We have an ADT alarm system , the other night I heard a neibor saying he could disarm our alarm system .. he tried telling someone ells how to do it .. said it was the 3rd cable to the right or the internet , and tv cable.
is this true? .. and , would he have to have access to the basement to do so? .. also .. if disconnected will it set off the alarm.
we are scared now that he will enter our home.
Can someone disarm our ADT alarm system by removing the cable
alarm
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Most security system have a minimum of 9v DC, but I've seen up to 60v AC or DC, running to the sensors. The concern here is voltage drop as these are extremely low current devices. If you are using magnetic/reed switches, which it sounds like you are, they are unpowered digital switches (either on or off). Digital logic circuit typically require >50% of the feed voltage to trigger as high (on) and anything else is low (off); however, you always want more than the minimum so any interference and such doesn't affect you.
VD = Voltage drop (conductor temp of 75°C) in volts
L = One-way length of the circuit's feeder (in feet)
R = Resistance factor in ohm/kft
I = Load current (in amperes)
- 28ga copper = 64.898 ohm/kft
- 24ga copper = 25.669 ohm/kft
- 18ga copper = 6.3851 ohm/kft
Let's assume the wire is going to a back-lit keypad and draws .5A (trying for worst case scenario)
VD(100ft, 28ga) ~= 6.5V. 9v source means 2.5v at the end which won't work
VD(100ft, 24ga) ~= 2.5V. 9V source means 6.5v, a reed switch should work fine, a keypad or motion sensor may not.
VD(100ft, 18ga) ~= .64. 9v source means 8.36v, almost anything will work.
Now that is the worst case scenario (within reason). Most modern security systems are 24v so 28ga is pushing it for keypads/motion sensor (depending on what they actually need) but 24ga should be fine for everything. It really depends on what your trying to hookup for each stretch of wire, the length, and the input voltage.
If this breaks any Low-Voltage NEC, someone please add details.
*Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_drop, http://amasci.com/tesla/wire1.html
The system is designed to dial out on a phone line to a central station or a police monitoring system. These alarms have built in warnings for a failure in the phone line. This is a safeguard so you know the system is not working properly.
So long as the system is operational and cut off from the phone line, it will continue to beep. By removing parts of the keypad and circuit board, you have apparently shut down at least part of the system. If you truly don't want the system on, you need to remove power from the entire system.
The power to the system is probably controlled by master box (probably where the battery was) that has a wire running to a transformer on or near your main power panel. The simplest way to stop the system is to disconnect the wires going from the transformer to the alarm control panel.
The transformer wires are low voltage (usually 24 volts) on the outside (inside the panel they are 120 volts). To be safe, it is better to turn off the breaker connected to the transformer before disconnecting the wire. If you cant figure out which it is, have a flashlight handy, turn off the main breaker, then disconnect the wires. Then turn the main back on.
Once the system is disconnected form both the mains and the battery, it cannot send a false alarm or activate the safety beeper.
Best Answer
When an alarm trips, it can send out one or more of three types of alerts:
Some alarm setups are local only, some remote (police or central station) only, and some are both.
Two things control whether the alarm will go out:
Almost all serious alarms have battery backup to ensure that, even if the power is cut, the basic alarm system is still functional. If there is no battery backup, cutting power lines will nullify the alarm.
Local: Assuming power, AC or battery, a local alarm will ring upon intrusion, regardless of whether cables are cut.
Remote: Connections to police or central stations are most often handled through conventional telephone lines. These may be landline connections or cable/internet connections (if phone service is via the cable system or other internet provider).
Even if power is cut, landline telephone service is often still active, since landlines have their own power feed. But if the telephone line is cut, the signal cannot go out.
Cable/internet phone, on the other hand, relies on modems that need AC power. If power is cut, cable phone does not work. If the cable line is cut, this would also prevent a signal going out.
Cellular remote: Some alarm systems offer a cellular connection. This is like having a dedicated cellphone built into the alarm system. These systems function even if the landline or cable line is cut. They will continue to function even if the AC power is cut (assuming a battery backup, which would be standard on a cellular type setup).
Whether your system would survive a wire attack depends on the type of system you have. Only a cellular based system with a battery backup can withstand all attacks on the wires that feed a property. But many systems will detect a disruption of power or telephone connection, make a call to the owner to see if there is a problem, and alert authorities of the monitor does not get satisfactory assurances. The level of security is a function of how much you are willing to pay and how concerned you are about various levels of risk, and the particular protocols of the alarm monitoring service.