Setup: Simon Security System Owner Manual

Overview

The Security System is a wireless Simon alarm panel designed to help protect a home from intrusion, fire, and selected environmental conditions. It communicates with wireless sensors, provides voice and audible status messages, and can connect to a central monitoring station or numeric pager when those services are installed.

The system is intended for homeowners and families who need straightforward control from a central panel, remote handheld touchpad, or key-chain touchpad. Optional modules can also control selected lights, appliances, or a garage door.

Specifications

• System type: Wireless, supervised household security system
• Primary controller: Simon Control Panel
• Access code format: Four-digit codes
• Factory master access code: 1-2-3-4; change this code during setup
• Supported communication: Panel voice messages, panel beeps, indicator lights, central monitoring communication, and numeric pager reporting when configured
• Alarm siren duration: Sirens time out after approximately four minutes
• Exit delay: Installer-programmed from at least five seconds up to 120 seconds
• Accidental-alarm cancellation period: Installer-programmed from five to 120 seconds
• Control inputs: Dedicated security, code, home-control, and emergency buttons
• Optional devices: Door/window sensors, indoor and outdoor motion sensors, smoke sensors, remote handheld touchpads, key-chain touchpads, and control modules
• Manual identification: Simon Owner's Manual, document 466-1302 Rev. C

Detailed Description

The control panel is the main operating and programming device. It reports conditions through spoken prompts, tones, and illuminated buttons. The panel also supervises wireless sensors by checking their communication status and reporting problems such as low batteries, sensor failure, or loss of power.

Door/window sensors detect opening. Indoor motion sensors can provide intrusion protection, while outdoor motion sensors are intended for notification, chimes, or lighting rather than intrusion detection. Smoke sensors detect smoke and include their own local siren. Optional modules can operate lights, appliances, and a garage door.

The panel is arranged into three operating areas: Home Security, Code, and Home Control. A separate Emergency button provides a non-medical emergency signal when the feature is configured.

Safety

• Change the factory master access code to a private code known only to authorized users.
• When arming with doors or windows open, those sensors are bypassed after the exit delay and will not protect the opening.
• Leave the premises before the exit delay ends. Remaining inside can start the entry delay and may cause an alarm if the system is not disarmed.
• If you enter and discover unexpected lights, sirens, or other signs of an event, leave immediately and request emergency assistance from a safe location.
• Place the panel in program mode before accessing areas protected by 24-hour sensors, such as some gun or jewelry cases.
• Never rely on the alarm alone for life or property protection. Smoke, power loss, damaged telephone service, blocked sensors, unprotected entry points, or deliberate tampering can prevent an alarm from providing timely warning.
• Keep smoke sensors in locations where smoke can reach them. They may not detect smoke inside walls, chimneys, roofs, behind closed doors, or on other building levels.
• Prepare and practice an evacuation plan. Use a different exit if a door feels hot, crawl beneath smoke, meet at a predetermined outdoor location, and never re-enter a burning building.
• This equipment is a Class B digital device under FCC Part 15 requirements. Unauthorized modifications may void operating authority.
• The telephone connection is subject to FCC Part 68 requirements. Telephone-line installation and service issues should be handled by the installing security provider.

Setup and Operation

Arming Doors and Windows

Press ARM Doors & Windows once to protect the programmed doors and windows. If a protected opening is open, the panel reports that condition and the sensor is bypassed after the exit delay. Press the same button twice to arm with no entry delay when that option is appropriate.

Arming Motion Sensors

Press ARM Motion Sensors once to activate intrusion motion sensors, normally when nobody remains inside. Press it twice to activate the Latchkey feature when it has been programmed. Latchkey can notify parents if a child does not arrive and disarm the system at the expected time.

Disarming

Press DISARM, then enter the four-digit access code using the panel's paired number buttons. On the control panel, each CODE button represents two numbers: the 1-2 button is used for either 1 or 2, the 3-4 button for either 3 or 4, and so on. Smoke detectors and certain panic devices remain active while the system is disarmed.

Using the Touchpads

A remote handheld touchpad provides buttons for system status, arming, disarming, emergency signaling, and light control. Press its ON or OFF button twice quickly to control all programmed lights, or press once followed by a unit number to control a specific light or appliance.

On a key-chain touchpad, press LOCK once to arm doors and windows, twice to arm doors, windows, and motion sensors, or three times to arm those areas and activate Latchkey. Press UNLOCK to disarm. Hold the selected key until the indicator flashes. Press LIGHT to control programmed lights, or press STAR to operate a programmed garage door or light.

If the key-chain touchpad is programmed without entry delay, disarm the system from outside before entering. The exit period is installer-programmed and may range from at least five seconds to 120 seconds.

Home-Control Features

• CHIME Doors: Sounds a panel tone when protected doors or windows open.
• CHIME Special Motion: Sounds when designated motion sensors detect movement in areas such as a patio or front entrance.
• LIGHTS Time Activated: Enables programmed light schedules.
• LIGHTS Sensor Activated: Turns on programmed lights for about four minutes when an associated sensor is triggered.

If a button has no programmed device or function, the panel announces that the function is unavailable.

Emergency Signaling

Press the control-panel EMERGENCY button for two seconds or press it twice quickly to send a non-medical emergency signal when central monitoring is configured. On a remote handheld touchpad, press both emergency buttons together for three seconds. On a key-chain touchpad, hold LOCK and UNLOCK together for three seconds; the programmed alarm type may be intrusion, silent, or non-medical emergency.

Understanding Panel Indicators and Sounds

• Two exit-delay beeps indicate Doors & Windows arming.
• Three exit-delay beeps indicate Motion Sensors arming.
• Four exit-delay beeps indicate both protection groups arming.
• One beep indicates disarming.
• Six beeps every minute indicate a trouble condition. Press SYSTEM STATUS to silence them temporarily.
• A lit SYSTEM STATUS button indicates a trouble condition or open sensor.
• A flashing SYSTEM STATUS button indicates that an alarm occurred.
• A flashing Doors & Windows button indicates no entry delay is active.
• A flashing Motion Sensors button indicates Latchkey is active.

Programming

Open the control-panel cover using the latch at the top. Enter the access code when prompted, then follow the START MENU and MAIN MENU voice instructions printed on the programming decals inside the panel cover.

Available programming areas include panel beeps, panel voice, Latchkey time, sensor or remote devices, access codes, light control, the clock, and house-code settings. Panel beeps can be disabled except for alarm sirens. Panel voice can also be disabled, although status, open-sensor, and programming prompts remain available.

To change an access code, open the cover, enter the master code, choose Add, select Access Code, select the desired code position, enter four new numbers, and close the cover. Access codes 1 through 5 can be used for children, temporary visitors, or service personnel, but they cannot change access codes.

Testing and Maintenance

Weekly Sensor Test

Test the system at least once each week. Open the panel cover, enter the access code, press TEST once, and press DONE. The panel identifies sensors that must be activated. Test each sensor in any order; successfully tested sensors are removed from the remaining list. Press DONE after all sensors respond.

• Door/window sensor: Open the protected door or window.
• Motion sensor: Stay outside its detection area for five minutes, then walk into view.
• Smoke sensor: Hold its test button until the system transmits test beeps.
• Panic button: Hold the appropriate button for three seconds.
• Key-chain touchpad: Hold LOCK and UNLOCK together for three seconds.
• Remote handheld touchpad: Hold both emergency buttons together for three seconds.

Communication Test

If central monitoring is installed, test the connection at least weekly. Open the panel cover, enter the access code, press TEST twice, and press DONE. A successful test is confirmed by a phone-test completion message within approximately two minutes. If communication fails, the SYSTEM STATUS indicator lights and the panel reports the failure.

Troubleshooting

Repeated Trouble Beeps

Press SYSTEM STATUS to hear the reported problem. The beeps can also be silenced by changing the system between armed and disarmed states, but they may return after four hours if the fault remains.

AC Power Failure

Check whether the panel was unplugged or whether household power is unavailable. The backup battery temporarily powers the system. If power is not restored within about 15 seconds, the panel can go dark and begin reporting trouble. A prolonged outage may cause the system to report the condition to central monitoring when programmed.

System Battery Failure

A drained backup battery causes trouble beeps and illuminates SYSTEM STATUS. The control-panel battery is expected to be replaced approximately once a year by qualified service personnel. If AC power is also unavailable, the system eventually shuts down when the battery is depleted.

Sensor Failure or Low Battery

Use SYSTEM STATUS to identify the affected sensor. Perform a sensor test and check that the sensor is correctly positioned and communicating. Some sensor batteries can be replaced by the homeowner; continued failure requires service by the security provider.

Sensor Open

An open door or window, a disturbed motion sensor, or a removed sensor cover can create this message. Close the opening, remount the sensor if necessary, and reseat the cover. Run a sensor test if the condition continues.

Failure to Communicate

The panel retries communication with central monitoring before reporting a failure. Check the telephone connection and perform a phone test. If the problem persists, contact the installing security provider.

Accidental Alarm

Disarm the system within the installer-programmed cancellation period, which may be between five and 120 seconds. After that period, contact the central monitoring station to cancel the alarm when required.

Emergency Evacuation Planning

Draw a floor plan showing every building level, the location of the control panel and sensors, fire extinguishers, and exits from each room. Two escape routes per room are recommended.

Practice the plan with everyone in the home. Leave quickly without stopping to collect belongings, use a different route if a door is hot, limit smoke inhalation by staying low, and meet outdoors at a designated location. Do not return to the building after escaping. If you arrive while sirens are sounding, do not enter; request emergency assistance from a safe location.

Alarm System Limitations

No alarm system can guarantee detection or prevent every burglary, fire, or environmental event. Warning may fail if sensors are blocked, bypassed, disconnected, out of range, improperly located, or affected by inadequate power. Sirens may not be heard in remote rooms or behind closed doors.

Smoke sensors cannot detect every fire condition, especially when smoke does not reach the sensor or when fire spreads rapidly. Telephone service can fail or be compromised, and wireless devices require regular testing and maintenance. The Security System is not a substitute for property or life insurance.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Wireless sensor operation, supervised system status, voice prompts, multiple control options, configurable chimes and lighting, emergency signaling, and regular sensor and communication tests.
• Cons: Many features depend on installer programming, open sensors may be bypassed during arming, telephone-based reporting can fail, and the system cannot compensate for poor sensor placement, power loss, or inadequate emergency planning.