Ness L-8 User manual

L-8
CONTROL PANEL
USER MANUAL

Sydney
(HEAD OFFICE)
4/167 Prospect Highway
Seven Hills 2147
N.S.W Australia
Sydney
02 9624 3655
Brisbane
07 3343 7744
Melbourne
03 9878 1022
Perth
08 9328 2511
Copyright© by Ness Security Products
JULY 1997 V2.2
To the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this manual
is correct at the time of going to print. Ness Security Products reserve
the right to make changes to the features and specifications at any time and
without notice in the course of product development.
MANUFACTURED BY:

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PAGE CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Terminology
CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS
Keypad
Buttons
Audible Indications
Visual Indications
OPERATION
Operating Rules
Area Operation
Arming the Control Panel
Disarming the Control Panel
Monitor Mode
Emergency Functions-Panic
Alarms
Resetting an Alarm
Excluding Zones
Including Zones
Alarm Memory
PROGRAMMING
To Enter Program Mode
To Exit Program Mode
How To Program Access Codes
How To Program Entry and Exit Times
To Program Entry 1 Timer (option 26)
To Program Entry 2 Timer (option 27)
To Program Exit Timer (option 28)
Programming Summary
Troubleshooting
Installation Record
Operation Summary
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Thank you for purchasing a Ness L8 control panel proudly designed and built in Australia.
The L-8 control panel is very powerful but easy to use, utilising the latest in microprocessor
technology. Please take time to read this manual so that you understand the benefits of the
control panel.
INTRODUCTION
( EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL SYSTEM )
NESS L8 KEYPAD
L8
ALARM SYSTEM
Zone 1
Front door
Zone 2
Windows
Zone 3
Side door
Zone 4
Hallway
Zones5-7
Hallway
Zone 8
Garage
17V AC plug pack Optional keyswitch Optional Panic switch Siren cover with
tamper
Strobe light
External siren
Internal siren
DETECTORS & SWITCHES

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The micro computer based 8 zone control
panel forms the heart of your security system
and connects to all other equipment. Each
zone of the panel will be connected to one or
more detection devices to protect an area such
as the front door, hallway, windows, etc.
The panel is said to be armed when it is
set to detect an intruder. At other times it is
disarmed.
Normally a zone is considered secured.
Activation of a detection device will cause
the zone to be unsecured and may cause an
alarm.
Detectors such as fire detectors and panic
buttons must be able to generate an alarm at
all times regardless of the panel setting. A
zone with this assignment is called a 24 hour
zone.
Some detection devices may only be required
to generate an alarm or warning only when
the panel is disarmed. A zone with this assign-
ment is called a day zone.
Before leaving the premises you must arm
the panel to enable it to detect intruders and
generate an alarm. After arming, the panel
will ignore detectors for the exit delay time
to enable you to depart without triggering an
alarm.
When you enter the premises the panel will
ignore selected zones for the entry delay time
and will not alarm unless you fail to disarm
the panel during this allowed time.
Monitor mode allows selected zones to be
armed while leaving others disarmed if you
wish to protect a number of zones while you
are at home.
If you wish to split your alarm system into
two areas with access limited to each area by
code numbers then area operation is used.
The control panel housing and the metal
covers over external sirens are protected by
tamper switches to detect someone attempt-
ing to disable the security system. Activation
of these switches will cause an instant tam-
per alarm.
If a detector becomes faulty, you can exclude
the associated zone so that it is totally ignored
and cannot generate an alarm. Including the
zone will enable it to generate an alarm
again.
The control panel is fitted with a rechargeable
stand-by battery to ensure your security sys-
tem continues to operate if the mains power
is interrupted. This battery is checked every
hour and when ever you arm/disarm the
panel.
When ever an alarm occurs, it may be silenced
by entering an access code, otherwise it will
reset at the end of alarm reset time. All alarms
are stored in memory and may be viewed at
any time by entering memory mode.
TERMINOLOGY

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CONTROLS AND INDICATIONS
KEYPAD
The L-8 keypad consists of 18 buttons, 17
indicators and 1 internal beeper.
BUTTONS
The 10 numeric buttons are used for enter-
ing access codes and in program mode to
enter option selections and values.
The Enter button is used at the end of every
button sequence to enter the button data.
AUDIBLE INDICATIONS
Every time a button is pressed on the keypad,
it responds with a brief beep in acknowl-
edgment.
The beeper is also used to indicate whether
the entry was valid or invalid. For example,
whenever enter is pressed, all the buttons
pressed before it are checked to see whether
they are valid. If they are valid, the response
will be 3 short beeps.
If they are invalid (or incorrect) the response
will be 1 long beep and they will be ignored.
At other times, the beeper will sound warnings
such as 10 beeps for a low battery or mains fail.
The beeper may have been programmed to
sound continuously if an alarm has occurred.
..ENTER..
10

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VISUAL INDICATIONS
Each of the 17 indicator lights have three possible states. These are:-
LIGHT
ZONEs 1 - 8
ARM 1
ARM 2
MAINS
BATTERY
MEMORY
EXCLUDE
TAMPER
PROGRAM
LINE
OFF
Zone Sealed
Day / Disarm
Day / Disarm
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
Normal
ON
Zone Unsealed
Panel is Armed
Panel is Armed
Normal
Normal
Memory Mode Selected
Exclude Mode Selected
Client Mode Selected
Panic Alarm has been activated.
Only displayed in Memory.
FLASH
Zone Alarm
Monitor Mode
Monitor Mode
Mains Fail
Battery Low
Alarm in Memory
Zones Excluded
Tamper Alarm
Install Program
Mode selected

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OPERATION
This section describes the operation of a typ-
ical control panel installation. Keep in mind
that your installation may vary depending
on the selected options and equipment. The
operating instructions which follow will endea-
vour to cover the most common options. If
you had any doubts speak to your installer.
All control panel operations are controlled
by the L8 keypad except if an optional key
switch or radio control is installed.
OPERATING RULES
Generally, the panel will be in the disarmed.
Armed or monitor modes which provide
different levels of security for your prem-
ises. Three other temporary modes, program,
memory and exclude, allow you to perform
various operations. The panel will automati-
cally exit from these temporary modes if
you do not press any buttons on the keypad
within a 4 minute period.
If you make a mistake while entering any
codes, press the enter button and start again.
When you are required to enter your access
code, you are given three opportunities to
enter it correctly. After the third invalid
attempt the alarm is activated (requiring the
correct code to silence the alarm). This prevents
anyone trying to guess your code by enter-
ing random numbers.
AREA OPERATION
The L8 control panel allows for the 8 zones
to be split into two groups known as area 1
and area 2.The two areas can be assigned
access codes so that a user may have access
either of the areas or both areas. This allows
for people to have access to one part of
your premises while the other part remains
armed.
This is known as area operation. Arming and
disarming is carried out as normal, you may
have keypads installed in each area and set
up by your installer so that the armed light
indicates the armed state for that area only.
NOTE: All zones which are active in the
armed mode always exist in one or both
areas, eg. even if you do not require your
8 zones to be split, all 8 zones will be
programmed to operate in area 1.

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ARMING THE CONTROL PANEL
The control panel must be armed prior to
vacating the premises in order to detect
intruders. Ensure that the panel is not in
Program, Memory or Exclude modes.
NOTE: If the panel is already in alarm,
you must first silence the alarm before you
can arm.
These are two methods of arming the panel:
1. Normally the panel is armed by pressing
Arm then Enter.
2. Your installer may have programmed the
panel to require the entry of a code to arm
the panel.
If something is wrong when Arming the
control panel, the normal 3 beeps will be
replaced by other warnings.
• Mains power is turned off
• Control Panel battery is low
• A long beep indicates an invalid entry
or an alarm is outstanding and needs
to be reset by entering your access
code first.
Siren Warning: At the end of the exit time,
all zones should be secured. If any are unse-
cured, the siren will sound for 2 seconds as
a warning to indicate that those zones have
been automatically excluded. For maximum
security, you should return, disarm, check
the premises and then arm again. Continual
warnings could mean that a detector is faulty
and may have to be manually excluded.
If the auto-exclude option is disabled, the
siren will sound for the duration of reset
time if a zone is unsecured at the end of exit
time.
1. CHECK that all windows and doors are securely locked.
2. PRESS
or
code
3.
The arm light should be ON.
4. L E AV E the premises within your exit delay time.
5. At the end of the exit delay time, three beeps will sound
Arm
Arm
..Enter..
..Enter..

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DISARMING THE CONTROL PANEL
Upon entering the protected premises
through a delay zone, the keypad responds
with regular beeps as a reminder to disarm.
You then have your programmed entry delay
time to disarm the panel by, Entering one
of your access codes. If the panel is not dis-
armed by the end of the entry delay time, an
alarm will occur. You may enter your code
to silence the alarm.
If one of your codes is, say, 7676 then to
disarm press…
7676 enter
If you make a mistake in entering your
code, then you must press enter and start
again. Three incorrect entries will cause an
alarm.
1. ENTER the protected premises via a delay zone.
2. LISTEN for the beeps coming from the keypad.
3. PRESS . . . code
4. The armed light should now be extinguished..
The entry beeps can be disabled as a function of the installation options.
If the external strobe light (if fitted) is flashing before you disarm then this means that an
alarm occurred since you last armed the panel. Flashing indicators on the keypad also indi-
cate the location of the alarm before you disarm. Once you have disarmed, you may view the
alarm memory to check the location of the alarm. (See alarm memory page 16)
..Enter..

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MONITOR MODE
Monitor mode allows you to arm selected
zones while others are ignored. Typically,
perimeter zones (doors and windows) can be
monitored while you are at home.
To select Monitor mode,
A) press <Monitor> <Enter>
or
<Monitor> <code> <Enter>
The control panel will respond with 3 beeps
and the armed indicators will flash to indicate
that you are in Monitor mode.
Monitor mode cannot be selected while in
Program, Memory or Exclude modes.
To exit from Monitor mode: press,
<code> < Enter> to disarm.
Note:
If an alarm occurs, while in Monitor mode,
entering <code> <Enter> will silence the
alarm. This will also change the mode of
operations of your panel, so remember to
enter monitor mode again if necessary.
1. To ENTER monitor mode, press…
2. If anALARM occurs, the respective zone light will flash
3. To SILENCE the alarm
and to exit monitor, press… code
Monitor ..Enter..
..Enter..

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EMERGENCY FUNCTIONS-PANIC
For personal protection, the keypad contains
an instant panic feature. Panic can be used
to…
•Scare away intruders inside
or outside your premises.
•Summon help from friends
or neighbours.
•Test the operation of the siren.
The panic function may have been
programmed to be either.
1 / Audible - activates siren or buzzers
or
2 / Silent - activate a warning in another
part of your building.
To activate the panic alarm, press
<Panic> <Enter>
To silence the siren, press
<code> <Enter>
Panic cannot be used while the panel is in
Program, Memory or Exclude mode.
NOTE: Your installer may have installed
a separate panic button. To activate the panic
alarm simply press the button.
1. PANIC!
2. Press…
3. The siren will SOUND
4. Press… code
The siren will S T O P
Panic ..Enter..
..Enter..

Memory plus indicates CAUSE
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ALARMS
RESETTING AN ALARM
Alarms may be caused by one of the follow-
ing:
• A zone has been activated while armed
• A tamper has been activated
• A Panic button has been activated
All of these may cause your sirens and
strobe to operate. Various visual indications
relevant to the alarm will be retained in the
memory. If this occurs, disarm your Control
Panel which will reset the alarm. The cause
of the alarm can be identified by entering
the Alarm Memory Mode as described on
page 16.
Your panel can be reset and the alarm
silenced by entering your CODE followed
by the ENTER button.
If you arrive at your premises and find the
strobe light flashing (if installed), reset the
panel as above. To check the cause of the
alarm, you can view the alarms in memory
by entering memory mode.
To Reset an alarm, press … code ..Enter..

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EXCLUDING ZONES
If a detector becomes faulty and cannot be
secured when arming the panel, then its
zone may be excluded, ie.ignored by the
system so that it does not generate false
alarms.
To enter Exclude mode press,
<Exclude> <Enter>
or
<Exclude> <code> <Enter>
All the lights will be turned off and then
the Zone Excluded light will show a steady
light. You may now exclude zones.
To exclude, say, zones 4 and 8, press the
buttons…
<Exclude> <Enter>
4 <Enter> 8 <Enter>
Zone lights 4 and 8 will turn on.
<Enter> to Exit Exclude Mode
NOTE: Excluding zones can only be done
when the panel is disarmed.
1. To exclude zones…
2. Press…
or
code
the Exclude light should be On
3. ENTER the zone/s to be EXCLUDED Zone No.
4. To EXIT press ENTER
If you make a mistake, enter the zone number again to remove it from your selection.
Zones which you exclude will be indicated by the relevant zone light showing a steady light
in the exclude mode.
NOTE: Your Control Panel may be programmed to automatically exclude faulty zones
whenever you Arm. The Exclude light will flash as a warning or memory of the auto-exclusion.
If Auto - Exclude is selected the outside Siren will sound for 2 seconds indicating a zone has
Auto Excluded.
Exclude ..Enter..
..Enter..Exclude
..Enter..
..Enter..

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INCLUDING ZONES
Zones which have been excluded, may be
included while you are in the Disarm modes.
All Excluded Zones are automatically
included when the panel is Disarmed.
Thus if a detector is still faulty it must be
Excluded again.
The exclude light will flash to warn you of
excluded zones.
To view Exclude Zones for Inclusion press,
<Exclude> <Enter>
or
<Exclude> <code> <Enter>
To include, say, zones 4 and 8, press
<Exclude> <Enter>
<4> <Enter> <8> <Enter>
Zone lights 4 and 8 will turn off.
<Enter> to Exit Exclude Mode
1. To include zones, press …
or
code
the Exclude light should be On
2. ENTER the zone/s to be EXCLUDED Zone No.
3. To EXIT press ENTER
Exclude ..Enter..
..Enter..Exclude
..Enter..
..Enter..

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ALARM MEMORY
The L8 Control Panel contains an compre-
hensive Alarm Memory. The L8 will remem-
ber Arms, low battery, mains fail and alarms.
The memory is constantly upgraded and the
last 8 events are always available for viewing.
To view the memory display, enter…
<Memory> <Enter>
or
<Memory> <code> <Enter>
The memory light will illuminate and then
the last 8 alarm events will be flashed out
at 1 second intervals. A short beep indicates
the next event is displayed.
NOTE: The most recent of the last 8
events will be displayed first.
This Memory display can only be selected
while the panel is in the Disarmed state.
NOTE: Entry to Program Mode will clear
the events from Alarm Memory.
Memory ..Enter..
1. To view memory , press…
2.
OBSERVE lights .
The last 8 events will be flashed out at 1 second intervals separated by a beep
The lights are used as follows:
LIGHT ALARM
Zone light Zone alarm
Arm light Panel armed
Tamper light Tamper alarm (siren cover, panel etc.)
Line light Panic alarm
Battery light Low battery
Mains light Mains failure
You can access the Alarm Memory as often as required
while the Panel remains Disarmed .

The L8 Control Panel allows you to reprogram all 15 available access codes, the 2 entry times
and your exit time.
You may need to reprogram an access code because you no longer wish a user to have access to
your system or because you want to give somebody temporary access to your system, or you may
have simply forgotten your code.
You may also need to reprogram the entry or exit times of your entry/exit zones if you find them
too long or too short.
For all other programming changes, talk to your installer.
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TO ENTER PROGRAM MODE
PROGRAMMING
TO EXIT PROGRAM MODE
Access code number 1 is called your master
code. Program mode can only be accessed
using your master code. To enter program
mode, press…
<Program> <master code> <Enter>
The program light will turn on and all other
lights will turn off to indicate successful
access to program mode.
NOTE: Access to Program mode can only
be done from the disarmed state.
To enter Program mode, press…
Press, <Program> <Enter>
The program light will turn off and normal
operating lights (mains and battery will turn on).
NOTE: The control panel will automati-
cally exit the program mode if no buttons
are pressed within a 4 minute period.
To exit Program mode, press…
Program
Program
..Enter..
..Enter..
Master Code
Important: The control panel will automatically exit the Program mode if no keys are pressed within a
four minute period.
Important: The control panel will automatically exit the Program mode if no keys are pressed within a
four minute period.

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HOW TO PROGRAM ACCESS CODES
To program any of the 15 access codes, you
must know a few rules first.
REMEMBER :-
• All codes can be 3, 4, 5 or 6 digits long
• Codes cannot begin with a 0 (see below)
• A code can be cancelled by reprogram-
ming it again with a code of 000.
• Codes must be unique and cannot be a
subset of each other.
Eg. If a Code-2 is 1234,code-3 234
(not allowed) code-6 1334 (allowed).
• Code-1 is the master code and MUST be
programmed. All other codes are optional
When you enter your new code number the
L-8 requires that you input the code twice to
confirm a correct code.
Each user access code has a 2 digit program
option number to ensure the panel can
identify which code number you want to
program.
The options for each code are:-
Code Option Code Option
1 11 9 19
2 12 10 20
3 13 11 21
4 14 12 22
5 15 13 23
6 16 14 24
7 17 15 25
8 18
To Program Codes, press…
2 digit option no.
Code no code no.
A long beep indicates an error has been made-start again.
Example to program code 1 to be 2468.
Prog 11 enter 2468 Enter 2468 Enter
Program ..Enter..
..Enter.. ..Enter..

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HOW TO PROGRAM ENTRY AND EXIT TIMES
Your L-8 Control Panel will have zone(s)
which are called Entry/Exit zones. These are
the zone(s) which you normally enter and
leave your premises by. To allow you to do
so without causing a false alarm, there is
an Exit Time which the Control Panel gives
you to depart your premises after you Arm
the Panel. There are 2 separate entry times
which the Control Panel gives you to Disarm
the Panel when you have entered the prem-
ises before an alarm occurs.
Your installer may have programmed differ-
ent zones with a long entry time and a short
entry time zone. (A long and short entry
time is useful if you enter by a garage or a
front door).
TO PROGRAM YOU MUST KNOW A FEW RULES:
Exit time can be programmed from 1 to 99
seconds in 1 second increments.
Entry 1 time can be programmed from 1 to
99 seconds in 1 second increments.
Entry 2 time can be programmed from 10 to
990 seconds in 10 second increments,
Each one of the timers has a 2 digit program
option number.
The current timer value is displayed by the
L-8 when you select a timer option. The
value is displayed by flashing out the value
on the numeric zone lights 1 to 8, 9= battery
and 0= mains at 1 second intervals.
When you change the timer value the new
value is displayed as above. The option
numbers are as follows;
Programming always follows this sequence;
Entry 1 timer = Option 26
Entry 2 timer = Option 27
Exit time = Option 28
To view a timer, press…
2 digit option
To change a timer , press…
New Value New Value
Displayed
Program ..Enter..
..Enter..
Value
displayed

TO PROGRAM ENTRY 1 TIMER (OPTION 26)
TO PROGRAM ENTRY 2 TIMER (OPTION 27)
TO PROGRAM EXIT TIMER (OPTION 28)
To view entry 1 timer value, press value displayed
OPTION 26
To change entry 1 timer, press… New Value displayed.
New value
Timer 2 can be set from10 to 990 seconds in 10 second increments.
To view exit timer value, press value displayed
OPTION 28
To change exit timer, press… New Value displayed.
New value
Default time equals 60 seconds.
Timer can be set from 1 to 99 seconds. Default equals 60 seconds.
Exit timer is common to all armed zones.
To view entry 2 timer value, press value displayed
OPTION 27
To change entry 2 timer, press… New Value displayed.
New value
NOTE: Your installer may have programmed your exit timer to be programmable from 10 to 990 seconds in 10 second intervals
if you require a particularly long exit time. (Eg.,time to arm, move your car from the garage and close the door.) Simply program
your exit time as normal. It is recommended that for maximum security you should keep your exit and entry times as short as possible.
..Enter..
..Enter..
Program
..Enter..
..Enter..
Program
..Enter..
..Enter..
Program
Timer 1 can be set from 1 to 99 seconds. Default time equals 20 seconds.