SS-300 Sonic Outdoor Siren and X-10

[jeff]

I purchased the SS-300 Sonic Outdoor Siren
(http://www.save-on-security.com/SS-300-B%
20Sonic%20Outdoor%20Siren.htm) which works
with both RadioShack wireless systems (49-
1000 and 49-2551A). It has to be plugged
into a LM-465 Lamp Flash Module in order to
work and it does work when the alarm is
triggered. The problem I have is when I set
the alarm, the siren sounds for about 10
seconds which is very annoying for me and
my neighbors. Does anyone know how I can
stop that from happening and still have the
siren work when the alarm triggers?

[Brian H]

I looked at the install sheet for the SS-300-
B. Do you have the Lamp and power strip
along with the 6 volt adapter on the output
of the LM-465? The bulb maybe needed to
lower the OFF voltage as the module has some
OFF current on its output.

[Brian H]

The Sonic sheet says that a 25 watt or
larger lamp is needed on the output of the
lamp module. 25 watts is the minimum load
needed to properly turn it off.

[Brian H]

OH does the console flash the lamps when
armed?

[jeff]

I didn't put a lamp on it because I didn't
think it was a necessary item. I thought
that was just so you could watch the flash
sequence.

[Brian H]

No there is a minimum load needed on the
module. As it has a small current flowing on
the output all the time for the Local
Control Feature. The trigger power supply
may not be enough load and actually be
putting a partial trigger voltage out. Any
lamp smaller than 25 watts on that module
may golw dimmly from thet current also. Try
a lamp it maybe what is needed.

[jeff]

I tried this and correct me if I'm wrong
but from what I see in the picture
eventhough the instructions say the siren
adapter must plug into the lamp module it
is actually plugged into the power bar
which is plugged into the lamp module and
the light is also plugged into the power
bar. The lamp module and the power adapter
are plugged into a regular outlet. When I
set it up this way, the siren sounds
immediately when all plugs are in (I didn't
set the alarm). Am I seeing this wrong?

At least the way I had it before, the siren
didn't sound until I armed it. I had the
lamp module and the power adapter for the
siren plugged into the power bar (which was
in a regular outlet) and the other siren
adapter plugged into the lamp module.

[Brian H]

The lamp module and the 12 volt power supply
[main power brick for siren] are connected
to an outlet that is always on. The 25 watt
load lamp and smalller trigger [hard wired 6
volt one] are on a power strip that is
connected to the lamp modules output.

So main power brick and lamp module always
ON in a wall socket
Smaller wired in brick and load lamp on the
output of the lamp module.

[jeff]

That is how I had it hooked up and the
siren goes off immediately.

[jeff]

minus the load lamp that is.

[jeff]

Plugging a lamp in (I used a 40 watt bulb
because that's the lowest wattage that I
had) did stop the siren from firing when
the alarm is set. However, the siren no
longer sounds when the 49-1000 alarm is
tripped. It does sound when the 49-2551A
alarm is tripped. Have any ideas about that?

[Brian H]

OH! Have seen things about the 49-1000 also
not tripping the X10 Powerhorns [it will NOT
trigger them] in another message thread
where I did some tests. I have the 49-1000
and a program that lets me see the signals
on the line as they are sent as received by
my computer interface. Two things are
different between the X10 console and the RS
one. The RS sends two addresses for lamps as
you may know. Example Coded B1 and B2. It
snds a B1 BON then a B2 BON then a B OFF
that I believe is a all code OFF. The X10
just send the ON-OFF cycle to the single
security lamp address. That extra address
timing maybe just out of your sirens ON-OFF
cycle time needed to trigger it. Why with no
lamps does it work. With no lamp the lamp
modules sensing current was enough to keep
the  trigger voltage partially there and was
then fast enough to trigger the siren but
also gave the short burst when armed. Also I
believe the X10 consoles ON-OFF cycle is a
quicker one than the RS one.
Don't have any ideas right now, but will
think on it.

[Brian H]

I believe that the 49-2551A is very close to
the X10 DS7000 kit and also only flashes one
security address. So it too will have the
same faster ON-OFF cycles and no second
security lamp address to deal with like the
49-1000 has.

[jeff]

I'm the one that had the issue with the
smaller powerhorn not being triggered by
the 49-1000 and I believe it was due to on-
off cycle time. I guess unless you think of
something else, I'll either have to remove
the light and let it sound when armed, or
live with the powerhorn only sounding when
the 49-2551A is tripped.

[Brian H]

OK. My larger Powerhorn as you know also
didn't trip on the 49-1000.