Eaton i-on10 Wired Alarm Panel, 10 Zone, Proximity Keypad, Grade 2 I-ON10-KP

Overview

This Eaton panel is the control unit of a wired alarm. Detectors and contacts connect to it by cable, and it decides when to sound the alarm. It is one of the simpler alarm control panels on this site.

Where a home or small unit needs a straightforward wired system, the fixed zone count keeps the job easy to plan.

How it works

• Zones: a zone is one monitored circuit, usually a detector or a door contact. Grouping two devices on one zone means the panel cannot tell them apart.
• Part sets: a part set arms only some of the zones, such as the downstairs at night. This panel has 3 for each partition.
• Proximity reading: prox means the keypad can read a small tag presented to it. This suits people who would rather not type a code.
• The bus: a bus is a shared data cable that devices such as keypads connect to. This panel has 1.

Where to use it

It is aimed at homes and small commercial installations. Grade 2 is generally taken to mean low to medium risk, so check what an insurer needs before choosing it for a higher risk site.

Environmental class 2 is generally read as indoor use, so the panel belongs inside the building. Choose a position where it cannot easily be reached by a passer-by.

What the figures mean in practice

• 10 zones, no expansion: count every door, window and detector before buying, because the panel is non expandable.
• 10 user codes: enough for a household or small team to have separate codes, so one can be removed without changing the rest.
• 1A supply: this is the limit for the panel's supply. As a rule, add up what the keypads and detectors draw and keep some margin.

Installing it

As a rule, plan the cable runs before fixing the panel, and allow room around the housing for the cables and the battery. An installer who knows other i-on panels should find the menus familiar, as the i-on range shares them.

Common mistakes when fitting an intruder alarm are worth reading about first. Follow the manual for wiring and programming.

Planning your system

This panel is bells-only, so plan on a sounder being the main alert. Check Eaton's compatibility chart before relying on any remote signalling.

A typical job also needs detectors, contacts, an external sounder, a battery and cable. Further alarm keypads can be added up to the panel's limit, but check each one against the chart first.

Standards explained

EN 50131 is the European standard for intruder alarms, and PD6662 is the UK document that applies it. The panel's grade does not set the grade of the whole system, because that depends on every device fitted.