Magnum Alert 1000 Series User Manual
Title: 00000265 Author: Tom Karl Created Date: Thursday, August 05, 1999 5:26:24 PM.
Magnum Alert Panel Tips
Napco security systems have been protecting homes and businesses for more than 35 years. They are made by Napco Security Technologies, a leading manufacturer of security products ranging from intrusion and fire protection to video and access control.
The company now offers many cutting edge, high tech security products, but it has its roots in much simpler technology.
- Nov 11, 2017 Just testing and having fun with a car alarm siren i had laying around using it with my new Magnum Alert 1000 series panel. Napco Magnum Alert.
- Magnum Alert 1000e; Napco Magnum Alert 1000e Manuals Manuals and User Guides for NAPCO Magnum Alert 1000e. We have 1 NAPCO Magnum Alert 1000e manual available for free PDF download: Installation Instructions Manual.
Many people may know the Napco alarm name from the Magnum Alert series of alarm panels. Although they're now long out-of-production, these were some of the most popular systems in the 1980’s, during my early days of installing alarms.
If you happen to have one of these old systems, this page is for you. I’ll give you some basics on the different systems, some tips to help you keep an old system running, and how to know when you should start thinking of replacing your system.
Napco Security Magnum Alert Systems
The Napco Magnum Alert line are microprocessor-based residential burglary and fire panels. They all use removable PROM chips (Programmable Read Only Memory) to hold the basic programming information. They also need 10-conductor cable to run the keypads!
The major models are:
Napco Magnum Alert-800 (6-zones)
Napco Magnum Alert-825 (6-zones)
Napco Magnum Alert-850 (8-zones)
Napco Magnum Alert-900 (12-zones)
By today’s standards, a hardwired security panel with only 6 zones and no expansion capability seems primitive.
However, for its time, the Magnum Alert panels were a step up from the earlier 2-zone systems that came before them.
I’ll wait here while you read that sentence again.
That’s right, I said 2 zones!
It seems hard to believe now, but the earliest panels I installed only had one delay zone and one instant zone. This made troubleshooting a bad door or window switch quite a challenge, especially on a larger house.
So, you can understand what a luxury it was for me to have 4 zones to play with on the MA 800 and MA 825. Although they are 6-zone panels, they actually had only 4 zones available for perimeter protection. The other two were typically dedicated to “Panic” and “Low Battery” functions.
Typical zoning for these Napco alarm systems was often as follows:
Zone 1 Front & garage doors
Zone 2 Front of house
Zone 3 Back of house
Zone 4 Master bedroom
For a large residence, this still didn’t give very good zone breakdown, but it sure beat only two zones!
Keeping Napco Security Magnum Alert Systems Running
If you happen to have an old MA panel that still works, congratulations! If your Magnum Alert system is having problems, you may still be able to keep it going for a while longer. Here are some of the most common problems, along with the best solutions I know of.
Napco Keypad Problems
The Napco security systems keypads for the MA systems have a tendency to wear out after several years, specifically the buttons. This problem is accelerated for keypads installed outside or in a garage, where heat can cause them to fail sooner.
The quick and cheap solutions:
Magnum Alert 1008e User Manual
If you have more than one keypad, you can swap the bad keypad with another one that is working.
If you only have a single keypad installed, you can re-program the code to use different digits than the one(s) that have failed.
Of course, both of these options will only work for so long, and in fact may have already been done by a previous homeowner.
The not-so-quick, not-so-cheap solution:
Buy a replacement keypad kit at Amazon.com or any of several alarm suppliers online. There are two versions: The Napco security part numbers are RPKIT-3 and RPKIT-9.
- The RPKIT-3 has 3 LED’s and is for the RP-1003P keypad, used on the MA800 & 825 panels.
- The RPKIT-9 has 4 LED’s and is for the RP-1009 keypad used on the MA850 & MA 900 panels.
These kits contain the “guts” of the keypad, including the buttons. You simply remove a screw and unplug the ribbon cable, swap out the old part, and substitute the new one.
The kits cost $40-50 each, which isn’t too bad considering the keypad itself has been out of production for many years.
See an RPKIT-3 at AlarmSuperStore.com
PROM Programming Issues
If you ever want to change the zone programming, fallback code, or reporting information for your Napco home security system, you’ll need to program a new PROM for your system. You can download free alarm programming manuals through the link at the end of this page.
The various PROM chips for each model are available, as is the Pro-410M programmer needed to “burn” the chips. The chips run about $30 each, and the programmer costs around $100.
PROM’s cannot be erased like 'electrically erasable' PROM's, or EEPROM’s. This means that once data is burned into a PROM, it’s there forever. If you make any programming mistakes, you’ll quickly start running into serious money.
Come to think of it, if you buy the programmer and a couple of PROM chips, you’re already into serious money!
Very few alarm hobbyists (and even fewer homeowners) are brave enough to fool with programming these old Napco security systems.
If you require PROM program changes, the easiest solution is to contact an alarm dealer. They can either perform the programming changes you need, or more likely recommend a newer system.
Battery Changes
Like all alarm systems, older Napco security systems will require a battery replacement about every 3-5 years.
These panels can all use the standard 12-volt, sealed lead-acid (SLA) rechargeable alarm batteries. Either the 4AH (Amp-Hour) or 7AH units will fit easily in the alarm enclosure.
If you’re in an area subject to frequent power outages, it's a good idea to use the larger capacity 7AH unit.
For help, see DIY Alarm System Battery Replacement.
Replacing Older Napco Security Systems
As these older systems accumulate years of wear and tear, you'll reach a point when it's just not worth putting any more money into them.
Here are some things to consider when deciding to repair or replace a system:
- Keypad replacement kits like the ones mentioned above will likely be discontinued in time, as more and more Napco owners upgrade to newer systems
- A new system can easily be had these days for as little as $99, or even free in some cases, provided you go with monitoring. This makes spending money on a very old system much less cost effective than it used to be
- If you own a smartphone or other web-enabled device, consider how handy it would be to use it to remotely arm and disarm your system. Many newer systems are designed to be smartphone-compatible from the ground up. If you happen to have (or plan to have) cameras, many systems allow remote live viewing and playback on smart devices
If you decide your older Napco security system is worn out, and you’re not willing to put any more money into it, it’s time to replace it.
The good news? You may be able to re-use most of the hardwired door and window contacts, motion detectors, and sirens from the old Napco security system with a new panel and keypads.
Hardwired devices are fairly generic, and will work with almost any new panel designed to use hardwired contacts. Depending on the age and condition of the devices, you may have to replace a few of them. But, the wiring is already in place, which is often the most difficult part of installing a hardwired system.
Helpful Links:
To find a Napco alarm systems user manual, alarm installation manual, or programming guide, check out my alarm system manual sources page.
To see some of the latest Napco Security products, visit the Napco Security Technologies website.
To find out how much it would cost to replace your old Napco security system, just fill out the form below. You'll receive estimates by email, with no obligation to buy anything.
Note: Feel free to print any of the articles on this site for personal, non-commercial use. Just look for this button:
US-MAGNUM-1000XR– User Manual
Capacity: 1000g x 0.1g - Weighing modes: g, oz, ozt, dwt, gn, ct
Thank you for purchasing US-MAGNUM-1000XR digital scale. Please read
all operation instructions carefully before use.
Scales are precision instruments and should always be handled with proper
care. To ensure years of reliable service, keep these simple tips in mind:
Do not exceed the scales maximum capacity. Overloading your scale can
permanently damage it!
Avoid exposure to extreme heat or cold. Scales perform best at normal room
temperature. If temperatures have changed dramatically, recalibration may
be necessary.
Allow your scale to warm up for 30-60 seconds before performing calibration
(if available).
Store your scale in a clean, dry location. Dust, dirt, and moisture can
accumulate on the weighing sensors and electronics causing inaccuracy or
malfunction.
Avoid using you scale in close proximity to strong radio wave emitting
devices such as computers, cash registers, and cordless phones.
Always weigh on a flat level surface, free from vibrations and drafts. The
corner of a room is usually the most stable.
Gently apply all items to be weighed. Do not drop items onto the weighing
platform.
Avoid dropping your scale. The warranty does not cover damage due to
rough treatment or overload.
I
Magnum Alert 1000 Series
- SCALE OPERATION
Place the scale on a horizontal flat surface
1. Press ON/OFF key.
2. Wait until the display shows “0.0” and the zero-stable sign
3. Place the object(s) on the weighing platform.
4. Using the MODE key, you can switch between weighing units.
2-TARE WEIGHING
The Tare function will allow you to remove a known weight of an object,
usually the weighing container, to zero a scale.
1. Turn on the scale as described above
2. Place the “tare item” (Ex: container) on the platform.
3. Press the TARE button; wait until '0.0' will be displayed.
4. Place items on the scale to be weighed
Once you are finished weighing, remove all objects from the scale, press the “TARE”
again to cancel the TARE FUNCTION
3-RETURN TO ZERO
After weighing an item, if the display does not read “0.0” press the ZERO/TARE
button to return to “0.0” and you are ready to weigh again.
4- CHANGE WEIGHING MODES
Press the “MODE” button to change weighing modes on your scale. This scale has 6
weighing modes: g, oz, gn, ct, ozt, dwt.
5-CALIBRATION
This scale has come pre-calibrated at the factory. Only re-calibrate if you are
experiencing trouble weighing.
1. Press ON/OFF key, to turn on to the scale, until [0.0] is displayed.
2. Press and hold the CAL key, until the display read [CAL] and then [500.0] will
flash in the LCD.
3. Place a 500g Cal-weight on the center of the platform.
4. The LCD display reads [PASS] and then [500.0].
5. Calibration succeeds, and the scale is ready for normal use now
6. Remove the weight and press ON/OFF to turn off the scale. Finish!
6-PARTS COUNTING FUNCTION
1. Place a quantity of 10 pcs of the item you want to count on the platform (Ex:
10 coins).
2. After the display shows the weight of the items, press the 'PCS' button until
you see number 10 on the screen.
3. Press the 'PCS' button again; 'PCS' function has been set. (“PCS' will be on
the bottom left corner of the screen).
4. Remove the items and the display will show '0'
You may now count your items as long as their total weight does not exceed 1000g
Once you are finished with the PARTS COUNTING FUNCTION, press the “MODE” again
to cancel the “PCS” function
6-OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
The optimum operating temperature for the scale is 50-86° F/10-30°C. Rough
handling of the scale will damage the internal sensor; so you must avoid actions such
as shaking or dropping the scale. This is a sensitive piece of electronic equipment and
will be affected by things such as moisture, extreme temperature changes, magnetic
fields, careless handling and misuse.
V-AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF
The scale will automatically shut-off after 60 seconds of inactivity this is to help
conserve the battery power. We recommend good quality AAA batteries.
Tested to comply with FCC standards