Alarm Supervision Guide

Author: Ari Erenthal, Published on May 24, 2017

Burglar alarms can constantly monitor the health of attached circuits, sensors, and devices to ensure that they remain operational. This is known as supervision. Poor implementation of supervision is a common source of false alarms. However, if properly installed, supervision can reassure users that the alarm remains functional, and can alert installers to potential problems, allowing them to repair them. In this note, we examine alarm supervision, including

  • What is a supervised circuit?
  • Supervised vs unsupervised circuits
  • Getting the right resistance
  • Using resistors
  • Where to install the resistor
  • Insider threats
  • Implementation challenges
  • Using alarm supervision

What Is A Supervised Circuit?

A supervised alarm circuit or device is one that is constantly and actively checked by the alarm panel to ensure that it is still functional and responsive. It does this by reading the resistance on the circuit, and comparing it against a selected range.

Alarm Supervision: Pro And Con

There are many reasons to use alarm supervision, including:

  • Some standards require supervision
  • Ability to bid on higher profit alarm jobs, such as UL listed alarms (jewelry stores, banks, etc)
  • Commercial fire alarms always require supervision
  • Ability to takeover supervised accounts
  • Supervised alarms can let alarm installer know when alarm is defective
  • If alarm is unsupervised, customer may be relying on broken alarm to protect premises

Some alarm companies never use supervision, or only use supervision for commercial applications but not residential ones. Key reasons include:

******* ****** *** ********** ******* *** ****** ** ******** ********, sensors, *** ******* ** ****** **** **** ****** ***********. **** is ***** ** ***********. **** ************** ** *********** ** * common ****** ** ***** ******. *******, ** ******** *********, *********** can ******** ***** **** *** ***** ******* **********, *** *** alert ********** ** ********* ********, ******** **** ** ****** ****. In **** ****, ** ******* ***** ***********, *********

  • **** ** * ********** *******?
  • ********** ** ************ ********
  • ******* *** ***** **********
  • ***** *********
  • ***** ** ******* *** ********
  • ******* *******
  • ************** **********
  • ***** ***** ***********

What ** * ********** *******?

**************** ******* ** ****** ** *** **** ** ********** *** actively ******* ** *** ***** ***** ** ****** **** ** is ***** ********** *** **********. ** **** **** ** ******* the ********** ** *** *******, *** ********* ** ******* * selected *****.

Alarm ***********: *** *** ***

***** *** **** ******* ** *** ***** ***********, *********:

  • **** ********* ******* ***********
  • ******* ** *** ** ****** ****** ***** ****, **** ** UL ****** ****** (******* ******, *****, ***)
  • ********** **** ****** ****** ******* ***********
  • ******* ** ******** ********** ********
  • ********** ****** *** *** ***** ********* **** **** ***** ** defective
  • ** ***** ** ************, ******** *** ** ******* ** ****** alarm ** ******* ********

**** ***** ********* ***** *** ***********, ** **** *** *********** for ********** ************ *** *** *********** ****. *** ******* *******:

[***************]

  • ****** ******* **** ********* ***** ****** *** ** **** *********
  • ******** ******** **** ***** ** ********* *** ********* *** **** be *******-*******
  • ************ *********** ******** ****** ******* ***********
  • ** * ********* **** ** *** ******** ***** ****, ***** subscribers *** ****** *****

*********** ***** ************* *** ******* ****** ************ ****** **** *** be ********* ******* *** ***********, *** ****** ******* ***** ********** who ********** *** ** ********* *********** ******* ****** ******** **** ones *** ** ***. *******, *** **** ********* ** *********** is ** ****** **** *** ***** ** ********** ********** *** capable ** ********** *** ******** ** ***** ** *** **** installed. *** **** ******, ** ** ****** *********** **** *********** be **** ** ***** ****.

Supervised ** ************ ********

** * ********** ******* *****, *** ********** **** ** **** the ********, ******* *** ***** ** ** **** ***** *********. However, ** *** ********** ******* ************ ******** *** ** * *****, *** ***** **** *********** *********.

** ********, ************ ***** ****** **** *** * ****** *******, going **** ***** ********* **** ** *** ******* *****.

** ********* *****, **** ***** **** **** *** ******* ** unsupervised, *** ***** ****** **** *** ********** ******* * ****** sensor *** * ******* ****. *********, * ****** ********* *** attempt ** ***** * ****** ** ******** *** **** ******* to *** ******. **** '******' *** ***** ***** *** ****** the ********* ** **** *** ***** *** ****** ******* ******* off *** *****.

*** ********* ***** ************ *** * ********** **** *****.

Getting *** ***** **********

*** ********** ******** ** ****** * ********** ******* ** ********* by *** ************. *** *******, ********* ****** ******* **Ω (*,*** ohms), ***** ******** *.**Ω, *** *** ******** **Ω. ******* *********** is ********* ** *** ********** ***** ****** * ******** *****, installers *** * ****** ****** *********** ****** *** ********** ** *******.* ******** ** * ****** **** **** * ******** *** unchanging ****** ** ********** ** * *******. * ******** ** a ******* ******, ***** ***** ** ****** ** ******** ** configured *** **** *** *** ** ****** *******. **** ************* include * **** ** ********* **** ***** ***** ***** ****. Supervised ******** *** ******** ******* *.**Ω *** *.**Ω.

*******-**** ********* **** **** ****, ******** *****, ** ******* ** surface-mount *********, ***** *** ******** ** ** ******** **** * PC *****. **** ****** ***** ********** ** **** *** ******** across *** *** ** *** *******, **** ****** *** ****** circuit * *****, ******** ********** *****. **** *** ***** ***** reads *** *******, ** **** **** *** *** ********** *********** by *** ****, *******, *** *******, **** *** ********.

********* **** ** ****** *** ******** ** ********* (*) ** ohms (Ω). *** *******, * ******** **** **** *,*** **** to * ******* ** ***** ** * **Ω ********. * resistor **** **** *,*** **** ** * ******* ** ***** as * *.**Ω ********.

*** ********* **** ***** ***** ** **** **** **** *** rated ***. *** **** ****** ****** ** **** *****. *** the ****** ********** ** ******** *******. *** ***** *** ***** indicate *** ****** ** ******, ***** *** **** ********** ** the ***** ****. *** ******* *** ******** ** *** ***** has * *** ****, ******* *, * ***** ****, ******* 0, ****** ** **, *** * *** ****, ******* ** to ******** *** ****** *****, ****** ** * ***Ω ********. The ***** **** ********* *** ********* ** *** ********. **** band ** ****, ***** ********* * ********* ** ±*%. ********* are ******** **** ** ******* *****, ***** ******* ******, ** knowing ***** ******** ** *** **** ** *** ******* *** is ****** ** ****. ********* *** ** ********* **** ***** shops *** *********** ****** ******.

Using *********

*** ***** ********** ******** *** *********** ******* **** ************ ** manufacturer. ***** ***** ************* ******** ******* ***** ***** ****** **** resistors. ********* ***** ************* ******* ********* ******** ******, ** ***** companies **** **** * **** ** ********* ****** **** ******** manufacturers *** **** ** **** * *** ** **** *** service *****.

**** ****** **** * ******* ********** ********. **** ***** **** ********, ** ********* *** *** *** pairs ** ***** ** * ****** *** ** ********* ** the ***** *****. ** *** *** ** **** **** ** wires **** ** * ********* ***** ********. *** ***** *** identify *** **** ****** ***** ** *** **** ** ********** used.

Where ** ******* *** ********

********* ****** ****** ** ** *** ***** ** *** ******* that ** *** ******** **** *** *****. **** ** ***** as*** *** ** *** ****. **** ***** ***** ************* ***** ** ********* **** **** way ** *** ** **** *********, ** *****.

*** **** ****** *********** ****** ******** ********** *** ******** ** one ** *** ********* ** * ****** ** ******. **** is ************ ********* ** ***** ** * ****** ****** ** the ****, *** ** ***** ** **** ****** *** ****** for * ********. *** *******, * ********** ** ****** ******** can ****** *********** * ********, *** ***** ******* *** ***** wired ** ***** *** ****.

******** ******** *** ***** ***** ** ****** **** ***** ********. For *******, ** ***** *** ******* ******* **** ** **** other, ** ********* *** ****** ** **** *** *** ******** together, ** **** *** *** ******* ***** *** **** ****. In ***** *****, *** ******** **** ** ** *** *** of *** ****, ***** ** ** ***, *** ***** ** the **** ******** **** *** *****.

**** ******* ***** ******** ******** **** ******** ****** **** *** accommodate * ********. *** ******* ********, ***** *** ***** *** unobtrusive, ** *** **** **** ******** ****** *** ****** **** a ********. ********** * ******** ** * ***** ***** ******** contact ** **** ******* *** ** ***** *********** ** ****. If ********** ** *** ** **** ******** **** ** *********, an ********* *** ****** ** *** *** **** **** ******, which ****** *** ******** ** ** ********* ** *** ***** instead ** ** *** ***** (** ** *** ****** ** device).

******** ******** **** *****-** ********* *** **** ********* ** ******** from ******* ************* **** ** *** *** **********. ******* ** the ********** ************ ****** **** ************ ** ************, ***** ********* are ***** *** ******* ** ***** ********* *** **** ******* be ******* *******. **** *** ******* ******** **** *** ***** can **** * *****-** ********. ***** **** **** *** ******** on * *******, ** ******* *** ******** ** *** ***** spot, **** ******* *** ***** ***** **** *********** *** *******.

Insider *******

******* ******, ** ***** ******, ******* ********** **** ******* ** the ******* ** *** ********* ****. *******, ** ** **** difficult ** ******* ******* ******* ** *** ****** ** *** protected ****, ********** ** ***** ******* *** ****** *** ********* while *** ***** ** ********. ********* *** **** ** ***** or ****** ** * ***** **** ***** ********* **** ****** of **** *** *********** ** ***** *** ******* *****, ******** its **** *****, *** ******** ** ******* *** ***** ** that ** **** ** ****** ** ****** * *****-** ***** hours. ***** *********** ** *** *** ***** ********** ****** ******* these ******* *******.

** ** ******** ****** * **** ** "*****" * ******* during *** ***, ********* ** **** **** *** ****** *** place ** *****, *** ***** **** **** * ******* ****** to *** ******, ****** * *********** ***** *** *********** ** investigate *** ***** *** ****** ** *** *******.

Implementation **********

*********** **** ** ***** **** ** ****** ******, *** ********* can ** ****** ** **** ****. ** ** ***** ********* to *** ********* ** *** ******* ******** ******** *** ***** mount ********. ******** ******** **** ***** ** ********* *** *********, but **** *** **** ********* **** ******** ********. *******, *** biggest ********* ** *********** *****, *******, *** *** ** *** line ******** **, ********** **** ****** **** *****. *********** *** furthest ***** ******** ****** *********** ***** ****** ** ********* ********** with * ***** ***** *** ****.

*** **** ****** ****** ** ********* ** *** ***** ********* of *** ********. ********* **** ** ****** ** *** ******** point ** *** ****, ***** ** ** *** ******. ** must ** ****** ****** *** ********, *** ****. ** * resistor ** ****** ****** *** *** ** *** ****, ******** further **** **** ** ************, *** ** * ******** ** placed ****** *** ********* ** *** **** ******, ** **** prevent *** **** **** *******.

Comments (13)

Thumbnail marty2016

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | 05/24/17 06:01pm

*** ******* ** *** ***** ** ********** ******* '*********'. ** this ** ** "**** ******* ******" **** ** **** *****, Money ****, ***. ** ** ** *** ***** *****. ********, not ***** *** ** *** ********, ************* **** ***** * device ** ** *** ********* ** *** ***** **** *********, therefore **** ** ******* ** ****.

Thumbnail profile photo

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Marty Calhoun | 05/24/17 07:58pm

***, **** ***** ** **** ** ** **** ** ** device, *** **'* ******** ** ** ******.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

05/24/17 07:16pm

**** ****** ******* ********* ******* **** "**" *** "*" *** closed **** (** ******** ******), ** ** **** **** ** would ** *********.

*** ******* **** **** ****** ***** ******** ** ******** ******, I ***** **** ************ *** ******:

***** ** *** "*", *** *** ** ******** ** *** "T", ***** *** ** ******** ** "*" *** ***** ** "NC"

Thumbnail profile photo

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 05/24/17 07:59pm

***** *****! *** * ******** ****** ** ******* ******* ** a ******** *****.

Undisclosed Distributor #2

05/24/17 10:43pm

**** ** ***** *** ****** *** ** **** (****) ** allow *** **** ***** & ****** ********** ** * ****** pair. ** ****** ****** ********** **/* *** **** ****** ******* & ***** ****** ***** **** ***** ********** **** **** ****** is *****

Thumbnail silva18c

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | 05/26/17 12:50am

******* ***** *******, ***!

*** **** ******* **** *** ** *** ******: *** ******* of ********** ** ***** *** ********* ***** **** ****** -***** *** ** *** ****. * **** ********* * ****** of ** ********** ***** **** *** ********* ***** ******* ********* by * ******* ** ***** *********. ** ****** ***** ****, the ********* **** ** *** *****. *** ********* *** * multiplexed ****** **** **** **** ********* *** ** *** *****. In **** ****, *** ********* **** ** *** **** ********, not ** *** ******. **** *******.

* ******** **** ******** ** ** ********** ** *** **** of *** *********. ** **** ** *******, ** ****** ****** that *** ********* *** ******** ********* *** **** **** *** installer ****** *** *** ** ** ***'* *****.

******* *** **** ******* ** ****** ********, ******* *** ** my *** ******. * *** ****** ********* *** ***** ****** * ***** **** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Silva | 05/26/17 01:03am

** **** ** *******, ** ****** ****** **** *** ********* are ******** ********* *** **** **** *** ********* ****** *** job ** ** ***'* *****.

*******, ** *** ********** **** **** *** ** *** *** itself? * ** ******* **** ***** ** ****** *** *******.

Thumbnail silva18c

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | In reply to John Honovich | 05/26/17 01:26am

****** **** ***, * **** * ************* ******* ****** "***** Materials *** *******" **** ******** ******** ************ *** *******, *******, fasteners, *** ************ **********.

*** ********* **** ********* *** ********* ********* ***** ********* **** this:

"******* ***-**-**** ********* ** **** ********* ****** ** *** ************.'* installation ************. ***-**-**** ********* ***** ** ********* ** ******** **** leads *** ********* **** ****-****** ****** ** **********. ***-**-**** ********* shall ** ********* ** *** ***** ********** ***** ******* ** the ****** ****** ************ ***** *********. ***-**-**** ********* ***** *** be ********* ** *** ******* *****, ***** *****, ** **** expansion ******."

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Michael Silva | 05/27/17 06:53am

*******:***** ** "*** ** **** *********" **?

Thumbnail profile photo

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Michael Silva | 05/26/17 01:04am

****, * ***** *** ***'* ** ** ***** ** *** were ***** ***** *** ***** *** ** ** **.

Thumbnail silva18c

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | In reply to Ari Erenthal | 05/26/17 01:30am

**** ******** ** ***** ** *****, *** * **** ****** installers ** **** *** **** ** ***** **** *** ************ and *********** ******* *** *** ********* **** *** **********.

Undisclosed #3

05/27/17 07:00am

*** ** ***'* ** :)

Thumbnail profile photo

Ari Erenthal

In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 05/29/17 02:19am

**** ***. * ****** **** ******** *** ******* ******, ** I ******'* *** * ********* ******** ******. * ******** ** mistake **** * ***** ** **** *** ******** *** ** magnetic *******. ** *** *** ****, *** ***** **** *** to ***** ***** *** *** * ******* ** ********* *** a ****** ** *****, *** *** *******.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Multipoint Lock Access Control Tutorial on Oct 17, 2017
Doors are notoriously weak at stopping entry, and money can be misspent on wrong locks that leave doors quite vulnerable. While closed and locked...
PoE Powered Access Control Tutorial on Oct 12, 2017
Powering access control with Power over Ethernet, like for IP cameras, has become increasingly common.  However, the demands for access power are...
Improving Project Registration Guide on Sep 29, 2017
Manufacturers want integrators to register large projects. Integrators want the discounts that come with registration, but not some of the other...
Access Control Job Walk Guide on Sep 26, 2017
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
September IP Networking Course on Sep 14, 2017
LAST Chance - Registration is ending. Register now. This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals...
Geovision Doorstation Tested (CS1320) on Sep 12, 2017
Geovision has released the GV-CS1320 door station, priced at a fraction of others, with additional bells and whistles like a built in card reader,...
Low Cost, Low-End Competitors Challenge SMB Surveillance Market on Sep 01, 2017
SMB video surveillance systems are a tough market. From IPVM's new survey results of 135 integrator responses, we have identified the key...
Alarm.com Vs. Honeywell Total Connect Shootout on Aug 30, 2017
In the smarthome and intrusion market, Alarm.com and Honeywell are two of the biggest names. Both platforms offer remote management of alarms, home...
Axis Camera Optimization App (UI Me) Tested on Aug 28, 2017
A new Axis camera app (ACAP) called UI Me has been released, offering a number of interesting features including optimization wizards and...
Camera Application Selection Guide 2017 on Aug 23, 2017
Entrances, hallways, rooms and parking lots are perhaps the 4 most common areas where surveillance is deployed. But what is the best type of camera...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Buy From B&H, Ship Direct From ADI on Oct 16, 2017
B&H, one of the largest online sellers of video surveillance equipment to end users, regularly purchases their video surveillance equipment...
Competing Against Siemens on Oct 16, 2017
Siemens entered the integration business with 15,000+ customers, through their acquisition of Security Technologies Group in 2001. Since that time,...
Geovision GV-EDR2100 Tested Vs Hikvision on Oct 16, 2017
A number of ADI's top selling IP cameras are, at least surprisingly to us, from Geovision. We recently bought and tested the Geovision EDR2100...
Top Problems Searching Surveillance Video (Statistics) on Oct 13, 2017
When crimes, accidents or incidents happen, the video surveillance system is a key component in finding out and proving what actually...
Exacq M Series Low Cost NVR Tested on Oct 12, 2017
With recent cyber security issues hitting NVRs and cameras from low cost leaders Dahua and Hikvision, users are increasingly seeking alternatives...
Long Time Industry Exec Leads New Security Franchise Offering on Oct 12, 2017
John Nemerofsky previously built and sold a $150 million dollar integration business, and then was VP of Niscayah from its spinout of Securitas,...
PoE Powered Access Control Tutorial on Oct 12, 2017
Powering access control with Power over Ethernet, like for IP cameras, has become increasingly common.  However, the demands for access power are...
Knightscope Rockets To $20 Million Funding on Oct 11, 2017
Knightscope is celebrating. 15 months after running over a child and 3 months after a Knightscope robot drowned, Knightscope is having the last...
Avigilon / Canon New Lawsuits, No Settlement on Oct 11, 2017
In July, Canon sued Avigilon, a notably rare move amongst major players in the industry, including Canon's subsidiaries Axis and Milestone. At...
Surveillance Systems Remote Access Usage Statistics on Oct 11, 2017
Remote access is a major benefit and risk for video surveillance. It is a benefit because it allows users to manage security or review...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact