Swann MALARM1301012E User manual

Wireless Alarm Kit
English
MALARM1301012E

2
Important Information
FCC Verication
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the
receiver
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit dierent
from that to which the receiver is connected
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help
These devices comply with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. These devices may not cause harmful interference, and
2. These devices must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
WARNING
Modications not approved by the party responsible for compliance could void
user’s authority to operate the equipment.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
• Make sure product is xed correctly and stable if fastened in place
• Do not operate if wires and terminals are exposed
• Do not cover vents on the side or back of the camera and allow adequate space
for ventilation

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Warranty Information
Limited Warranty Terms & Conditions
Swann Communications warrants this product against defects in workmanship and
material for a period of one (1) year from its original purchase date. You must present
your receipt as proof of date of purchase for warranty validation. Any unit which
proves defective during the stated period will be repaired without charge for parts
or labor or replaced at the sole discretion of Swann. The end user is responsible for all
freight charges incurred to send the product to Swann’s repair centers. The end user
is responsible for all shipping costs incurred when shipping from and to any country
other than the country of origin.
The warranty does not cover any incidental, accidental or consequential damages
arising from the use of or the inability to use this product. Any costs associated with
the tting or removal of this product by a tradesman or other person or any other
costs associated with its use are the responsibility of the end user. This warranty
applies to the original purchaser of the product only and is not transferable to any
third party. Unauthorized end user or third party modications to any component or
evidence of misuse or abuse of the device will render all warranties void.
By law some countries do not allow limitations on certain exclusions in this warranty.
Where applicable by local laws, regulations and legal rights will take precedence.
For Australia: Our goods come with guarantees which cannot be excluded under
Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major
failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage.
You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of
acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to major failure.
Swann Communications USA Inc.
12636 Clark Street
Santa Fe Springs CA 90670
USA
Swann Communications
Unit 13, 331 Ingles Street,
Port Melbourne Vic 3207
Swann Communications LTD.
Stag Gates House
63/64 The Avenue
SO171XS
United Kingdom

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Congratulations on your purchase of this Swann Wireless Alarm Kit.
You’ve chosen a versatile security solution that’s great for almost any home or small
business that is as easy to install as it is to stick a double-sided piece of tape to
something.
How it Works
The Base Unit will monitor for signals
coming from the Sensors and the
Remote Control.
The sensors and the remote control
can only send information. The
receiver/siren can only receive
information. Thus, the receiver needs
to be in a central location as close to
the sensors and where you’ll want to
use the remote control.
Each sensor has a number from 1
through 4, which correspond to the
numbers on the front face.
Alarm / Chime
You can set the Receiver to act as either an alarm siren or as a doorchime.
When set to Chime, the receiver will emit a chime tone each time any sensor detects
anything. This means that any time something moves in front of the PIR Sensors the
chime will sound.
Remember: There’s no such thing as “too much protection”.
This Wireless Alarm Kit is a fantastic entry-level, easy to install security system and is
a great deterrent to theives and intruders. However, it’s not infallible, and could be
circumvented by a skilled (or very lucky) assailant.
Remember: The Wireless Alarm Kit will detect intruders, it can’t actually do anything
to stop them other than making a loud alarm noise.
We strongly suggest that the Wireless Alarm Kit be used as part of a comprehensive
security solution, perhaps involving CCTV and/or an Internet-based monitoring
solution. Quality doors and locks are also important, as are vandal-resistant windows
if you happen to be in a high-risk area.
Introduction

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The included Window/Door Sensors are
extremely reliable, and will be triggered
every time the door on which they are
mounted is opened.
When the two parts of the sensor are
extremely close to one another (ideally
touching) the sensor is deactivated. As
soon as the two parts are moved apart by
about 1/2 of an inch (about 10-15mm), this
will cause the transmitter to send the alarm
signal.
We suggest using the Window/Door
Sensors as your primary alarm triggers.
They are reliable and, if installed correctly,
can safeguard doors and windows from
being opened without your knowledge.
However, these types of sensors can be circumvented if a window or fragile door
were broken rather than opened. Thus, we suggest using the infrared sensors as a
backup to the Window/Door Sensors.
IMPORTANT: The Window/Door Sensor only works correctly when the trigger is
aligned to the correct side of the transmitter as pictured above. The trigger should
be placed on the side opposite to the RF+ALARM/OFF/RF switch.
Environments with extreme uctuating magnetic elds (such as around devices like
microwaves) can interfere with the proper functioning of the Window/Door Sensor.
We suggest avoiding placing the Window/Door Sensor near these devices. (We’re
not sure why you would keep your microwave at the front door, but people do weird
things sometimes.)
Modes:
OFF: The Window/Door Sensor is inactive.
RF: When triggered, the Window/Door Sensor will transmit a signal to the control
unit. The built-in siren will not sound.
RF+ALARM: When triggered, the Window/Door Sensor will transmit a signal to the
control unit in addition to sounding its own internal siren. The additional siren in the
sensor is a great backup to the main alarm unit’s siren, and will sound in the place
the alarm is triggered.
Siren
Battery
Compartment
Trigger
Transmitter
The Door/Window Sensors

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The Passive InfraRed (PIR) Motion Sensor will, under
typical conditions, detect a human being moving around
within approximately thirty-three feet (about 10m) from
the sensor. This is an average value, as the actual detection
range is between 16ft/5m and 50ft/15m.
As the performance of the sensor is determined primarily
by environmental conditions, no guarantees can be
oered regarding the detection range. However, the
range is typically sucient for the majority of interior
spaces (excluding the obviously absurd, such as
basketball courts or aircraft hangars). Some garages may
be large enough that one sensor cannot cover the whole
area – we suggest testing this in the actual environment
if there’s any doubt.
The sensor has a 110º eld of view horizontally, and a slightly narrower view
(approximately 70º) vertically. This means that most of what you could see if you
closed one eye and put your head where you’d mount the sensor is pretty close to
the area the sensor will cover. The main blind spots, of course, are above, below or
behind the sensor itself.
Typically, the ideal placement in an environment is in the upper corner of a room,
facing slightly towards the ground (perhaps 20-25º, depending on the height of the
sensor). Try to cover typical paths through the room, focusing particularly on likely
entry and exit points. If the room has several entry points, try to cover as many of
these as practicable.
A visible PIR motion sensor can be a great deterrent to intruders – but on the other
hand, skilled intruders can avoid obviously visible sensors. Try to mix it up a bit.
How it works:
The PIR motion sensor is a passive infrared motion sensor, meaning it detects infrared
radiation rather than projecting it (unlike a security camera with infrared night vision,
which is active infrared). All objects emit this “black-body radiation” (we commonly
call it “heat”) and the infrared sensor looks for any of this radiation which moves.
The PIR motion sensor is not infallible – in particular, it cannot detect objects/people
which are the same temperature as their background. So a human being moving
about on an extremely hot day might go unnoticed. Also, a security camera with
active infrared night vision in the same vicinity as the infrared sensor may give false
alarms (particularly if it is a moving PTZ system).
The PIR Sensors

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Feet / Meters
5ft/1.8m - 7ft/2.4m
16ft/5m
16ft/5m
32ft/10m
32ft/10m
50ft/15m
50ft/15m
110°
70°
The PIR motion sensors have an eective range of between 16ft/5m and 50ft/15m
depending on the specic conditions of the environment. Typically, the sensor
will have a longer range in colder conditions, or in evenly heated environments.
The opposite is also true - environments with uneven temperatures (such as part of
the area in sunlight and other areas in shade) or consistently high temperatures will
lower the eective range of the sensor.
Under typical circumstances, the maximum eective range of the PIR motion sensor
is approximately 50ft/15m. Multiple sensors can be used in conjunction with one
another to cover larger spaces.
Important:
• Any obstructions in the environment will reduce the sensors eectiveness. It
can’t see through walls! Even a thin sheet of glass will signicantly impair the
range of the sensor, as glass blocks more infrared radiation than visible light.
• Small animals (such as a cat or similar) can, under some circumstances, trigger
the PIR motion sensors. Therefore, we suggest that the PIR motion sensors are
not suited to areas where pets are routinely kept.
Placing the PIR Motion Sensors

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The Remote Controls are the keys to your Wireless Alarm system. Treat them with
the same care and attention you would your physical keys: if you lose the remote
controls, then you won’t be able to easily disarm the Wireless Alarm System.
The remote controls will operate reliably at a range of up to approximately 10m
(about 33ft). Large obstructions (particularly metallic ones) will reduce the eective
range.
Remember, you’ll want to be able to disarm the system easily from outside of the
house, so you don’t trigger the alarm when you open the door (triggering a Door/
Window Sensor) or enter the house (possibly triggering the PIR Motion Sensor(s)).
Thus, the Siren Unit should be placed within 10m of your preferred entry point, so
that it’s in wireless range when the remote control is used.
Remember not to ARM the system until you’re outside the range of the PIR sensors,
and are past any doors with the Door/Window Sensors attached.
To ARM the Wireless Alarm System:
• Press the ON button.
• The Siren Unit will beep to conrm.
• There is a twenty second delay between arming the system and it being fully
armed.
• We suggest that you’re simply not in range of the system when you arm it.
• But: if you really want to feel like you’re making a James Bond-esque escape in
the nick of time, go for it. It’s fun.
To DISARM the Wireless Alarm System:
• PresstheOFFbutton.
The alarm system will beep to conrm. The system will be disarmed instantly.
Pressing the OFF button while the siren is sounding will instantly stop the siren.
Remember: The Control unit/Siren doesn’t have any inputs on the unit, so if you lose
the remote controls, then there’s no way to simply turn o the system.
We suggest removing the batteries from the Siren if you really need to disarm it and
the remotes just aren’t an option.
On the subject of removing batteries: It’s worth putting the Siren somewhere not
easily accessible. If it’s too easy to get to, an intruder can simply remove the batteries.
Arming / Disarming the System

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Both the Window/Door Sensors and PIR Motion Sensors require batteries, as does the
remote control. These are necessary for the alarms to be able to transmit an active
wireless signal. The functionality of the sensors is reliant on the batteries providing
power in much the same way as a smoke detector.
We recommend changing the batteries in all sensors every six months.
The expected life of the batteries is actually considerably longer than this (they’ll
probably last for a year or more). However the consequences of the batteries running
low can be so dramatic that we strongly recommend changing to fresh batteries
long before there is a chance that they’ll run down - much like the recommendations
for smoke detectors.
Window/Door Sensor: 3 x LR44 / 357A Button Cells
The battery compartment on the Window/Door Sensor is located on the front of the
alarm unit. To open it:
• Press in at the top of the battery compartment cover and slide down.
• Remove any old batteries.
• Insert three fresh alkaline LR44 button cell batteries. The correct orientation is to
have the“+”side of the battery facing up.
PIR Motion Sensor: 3 x AAA
The battery compartment on the PIR is located on the rear of the sensor, just
underneath mounting bracket slot. To change the batteries:
• Push the top of the battery compartment cover in, and push down to remove.
• Replace the three AAA batteries with fresh alkaline AAA batteries. Be sure to insert the
batteries in the orientation indicated on the rear side of the battery compartment.
Remote Control: 3 x LR44 / 357A Button Cells
To change the battery in the remote:
• Locate the battery compartment on the rear of the remote.
• Remove the small screw and open the battery compartment by sliding down.
• Replace the three LR44 button cells. The correct polarity is indicated by the
markings inside the battery compartment.
• Replace the battery compartment cover, and secure with the screw.
Receiver / Siren: 3 x AA
• Remove the battery compartment cover on the rear of the Receiver.
• Insert three (3) fresh AA batteries. For best results and the most reliable
performance, use high quality alkaline batteries.
• The correct polarity is indicated by the markings inside the battery
compartment.
Batteries

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Problem: I keep getting false alarms!
Solution: There are a few possible reasons why this might be occurring.
Check that there are no strong magnetic elds around your Window/Door Sensor(s).
Things like televisions, computers, microwaves and (of course) magnets of any kind
will interfere with the proper operation of the Window/Door Sensor and could lead
to false alarms.
Check that there are no shifting heat sources in view of the PIR Motion Sensor(s). This
includes the obvious things, such as moving animals or people, but also things such
as a moving shadow on a hot day (such as the shadow of a tree blowing in the wind).
Sometimes reected infrared heat from the sun in enough to trigger the sensor.
If you’ve had the system installed for some time, then the batteries built into the
sensors might be running low, causing erratic behavior.
If you’re using the Wireless Alarm System in an environment with a high level of radio
‘noise’ (that is, somewhere that there are many other wireless devices in use) then
these interfering signals might be interpreted as the system as alarm signals. This
should, however, be a very rare occurrence.
Problem: My PIR Motion Sensor isn’t detecting movement.
Solution: Sometimes, heat sources too close (within a few feet/about 2m) away from
the sensor will not set it o. The sensor is designed to be most sensitive to things
at mid-range (between about 6ft/2m and 26ft/8m) and sometimes can’t focus on
things closer than this. It’s a little like holding something too close to your own eyes
- you won’t be able to focus on it!
Troubleshooting