Alarm Panels

It runs the intruder alarm: detectors, door contacts and keypads report to it, and it decides whether an event is an alarm, sounds the sirens and signals out. It also holds the user codes, zones and areas, so its capacity sets how large the system can grow; the Honeywell C264-D-E1 Galaxy Dimension, for example, takes up to 264 zones and 1000 users.

A wired panel takes detectors on cable, a wireless panel talks to its devices by radio, and a hybrid panel takes wired and wireless zones together. Honeywell Galaxy Dimension panels such as the C096-D-E1 can be wired, wireless or both, the Pyronix ENF32UK-WE Enforcer V11 is a hybrid with 32 wireless and 2 wired zones on board, and the Ajax Hub 2 Plus 22925.40.WH1 is a wireless hub for Ajax radio devices.

The grade the insurer or the installation specification calls for, usually Grade 2 for a home or small business and Grade 3 for higher-risk commercial sites. Panels stating Grade 2 include the Pyronix ENF32UK-WE and the Honeywell C005-S-E1 Galaxy Flex 20; the Texecom CAD-0018 and Honeywell C264-D-H1 state Grade 3, and the Eaton i-onG3LM-KPZ can be set to Grade 2 or 3.

At least one zone per detector or contact, plus spare zones for growth. Small panels such as the Honeywell C005-S-E1 Galaxy Flex 20 cover up to 20 zones and the Pyronix EURO76L/UK 76 zones in 6 areas, while the Eaton i-onG3LM-KPZ expands to 400 zones and the Honeywell C520-D-E1 to 520 for large commercial sites.

Many can. Ajax hubs are set up and armed through the Ajax apps, Hikvision AX PRO panels such as the DS-PWA96-M-WE work with Hik-Connect and Hik-ProConnect, the Pyronix EURO76/S-UK supports the HomeControl+ app as standard, and Eaton panels such as the PAN-100WE-KPZ are SecureConnect enabled. Check which communicator the panel needs for the app to reach it.

It sends pictures of the scene with the alarm, so a keyholder or monitoring centre can see whether it is real. The Ajax Hub 2 Plus uses its Wings channel to send photos from MotionCam detectors, the Hikvision DS-PWA96-M-WE takes up to 48 PIRCAM detectors, and Videofied panels such as the W210 transmit colour video over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or GPRS.

Yes. The Ajax Hub BP Jeweller 93602.263.BL1 is a battery-powered hub for sites without permanent mains, managing up to 100 devices, and the Videofied XTO-IP240 is a weatherproof outdoor panel on four 3.6V lithium batteries that last up to four years with normal activity. They suit vacant properties, construction sites and other remote locations.

On some systems, yes. The Texecom CFC-0002 is a replacement PCB for Veritas R8 panels, and the Premier Elite 24 CAA-0001 and Premier Elite 168 CAD-0018 are sold as LS1 PCBs, so the board can be changed while the housing, wiring and detectors stay. Match the part number to the existing panel before fitting a new board.

A panel that shows which of several alarm inputs has operated, with a sounder and silence and reset controls. The Hoyles Multiguard MG216100 and MG226000 are six-zone annunciators that can be stacked for larger systems, for uses such as fire exit door monitoring, perimeter protection, personal attack and nurse call. The MG222000 is a matching repeater.

Through a communicator on or in the panel. The Ajax Hub 2 Plus reports over Ethernet, Wi-Fi and two SIM cards with automatic failover, the Pyronix EUR-073-ARM snap-in modem sends SIA and Contact ID formats over PSTN, Galaxy Dimension panels such as the C096-D-H1 support GPRS, PSTN, ISDN and Ethernet, and Texecom Premier Elite panels such as the CAE-0001 take plug-on Digimodems.