Lesson 1Door/window contact types (reed, surface, recessed) and placement best practicesExplores reed, surface, and recessed door and window contacts, covering wiring, gap tolerances, and magnet alignment. Stresses optimal placement to prevent false alarms, tampering, and interference during everyday door and window use in Canadian residences.
Reed switch operation and ratingsSurface vs recessed contact selectionGap spacing, alignment, and tolerancesWiring methods and EOL resistor usePlacement to reduce damage and tamperingTesting contacts during door operationLesson 2Siren/strobe types, decibel ratings, indoor vs outdoor placementExamines siren and strobe types, decibel levels, and sound patterns. Discusses indoor versus outdoor positioning, wiring, power allocation, and considerations for Canadian codes and neighbours regarding noise levels and duration.
Piezo vs mechanical siren designsDecibel ratings and tone frequencyIndoor siren placement strategiesOutdoor siren and strobe positioningCurrent draw and power calculationsCode limits on sound level and durationLesson 3Keypad and mobile app interfaces, indicators, and user feedbackOutlines keypad and mobile app designs, including display options, status lights, and sound cues. Addresses user codes, arming options, and how interfaces enhance ease of use, training, and error prevention for Canadian users.
Fixed vs alphanumeric keypad displaysLED indicators and status meaningsAudible beeps, chimes, and voice promptsMobile app control and notificationsUser codes, authority levels, and duressDesigning simple user flows and promptsLesson 4Glass-break sensors: acoustic vs shock, mounting and sensitivity settingsCovers acoustic and shock glass-break technologies, detection ranges, and installation guidelines. Details sensitivity adjustments, environmental constraints, and testing to minimize undetected breaks and unnecessary alarms in homes.
Acoustic sensor principles and rangesShock sensor operation and mountingSelecting locations by glass typeSensitivity levels and dip switch setupEnvironmental noise and false alarm controlFunctional testing with glass-break testersLesson 5Environmental sensors and optional devices (smoke, CO, freeze, garage, panic)Reviews smoke, CO, heat, freeze, water, garage, and panic sensors for alarm integration. Explains positioning, wiring or pairing, reporting formats, and alignment with Canadian life safety standards and insurance needs.
Smoke and heat detector integrationCarbon monoxide detector placementFreeze and water leak sensor usesGarage door and tilt sensor optionsPanic, medical, and hold-up devicesLabeling and priority of life-safety zonesLesson 6Control panel features and processor/firmware basicsIntroduces control panel hardware, processors, and firmware functions in system performance. Discusses storage, zone limits, communication lines, and updates, focusing on reliability, security, and feature selection for Canadian installations.
Main board layout and terminal functionsProcessor, memory, and speed basicsZone capacity and expansion modulesKeypad and device bus architecturesFirmware versions and change logsSafe firmware update proceduresLesson 7Wiring vs wireless tradeoffs, zones per loop, supervised vs non‑supervised devicesContrasts wired and wireless options, including dependability, labour, and expense factors. Covers zones per circuit, addressing methods, and supervised versus unsupervised setups, with advice on suitable applications in Canadian settings.
Advantages of wired device circuitsWireless sensors, batteries, and rangeZones per loop and point identificationSeries, parallel, and EOL supervisionNon-supervised circuits and risksChoosing wiring vs wireless by projectLesson 8Power architecture: AC power, backup battery sizing, battery chemistry and maintenanceOutlines AC power supplies, transformer capacities, and wiring standards. Covers backup battery types, sizing, and upkeep, including checks, replacement timelines, and factors impacting longevity in varied Canadian climates.
AC source, transformer, and voltage dropAuxiliary power outputs and limitsBattery chemistry types and pros/consBattery capacity, load, and deratingRoutine battery testing proceduresStorage temperature and lifespan effectsLesson 9Motion detectors: PIR, dual-tech, pet immunity, mounting heights and coverageInvestigates PIR and dual-tech motion sensors, detection areas, and installation elevations. Addresses pet tolerance, environmental influences, and walk tests to optimize detection while curbing false triggers in homes.
PIR sensing principles and opticsDual-tech PIR and microwave operationMounting heights and angle selectionPet immunity ratings and limitationsAvoiding HVAC and sunlight interferenceWalk testing and coverage verificationLesson 10Communication modules: cellular, IP (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi), dual-path and supervisionExamines cellular, IP, and dual-path modules, including priority paths, encryption, and check intervals. Emphasizes reliability, carrier choices, and compliance with Canadian monitoring and regulatory standards.
Cellular communicator types and bandsIP over Ethernet and Wi‑Fi modulesDual-path routing and failover logicSupervision intervals and test signalsEncryption, APN, and firewall settingsCarrier selection and signal strength testsLesson 11Backup power configurations: tamper and low‑battery reportingDescribes backup power setups, including battery capacities, charger capacities, and operation durations. Details tamper mechanisms, enclosure security, and low-battery alerts to maintain system integrity during power failures.
Battery capacity and runtime estimatesCharger current and load calculationsPanel and enclosure tamper switchesLow-battery thresholds and reportingTesting under AC fail conditionsService intervals and battery replacement
