Troubleshooting Your Yale Smart Alarm
How to solve common problems with your Yale alarm
Yale produces some of the most popular domestic intruder wireless alarm systems on the market. They are designed to allow a competent DIYer to fit their own system with a high level of confidence, that it will perform well if the house is broken into.
However, like most devices, they occasionally need checking over to ensure continued reliability. And, like most alarm systems, Yale wireless alarms can warn you if there are any issues requiring your attention, but sometimes it's difficult to get to the bottom of what the problem is and how to solve it.
Some of the most common issues with your Yale wireless alarm:
I have a Yale Smartphone alarm. The hub is beeping every 30 seconds so I know there's a fault but I can't see anything on the app
It sounds like the internal hub battery is not switched on. This is located next to the power lead input at the back of the hub. Best to unplug the hub, switch the battery on then plug the hub in again. This should stop the beeping and clear the fault.
I have a PIR which occasionally gives me false alarms.
This could be for a number of reasons. Firstly, is there a pet roaming round the house, and, if so, do you have pet-friendly PIRs fitted? Standard PIRs will pick up most cats and dogs.
Secondly, is the sensor near/above a central heating radiator or other heat source? The PIRs use infra red technology to detect motion, and can be fooled by other heat sources. For this reason, it's not recommended that you fit PIRs in conservatories due to rapid temperature fluctuations.
I've changed the battery in my door contact but the sensor still doesn't work.
It's possible you have flattened the the negative terminal with the new battery (6000 series and EF/SR series only). You should see two metal 'teeth' curled over the top edge of the new battery. If you don't, lift the battery and check underneath it. If you see the pointed teeth, pull them up and clear of the battery when you refit it. Press the test button (the LED will flash) to confirm the battery is fitted properly.
My PIRs don't seem to be working - nothing happens - how can I check my Yale alarm sensors are working?
Yale PIRs are very reliable. However there may be a few reasons why you might think yours are faulty. Firstly, check the sensor is properly learned in to the system by selecting Walk Test from the Programming menu or app. Then press the test button on each sensor - they should all make the controller beep. If a sensor doesn't produce a reaction, check its batteries. If they're ok, check the device is learned in by finding it in the Device List in the Programming menu. If it's listed, it should be working.
You may be triggering the sleep timer before the sensor has had chance to signal. Each sensor has a sleep timer which helps to preserve battery life. To rule out its influence, leave the room empty for a couple of minutes, arm the alarm and walk back into that room. If the siren triggers, everything is OK. If not, check you haven't fitted the sensor too high. Standard Yale PIRs will work well up to about 3m high, whilst Yale pet-friendly PIRs MUST be fitted no more than 2m high to function properly.
My PIR flashes occasionally when I walk past it - I thought this wasn't supposed to happen.
This is showing you that the batteries are running low in the sensor. The sensor is still working, although if it stops flashing, the batteries will be exhausted and the sensor will not work. So it doesn't happen normally - only when the alarm is telling you there is an issue with it.
My outside siren on my Yale alarm has started beeping 5 times instead of once or twice
Again, this isn't anything major to worry about. This is your Yale alarm telling you that your batteries are running low in your siren and you need to change them or get someone to come and service your alarm. You can bet if your outside siren batteries are ready for a change there will be others in the alarm system that will also need a change.
I need to press the Arm button twice on the key pad in order to start the exit countdown
You either have a fault on the system (check the panel or app) or, if it's a Yale Smartphone alarm, one of your door/window contacts is open. This may just be the front door as you're exiting, so can be ignored.
My Yale alarm panel or hub is beeping every 30 seconds
The panel is telling you there is a fault - most likely just a low battery. Check the Fault Log which is usually located at the top of the Programming settings. If the beep is annoying you, you can turn it off in the panel settings (normally under Advanced Settings) or via the smartphone app under General Configuration.
I can't learn my external siren in to my Yale Smartphone alarm.
Does your Yale Smart alarm have a black control hub? If so, the external siren does not show up in the Device List. It's not helpful that some installation manuals are wrong! To learn the siren in, press Add New Device/activate learning mode on the app. The LED on the hub should be flashing. Switch the siren on and press the Learn button. Siren should bleep. Now press the flashing LED button on the hub. Siren should bleep twice. Exit app programming and check the siren works by triggering the alarm. Remember - the siren does not appear in the list of devices.
I have a Yale siren-based alarm which is armed by a small wireless key pad. Why do my sensors only trigger the alarm after 20 seconds?
These alarms are simple to operate but offer few controls or features. When the alarm is armed, whichever sensor is triggered, there is a 20 second delay until the siren sounds, which could be detrimental to its effectiveness. The best way to use the alarm is to learn a key fob into the siren and use this to arm the alarm. The sensors will then trigger the siren instantly, so you are advised to arm and disarm the system from outside the house.
When I walk through my front door and try to use my key fob to disarm the alarm, it doesn't work and I have to use the key pad to disarm it
Your door contact may not be working. Check the battery. If it's not functioning, your Yale alarm doesn't 'know' you've come through the door. Your system will block the use of the fob until that entry contact is triggered. This is to stop anybody using your fob to disarm your alarm if you happen to lose it.
My PIR sensor LED lights don't flash when I come into the room.
They're not supposed to (to prolong battery life). If you press the test button, the LED will flash, and for the next 3 minutes, it will flash if you trigger it by moving around in front of the sensor. The sensor automatically exits this test mode after 3 minutes.
My panel display is flashing and says 'ALARM ALARM'
This is what remains on the panel when the alarm has been triggered. To clear this, press the disarm button and put your PIN code in. Then press any button a number of times until the display says Alarm Off.
Yale Alarm Servicing
Most of the issues above can be easily ruled out by having your Yale alarm serviced by one of our experienced engineers - many of these demonstrate low battery levels, which would indicate there will be more in the system that need might need changing.