Alarm Siren Speaker Makes Popping Noise After Smoke Alarm Replacement

[jslais57]

All,

I have an older Brinks hard wired home alarm system that I still use as it is now monitored by ADT. Recently I was getting a trouble message for zone 8 on my keypad which is my 2nd floor smoke detector. Since the smoke detector was original to the Brinks system I replaced it with a System Sensor 4WTR-B 4 wire detector. This was recommended by the dealer as the original sensor was no longer available. A simple installation followed complete with the EOL 4.7K resistor for wire monitoring. The detector is functioning as normal with one flashing green LED every 5 seconds and my zone 8 trouble is gone.

The issue is now I have a noise coming from the indoor siren (speaker) that resembles a pop just like dropping a tone arm onto a vinyl record album. OK, now I am showing my age!. Also, if i put my ear up to the speaker I can hear noise too. The pop happens every 7 - 8 seconds so it is not a direct correlation to the flashing LED on the detector. When I remove the detector by twisting it off its base the noise goes away. The company I purchased this detector from sent another one just to be sure the first one was not defective. Same issue with both. The extra detector is now listed on EBay because the original seller can't take it back.

Is this just a matter of the detector not compatible with my Brinks system? If so, what detector can I use?  Listening to that faint popping noise from that speaker in my quiet family room is getting on my nerves.

Any ideas?

[lilyoyo1]

I would contact your alarm manufacturer and ask them as they would know what best works with their system

[Teken]

All,
I have an older Brinks hard wired home alarm system that I still use as it is now monitored by ADT. Recently I was getting a trouble message for zone 8 on my keypad which is my 2nd floor smoke detector. Since the smoke detector was original to the Brinks system I replaced it with a System Sensor 4WTR-B 4 wire detector. This was recommended by the dealer as the original sensor was no longer available. A simple installation followed complete with the EOL 4.7K resistor for wire monitoring. The detector is functioning as normal with one flashing green LED every 5 seconds and my zone 8 trouble is gone.
The issue is now I have a noise coming from the indoor siren (speaker) that resembles a pop just like dropping a tone arm onto a vinyl record album. OK, now I am showing my age!. Also, if i put my ear up to the speaker I can hear noise too. The pop happens every 7 - 8 seconds so it is not a direct correlation to the flashing LED on the detector. When I remove the detector by twisting it off its base the noise goes away. The company I purchased this detector from sent another one just to be sure the first one was not defective. Same issue with both. The extra detector is now listed on EBay because the original seller can't take it back.
Is this just a matter of the detector not compatible with my Brinks system? If so, what detector can I use?  Listening to that faint popping noise from that speaker in my quiet family room is getting on my nerves.
Any ideas?

How many smokes are in the system and what are the model / brand? A quick test (not really) is to disconnect all other smokes and leave the trouble one in place. You’re doing this to verify not only it’s the replacement smoke. But interactions it has on the existing alarm panel.

So your mission should you so choose. Disconnect all working smokes, install the bad one. Restart the main panel (call CS to place in test / maintenance) and report back if the pop is still there.

If the system is as old as you say one of several first things I would check is wiring. Ensure all inputs are pulled out and screwed down again. Unplug any transformers and reseat keeping in mind if you see one turning brown well it’s time.

This applies to the back up battery. If you haven’t done a monthly / yearly load test. Meaning balls out trip the alarm and time how long it will literally run.

You will never truly know the operational status of the system. This in no ways means even if the battery gives you an hour if said battery is breaking 5 years - replace it.

Most of the lazy installers place the EOL resistor at the panel - No! It must be placed at the END OF LINE where said sensor resides!

Verify the value from the manual is correct just never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jslais57]

2 minutes ago, Teken said:

 

How many smokes are in the system and what are the model / brand? A quick test (not really) is to disconnect all other smokes and leave the trouble one in place. You’re doing this to verify not only it’s the replacement smoke. But interactions it has on the existing alarm panel.

So your mission should you so choose. Disconnect all working smokes, install the bad one. Restart the main panel (call CS to place in test / maintenance) and report back if the pop is still there.

If the system is as old as you say one of several first things I would check is wiring. Ensure all inputs are pulled out and screwed down again. Unplug any transformers and reseat keeping in mind if you see one turning brown well it’s time.

This applies to the back up battery. If you haven’t done a monthly / yearly load test. Meaning balls out trip the alarm and time how long it will literally run.

You will never truly know the operational status of the system. This in no ways means even if the battery gives you an hour if said battery is breaking 5 years - replace it.

Most of the lazy installers place the EOL resistor at the panel - No! It must be placed at the END OF LINE where said sensor resides!

Verify the value from the manual is correct just never know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks so much for the reply.

My system has only one smoke detector on the second floor, and that was the one replaced.

I have checked all terminals at the control box, all were good and tight. I also verified earth ground at the box. EOL line resistor is at the detector.

Battery is less than five years old, the keypad will announce if it is bad, but I can verify. The transformer is the original, I will verify proper voltage.

What puzzles me is this only happens now with this detector.

[Teken]

2 hours ago, jslais57 said:

Thanks so much for the reply.

My system has only one smoke detector on the second floor, and that was the one replaced.

I have checked all terminals at the control box, all were good and tight. I also verified earth ground at the box. EOL line resistor is at the detector.

Battery is less than five years old, the keypad will announce if it is bad, but I can verify. The transformer is the original, I will verify proper voltage.

What puzzles me is this only happens now with this detector.

There is literally only one sensor to cover the entire home? Can you show me this speaker you have for this alarm system? It's possible this new 4 wire smoke sensor has some electronics which is back feeding into the alarm panel. Pull out the EOL resistor (panel will cry so get ready) but let me know if you hear that turn table pop!

[jslais57]

16 minutes ago, Teken said:

There is literally only one sensor to cover the entire home? Can you show me this speaker you have for this alarm system? It's possible this new 4 wire smoke sensor has some electronics which is back feeding into the alarm panel. Pull out the EOL resistor (panel will cry so get ready) but let me know if you hear that turn table pop!

Yes, one smoke detector at the top of the steps on the second floor. I have others downstairs but they are not tied into the Brinks system.

I will pull the resistor off and see if it goes quiet and report back! I know the system will yell at me, been there done that.

[Teken]

7 minutes ago, jslais57 said:

Yes, one smoke detector at the top of the steps on the second floor. I have others downstairs but they are not tied into the Brinks system.

I will pull the resistor off and see if it goes quiet and report back! I know the system will yell at me, been there done that.

LOL - *Hands On Type of Guy* Love it . . . 

[jslais57]

26 minutes ago, Teken said:

There is literally only one sensor to cover the entire home? Can you show me this speaker you have for this alarm system? It's possible this new 4 wire smoke sensor has some electronics which is back feeding into the alarm panel. Pull out the EOL resistor (panel will cry so get ready) but let me know if you hear that turn table pop!

I removed the resistor; reattached the smoke detector and yes the system yelled at me. And the noise was still coming from the speaker. 

[jslais57]

1 minute ago, Teken said:

LOL - *Hands On Type of Guy* Love it . . . 

I do it all around here. LOL

[Teken]

1 minute ago, jslais57 said:

I removed the resistor; reattached the smoke detector and yes the system yelled at me. And the noise was still coming from the speaker. 

Welps, since you can't get the same 4 smoke (please use some Google Fu) via Amazon, eBay, etc. You never know you just might find that older 4 wire smoke hanging around. Regardless, let's assume such a beast doesn't exist or can be found. I would be very curious to see (IF) you could temporarily replace the speaker with another (different) one and see if it makes that pop noise.

If your alarm system is under contract you have done more than needed and would pass the piton to them to identify root cause and offer a fix. If you have access to the programming I would be very curious to see if you moved that fire zone (zone '8') to say zone 5 and what the results were.

[jslais57]

I have seen similar smoke detectors but I hesitant to buy something that old. Going from old to old. 
 

I may try to call Brinks but they will probably laugh at me for trying to keep this old system going. But I am like that, I don’t believe in today’s throwaway society. 
 

I can try to put a different speaker in with a difference in impedance. 
 

Don’t have the ability to move it to a different zone. All I know is it has something to do with the replacement smoke detector. 

[Teken]

17 minutes ago, jslais57 said:

I have seen similar smoke detectors but I hesitant to buy something that old. Going from old to old. 
 

I may try to call Brinks but they will probably laugh at me for trying to keep this old system going. But I am like that, I don’t believe in today’s throwaway society. 
 

I can try to put a different speaker in with a difference in impedance. 
 

Don’t have the ability to move it to a different zone. All I know is it has something to do with the replacement smoke detector. 

Well, for sure please do follow up as you have me super curious.

[jslais57]

54 minutes ago, Teken said:

Well, for sure please do follow up as you have me super curious.

I will. Thanks for you help. 

[DennisC]

If you disconnect the smoke detector momentarily, does the speaker sound stop?

[jslais57]

Yes it stops completely. I am going to change the speaker to a different type that should remain silent until it gets a full signal from the panel.