Help With Your Security System

How does the “Lived-In Look” work?
Why did my lights turn on by themselves?
The Lived-In Look operates your X-10 controlled lights automatically to make your home appear occupied, even while you are away. When ORCA programs your security system, the lighting features are activated by giving your system the time and your geographic location. This information will allow the console to turn  up to 4 different lights on at dusk, and turn them off again at a time you designate. You will need X-10 lighting modules for each light you want to control. If the Lived-In Look is not working, you will need to call ORCA to make sure that your security system is programmed properly to work with your lighting set-up.

What do I do when the system won’t arm?
What happens when you try to arm? If the console doesn’t respond at all (doesn’t chime when you press  “Arm”), then you probably need to set up your remote control. Put the red switch on the console to Install and press the Arm button on the remote. The console should chime and you will now be able to arm and disarm the remote.   If the console chimes and keeps chiming in an uneven tone (like “ding…dong…ding…dong…”), then there  is an open door or window, or a problem with a sensor.

Are any zone lights lit on the front of the console? Open and close any doors or windows that correspond to that zone. If the light goes out try arming again. If the light is flashing see below.  If the console repeatedly dings about once a second after you press Arm, then you have used a Delay mode  to arm. This means the console counts 60 seconds before arming to allow you to leave the house. If you  don’t want this delay, use an Instant arm, like the keychain remote.

What do I do about a flashing zone light?
A flashing zone light means that your console has not gotten a check-in signal from the sensor assigned to  that zone. There are four reasons this could happen, and four solutions to the problem:

1. The console is looking for communication from a sensor that is not installed. Put the red switch on your console to Install. How many zones are solid? Compare this number to the number of sensors you have installed in your home. If the console shows more zone than you have sensors, you will need to clear all the zones (push Arm Home, Arm Away, and Panic on the console all at once) and reinstall the sensors. There should only be one zone per sensor.

2. The sensor is working properly, but has lost contact with the console. If you know which sensor is associated with the flashing zone, put the console switch on Install, then press the Test button on the sensor. The console should chime, and when you put the red switch back to Run1 or Run2, the flashing zone should be gone.

3. The batteries in the sensor have run low. If the sensor associated with the flashing zone has been installed for longer than 6 months, the batteries may have run low. Put new batteries in the sensor. Next, put the console switch to Install, and press the Test button on the sensor. This should solve the problem.

4. The sensor is too far from the console, or something is blocking its signal. If you have consistent flashing zone problems from a particular sensor, the sensor may be too far from the  console for its signal to reach. Or, dense material like stone or metal may be keeping the signal from reaching the console. In either case, try moving the sensor to a different location, and see if it works. If none of these steps solve the problem, call ORCA for help.

Can I arm everything but the Motion Detector?
What is the difference between “Arm Home” and “Arm Away?”
Your security system doesn’t just work when you’re not home. You can arm your system when you are  home, so that you’ll know if someone tries to break in. Since you don’t want to set the alarm off yourself by  walking around your home, your security system has the “Arm Home” mode. The “Arm Home” mode allows you to arm only your perimeter door and window sensors, and leaves your motion detector inactive.  This lets you move around inside the house, while keeping the outside secure.

Why can’t I get my motion detector to work?
Placement and timing are important in getting motion sensors working properly. Your motion sensor should  be mounted at about 6 1/2 feet from the floor. The motion sensor works best when motion moves across its  field of view, rather than directly toward it. If you are testing your motion sensor and it seems to be working only sometimes, remember that to save battery power your motion detector only sends signals to the console every 40 seconds after the first motion is detected. So, if you have walked in front of the motion sensor and  the console has received the signal, it will be another 40 seconds before the motion sensor sends another signal, no matter how much you move in that time period. When testing, it can help to leave the room where a motion detector is for at least one minute, then arm the system and try to trigger the alarm.

How do I stop the “Monitor” light from flashing?
The “Monitor” light flashes to let you know that you system needs service from ORCA. Call ORCA at (800) 316-0235 to have the system programming updated.

What does a flashing arm light mean, how do I clear it?
I just came home and I have a solid zone light and a flashing arm light, what does this mean?
If the “Arm” light on the console is flashing, your alarm was triggered some time before you disarmed it.  The zone light that is flashing tells you which sensor was breached. You can clear this by arming and then disarming the system. Call ORCA to find out what happened when the alarm went off.