things need attention too, that we think are not quite right.

Thanks for your replies confirming our thoughts, of not quite the proffessional instal we were expecting.

Cheers