Appendix A. Glossary - Visonic POWERMAX User Manual

APPENDIX A. GLOSSARY

This list of terms is arranged in alphabetical order.
Any term indicated by cursive (italic) letters within
the explanatory text can be looked up separately.
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".
DE5450U
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.
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 canceling 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: Allows you to send an automatic "Latchkey"
message to chosen telephones if the system is disarmed by
a "latchkey" user (a junior family member, for instance). The
latchkey message is sent to the private telephones
programmed by the user as targets for such messages.
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.
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.
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