Have activated Brinks system without contract! Need to deactivate!

[thomas]

I bought a house recently with a Brinks system installed. We do not
have a Brinks contract, so the system technically is "inactive" and out
of contract. Just today the alarm keypads started beeping due to a
low-battery warning. Not knowing what to do I pushed a couple of
buttons on the panel, and much to my surprise when I pressed the On
button the system went active (on)!

I immediately disabled the motion sensors (pressed the Motion Off
button) and called Brinks. They explained how to power down the panel.
I disconnected the backup battery first and then disconnected line
power. Brinks assured me that after doing this, if I hooked the panel
up again it would be inactive. Well, I did power up the panel and it
immediately went into the active (on) state again! I tested that it
was really on by openning an entry door. The key pad started beeping,
indicating that the disarm code needed to be entered. I immediately
RAN to the panel and disconnected power again -- I didn't feel like
listenning to the siren go off.

Soooo, what do I do? I don't have the master code from the previous
owners. Anyone know how to turn this system off again without the
master code? Per some suggestions from other posts I have disconnected
the panel phone line.

The panel is a BHS-1200 (Sentrol, Inc. P/N 60821564 A). The key pads
are Scantronic DCU-602 series, P/N 101-000121.

Since I'm not too concerned about monitoring (the alarm horn should be
good enough for now), anyone have a good suggestion for a replacement
panel? This is a wired system, and all wires are pretty clearly
marked. I just need to know what to buy. As long as the wiring is
compatible I know I can replace this all myself.

So, any suggestions?

 

[Frank Olson]

I bought a house recently with a Brinks system installed. We do not
have a Brinks contract, so the system technically is "inactive" and out
of contract. Just today the alarm keypads started beeping due to a
low-battery warning. Not knowing what to do I pushed a couple of
buttons on the panel, and much to my surprise when I pressed the On
button the system went active (on)!

I immediately disabled the motion sensors (pressed the Motion Off
button) and called Brinks. They explained how to power down the panel.
I disconnected the backup battery first and then disconnected line
power. Brinks assured me that after doing this, if I hooked the panel
up again it would be inactive. Well, I did power up the panel and it
immediately went into the active (on) state again! I tested that it
was really on by openning an entry door. The key pad started beeping,
indicating that the disarm code needed to be entered. I immediately
RAN to the panel and disconnected power again -- I didn't feel like
listenning to the siren go off.

Soooo, what do I do? I don't have the master code from the previous
owners. Anyone know how to turn this system off again without the
master code? Per some suggestions from other posts I have disconnected
the panel phone line.

The panel is a BHS-1200 (Sentrol, Inc. P/N 60821564 A). The key pads
are Scantronic DCU-602 series, P/N 101-000121.

Since I'm not too concerned about monitoring (the alarm horn should be
good enough for now), anyone have a good suggestion for a replacement
panel? This is a wired system, and all wires are pretty clearly
marked. I just need to know what to buy. As long as the wiring is
compatible I know I can replace this all myself.

So, any suggestions?

Call Brinks and have them reprogram the panel for you as a "local". I'm of
course assuming that you *own* the equipment. Good luck!!!

 

[thomas]

I'll take a shot at that. Yes, as far as I know I do "own" the
equipment. Of course, we'll see what THEY say... There's a remote
possibility I might be able to get ahold of the previous owners. From
my internet search they have an unlisted phone number, but we know a
couple of neighbors were friends of theirs, so we'll see.

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Actually you would own it.

if you bought the house with the system already in, no,
you do not own the system.......you only own it if you actually
PAID the $500.....open the panel cover, there should be a card
in there listing all of the zones and acouple of other numbers....
there's a chance that the master code is written somewhere on that card..

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Brinks would not be able to get it back unless you wanted to give it to them.

When you buy a house you are buying everything attached to it at the time of purchase, if Brinks wanted it back they would have had to remove it *before* the house was sold to another party. By them not doing so they've abandoned it...and you're right who'd want it?

 

[Mark Leuck]

Brinks would not be able to get it back unless you wanted to give it to
them.

When you buy a house you are buying everything attached to it at the time of
purchase, if Brinks wanted it back they would have had to remove it *before*
the house was sold to another party. By them not doing so they've abandoned
it...and you're right who'd want it?


Brinks won't have known they sold the house, it's clearly stated on the
panel the customer does not own the panel. Granted they won't come to pick
it up but they don't have to do jack with it either

 

[Robert L. Bass]

no, you would not OWN it!!!!!

It depends on what Brinks did (or does now) when they were notified that the
prior occupant was leaving. In most cases they simply leave the system in
place, hoping the next homeowner will sign up. If they've been notified and
they don't make an attempt to retrieve the hardware within a reasonable
period of time (what is considered a "reasonable" time varies somewhot from
state to state), the system is abandoned and becomes the property of the
homeowner.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Crash Gordon®]

I was talking to an attorney friend of mine this morning:

IF it was a *leased* system then Brinks would still own it.

IF it wasn't a lease then whomever purchased the house would own it even though they did not buy it specifically from Brinks - what's attached or contained within the house is sold with the house.

I've lost 2 leased systems this way, btw...the new owners did not want to give the system back to me...and it wasn't worth the hassle to push the issue.

 

[Mark Leuck]

I was talking to an attorney friend of mine this morning:

IF it was a *leased* system then Brinks would still own it.

IF it wasn't a lease then whomever purchased the house would own it even
though they did not buy it specifically from Brinks - what's attached or
contained within the house is sold with the house.

I've lost 2 leased systems this way, btw...the new owners did not want to
give the system back to me...and it wasn't worth the hassle to push the
issue.

I've yet to see a purchased Brinks system so I'd say it's safe to assume
he's got a leased panel

 

[Robert L. Bass]

it's safe to assume he's got a leased panel

If Brinks doesn't take action within a reasonable time frame after learning
that their client has moved, the property is abandoned and they lose their
rights to it.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Crash Gordon®]

one would think...then it becomes a doorstop.

If Brinks doesn't take action within a reasonable time frame after learning
that their client has moved, the property is abandoned and they lose their
rights to it.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Mark Leuck]

one would think...then it becomes a doorstop.

Either way because of the proprietary nature of the system it is useless to
the homeowner

 

[Robert L. Bass]

one would think...then it becomes a doorstop.

Deservedly so.

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Hey...I pulled a 1986 8112 out today...original battery!...that's gotta be a record 19 year old battery (of course it was way dead).

 

[Jim]

Hey...I pulled a 1986 8112 out today...original battery!...that's gotta be a record 19 year old battery (of course it was way dead).

I'm surprised you didn't just find two corroded battery leads hanging
out of a hole eaten through the bottom of the box.

 

[Bob Worthy]

Hey...I pulled a 1986 8112 out today...original battery!...that's gotta be a
record 19 year old battery (of course it was way dead).

A little behind on annual maintenance are we?

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Yah!..actually its a new owner doing a remodel..the system was really in sad shape. It was a nice install at one time. The only problem is I *hate* working with open circuit switches on big loops, so I'm having to dig out all the old switches too...and they never ran a front door freekin switch (!) so's i gotsta do some major trickery to get over there with a wire.

 

[Bob Worthy]

Yah!..actually its a new owner doing a remodel..the system was really in sad
shape. It was a nice install at one time. The only problem is I *hate*
working with open circuit switches on big loops, so I'm having to dig out
all the old switches too...and they never ran a front door freekin switch
(!) so's i gotsta do some major trickery to get over there with a wire.


That adobe construction is a bear and would require some masterful trickery.
All kidding aside, is it still stick build out there? We have cement block
or tilt slab with steel studs for interior framing down here. With the
contempory designs nothing is easy after the fact, including wireless.
Cosmetics ya know, and then you have the interior designers who get their
panties in a wad. "Your not putting that on a $20K door", imported for God
knows where. I had one male interior designer call me one day actually
bawling because he read on the heat sensor "Do Not Paint" and that he just
couldn't live with this white "thing" going on his canary yellow ceiling.
This guy was actually gasping for air between the tears. Funny as hell!

 

[Crash Gordon®]

Yah!..actually its a new owner doing a remodel..the system was really in sad
shape. It was a nice install at one time. The only problem is I *hate*
working with open circuit switches on big loops, so I'm having to dig out
all the old switches too...and they never ran a front door freekin switch
(!) so's i gotsta do some major trickery to get over there with a wire.


That adobe construction is a bear and would require some masterful trickery.
All kidding aside, is it still stick build out there? We have cement block
or tilt slab with steel studs for interior framing down here. With the
contempory designs nothing is easy after the fact, including wireless.
Cosmetics ya know, and then you have the interior designers who get their
panties in a wad. "Your not putting that on a $20K door", imported for God
knows where. I had one male interior designer call me one day actually
bawling because he read on the heat sensor "Do Not Paint" and that he just
couldn't live with this white "thing" going on his canary yellow ceiling.
This guy was actually gasping for air between the tears. Funny as hell!

I've done a few adobe construction...and it's a freekn bear..if wireless had been reliable back then I woulda done it with wirelss.

Mostly still stick and stucco on styrofoam crap. Some block, slump block, integra block too.

I love when designers cry! They're such idiots...I've had them want me to paint pirs when they are located right next to glaring white air ducts...aren't you gonna paint the air returns I ask? No...why..oh just because it wouldn't match my pir if I painted it for you...oh you're soo sooo right...you should be a designer..we'll have to get the airconditioner guys to paint them...so what about the thermostats then?, I ask...oh yes yes...and and on and on...before you know it he was about to give EVERYONE on the job a heart attack ...at least he left me alone after that...he was too busy hassling everyone else.

This house is really cool it's that fancy architural concrete block inside and out. Fortunately I found the front door wire! Rural Metro (our FIRE department had installed this system in 86)...dig this...they installed a front door switch, then someone put oak veneer over it so it could not be seen...even Rural Metro so the couldn't figure out where to put the magnet and just left that wire out of the circuit! Yep that's our Dutch contract fire department for ya...Paulie!...you know these guys?? !!

Anyway, I fixed it the right way. (ripped the door out

Have I ever mentioned; I HATE freekin remodels?

 

[no wires showing]

As if you even know what panel they use. You should start filling up on
vinegar because you're a grade A douchebag, Pinkie.