Alarm.com Image Sensor for DSC Impassa/PowerSeries Neo Installation Guide
3Copyright © 2015 Alarm.com. All rights reserved. Rev 3.4
returned to the upright position and no movement has been detected for 5 minutes. A
tamper can also be cleared by resetting the sensor.
D. Sensor LED
By default, the image sensor LED does not illuminate when activated by motion unless the
sensor is in test mode. The LED can be enabled via the Alarm.com Dealer Website for
each Image Sensor on a customer’s account. When enabled, the LED illuminates for 3
seconds upon motion activations (at most every 3 minutes while disarmed).
E. Image Capture Settings
Capture settings are configured automatically for each sensor based upon the customer’s
Image Sensor service plan so it is important to subscribe the customer to a service plan
before enrolling the sensor.
Alarms & Image Sensor Plus Plan:
Captures motion-activated images while the system is Armed Away to catch potential
intruders before the alarm sounds. Continues to capture images until the system is
Disarmed. On the Alarms Plan, these images are not sent or available to the customer
unless there is an alarm event. On the Plus Plan, the customer has an option of
requesting any images captured, even if an alarm is not triggered.
Captures motion-activated images on an instant alarm (panic, etc.) or an alarm from
Armed Stay after an initialization period (up to a 30 second delay).
Automatically transmits up to 5 motion-activated image events (with 2 images/event) to
Alarm.com and sends images to recipients as selected by the customer. Images are
automatically selected for transmission, which begins when the panel issues an alarm
locally (pending alarm) and ends when the panel is Disarmed, or after 5 minutes
(whichever comes first).
Note: Only panics that put the panel into alarm are eligible for alarm uploads. For DSC
Impassa/PowerSeries Neo, these are audible police and fire panics.
Plus Plan Only:
Captures the first motion event after the panel is Disarmed from Armed-Away.
Customers have the ability to request non-alarm images (such as entry delay or
post-disarm) to be uploaded and sent to them (up to their monthly upload quota).
Customers can request property Peek-In images to be taken and sent to them right
away or on the next motion activity (up to their monthly upload quota).
Customers can configure Daily View rules that automatically capture and upload the
first motion event during a specific time period each day.
SENSOR RESET BUTTON
Insert a paperclip into the hole on the front of the sensor to access the reset button. Press
and hold for 3 seconds to power cycle the sensor. Press and hold a full 10 seconds until
the sensor LED flashes rapidly to reset the sensor and clear it from its network. The
sensor must be reset prior to enrolling in a new network.
(Note: The sensor can only be cleared from its network using the reset button if it is
currently not communicating with its network. If the sensor is still communicating with its
network, clear sensor by deleting it from the system it is enrolled in.)
Figure
Sensor Reset Button
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
When a sensor‘s batteries are low, the panel will display a low battery alert for the sensor
(unless this trouble condition has been disabled for the panel display). Notifications are
also issued via the Alarm.com platform if the customer has subscribed to this notification
type.
(Note: Low battery messages are only active at the panel between 7:00am and 10:00pm.)
To replace the sensor batteries, slide the front of the sensor up off the sensor-back. (No
need to remove or un-mount entire sensor-back and mounting arm.) To maximize battery
life, replace the sensor batteries with 2 AA 1.5v Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.
Dispose of used batteries according to the battery manufacturer instructions and following
local regulations.
Figure
Removing Sensor for Battery Replacement
(Note: The operation of the sensor with alkaline batteries has not been verified for
compliance with UL standards.)
OTHER FEATURE COMPATIBILITY
Two-Way Voice Compatibility
Images cannot be transmitted while a Two-Way Voice call is in session. When the Image
Sensor is installed on a system with Two-Way Voice over the cellular network, image
transmission during an alarm may be interrupted by the two-way session. Image trans-
mission resumes once the call has terminated.
TROUBLESHOOTING
General Troubleshooting Steps
Verify Module Signal Strength: If the Alarm.com module is having a problem signaling,
motion activations and image transmission may be delayed or cancelled.
Verify Image Sensor RF Signal Strength: The signal strength must be above 30% for
the sensor to function properly.
Verify Image Sensor Service Plan: Image capture functionality depends on the
customer’s service plan. Be sure the proper Image Sensor add-on is selected; delete
sensor and re-enroll.
Sensor Not Enrolling
Verify Sensor is Receiving Power: After inserting batteries, the sensor LED should
illuminate or flash within 10 seconds.
Verify Sensor is Not Communicating with Another Network: If the sensor has been
previously enrolled in a different system or daughterboard, delete the sensor from the
system and hold the sensor reset button for 10 seconds to clear the sensor before
attempting to enroll the sensor in a new network. The sensor cannot be cleared if it is
currently communicating with its network. In this case the sensor must be deleted from
the system first through the control panel or remote command.
Sensor Non-Responsive
Verify Range: Under the “Image Sensor Setup” menu, scroll to “Image Sensor
Settings,” select the sensor and verify under “Signal” that the sensor is registering a
strong signal. If signal strength is low, move non-responsive sensor closer to control
panel, verify signal strength and see if communication resumes. See the Image Sensor
Troubleshooting Guide on the Dealer Website for information on optimal antenna
configuration.
Replace Batteries: Check battery level at the panel (under “Image Sensor Settings”)
and install fresh sensor batteries.
False Motion Activations
Check Environmental Elements: Heating or cooling elements may adversely affect
sensor performance. Test sensor with and without these elements to determine
interference.
Check Sensor Positioning: The sensor may not be properly positioned to capture the
desired motion. Check horizontal positioning of sensor and re-mount as necessary.
Check PIR Sensitivity Setting: Verify that the proper sensor motion profile has been
selected through the setup menu or select a less sensitive profile.
Sensor Tamper
The sensor detects changes in sensor orientation and can register a tamper regardless
of the sensor-back being removed. A tamper will automatically be cleared after the
sensor has been returned to the upright position and has not detected any tamper
activity for 5 minutes. With the sensor mounted, the tamper may also be cleared by
holding the sensor reset button for 3 seconds to initiate a power cycle.
Images Not Captured
Check Service Plan: Make sure the account has the proper Image Sensor add-on.
Images cannot be captured without an Image Sensor service plan. For alarm
functionality, add the “Image Sensor Alarms” plan. For alarms and enhanced
functionality, add the “Image Sensor Plus” plan.
Verify Sensor Rules: Make sure the sensor initialization process has been completed.
On the Dealer Website, make sure that the sensor rules have been confirmed using the
“Rules Confirmed” column.
Enable Auto Uploads: During the first four hours after any sensor is enrolled onto the
system, alarm images will not automatically be uploaded to Alarm.com. Automatic
uploads are automatically enabled after four hours. Enable uploads sooner from the
Dealer Website. On the Image Sensor Plus plan, view and request captured images
from any test alarms from the Customer Website.
If the daughterboard LED is blinking, refer to this chart for LED trouble diagnostics.
Daughterboard Status LED Activity Reference
Daughterboard is
Receiving Power
While the daughterboard is powered and
the module is not in power save mode.
Daughterboard Not
Receiving Power or
Module in Power Save
Mode
Until daughterboard receives power or
module returns from power save mode.
Incompatible Module or
Hardware Issue
Module not compatible w/ Image Sensor
(Firmware 146 & up required) or there is a
hardware failure.
If the camera LED is blinking, refer to this chart for LED trouble diagnostics.
Image Sensor Red Status LED Activity Reference
Approximately first 5 seconds after powering.
Sensor Joins or
Rejoins Network
First 5 seconds after sensor joins a new network
(during enroll process) or rejoins its existing
network.
Insert Paperclip to access reset button
