What is a ‘Hybrid’ Alarm?

A ‘hybrid’ alarm is an alarm system which has a control panel that is able to accept normal wired circuits, (normally closed, normally open, end-of-line, fully supervised and perhaps ‘iD’), but is also able to be expanded to include connection to wirefree detectors. Most such ‘hybrid’ panels accept wirefree detectors only by the fitting of a suitable interface/zone expander, (called a ‘node’, ‘portal’ or similar) which is wired back to the panel and which contains the aerial to receive the signals from the wirefree detectors. So the control panel may have eight circuits available on the main PCB, (printed circuit board - the heart of the system) and expansion may be by way of zone expanders either wirefree or wired.

What are the advantages of using a ‘hybrid’ alarm system?

Most intruder alarm installers prefer to fit wired systems – there are a number of reasons for this e.g. no batteries are required, cables and detector relays can be subjected to diagnostic checks, fear of working with wirefree, some limitation in detector types available etc. However, there are often times when the availability of wirefree can be very useful:

Maybe you would like some protection in an outside garage or store but there is no means of easily running and concealing cable from the control panel to the required location
Part of your house is an extension and concealing cable to the required location in the extension does not strike you as being a tidy option
You live in a flat and you do not have the advantage of a loft or access to flooring voids in which to run cables to detectors away from the control panel

So you can see that in the above circumstances, having an option for the use of wirefree detectors may well make the difference between having or not having an alarm system that you are entirely happy with.

Let’s have a look at a typical ‘hybrid’ control panel.

Honeywell Galaxy G2

The Honeywell Galaxy G2 is the latest in a long line of Galaxy panels which have been so widely used by many installation companies, including some of the major national suppliers – you will undoubtedly have seen the Galaxy Mk7 Remote Keypad in your corner shop or local high street even if you did not know it when you saw it.
The Galaxy G2 is a Grade 2 panel as stipulated by EN5011 PD6662 and is therefore suitable for a low risk situation such as most normal household premises and some small commercial properties. The panel comes equipped with an on-board digi-modem which enables the panel to accept remote diagnostics by up/downloading and which also provides a means of alarm signalling be either SMS text messaging to up to three mobile phones or 24-hour alarm monitoring through an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) for police response. The G2-44 version of the panel also accepts a plug-on GSM radio module to provide wirefree alarm signalling, excellent for remote locations or where a simple dual-path signalling method is preferred.
Like all hybrid panels the Galaxy G2 has 12 on-board circuits available for standard wired detectors such as door contacts, PIR’s or shock sensors but expansion is also available by what are called ‘RIO’s’ (Remote Input Modules) or by a maximum of two RF Portals, which is the name given to the Galaxy interface for wirefree detectors. Having the option of fitting up to two RF Portals is extremely useful in difficult premises, perhaps due to foil-clad walls and ceilings, thick stone walls or similar things that may restrict the passage of radio signals. The RF Portal is not dedicated to any particular zones, it merely functions as a signal receiver, so up to 20 wirefree detectors can be received in the Galaxy G2-20 and up to 44 in the Galaxy G2-44. If two RF Portals are used then signals from the wirefree detectors can be received by either or both of the portals making for a more secure method of signal reception.

The Galaxy G2 panels have a variety of wirefree detectors available to use in conjunction with the RF Portal:

• Domonial PIR – a 12 x 12 metre PIR with look down zone and white light filter
• Door contact – a compact contact with magnet for fitting to door or window
• Glassbreak detector – unusual for many wirefree systems a 360 degree 7.5 metre range detector to detect the smashing of nearby glass such as a window or door glass
• Smoke detector – coverage of up to 50 metres and triggering on a temperature of 57C or on the presence of smoke
• RF Fob – a small radio fob to set/unset/part set the system and to activate a personal attack alarm (if programmed to do so)

So there may well be times when a hybrid alarm will best fit the bill for the effective but sensitive installation of an alarm system in low risk premises. With the option of SMS text messaging, remote monitoring, off-site diagnostics and an optional GSM module, (G2-44), the Galaxy G2 panel may well be the best choice.

Written by Roger Byng - Visit Website
Roger Byng, owner of RJB Security Systems, has been active in the Security Industry for over 20 years. Being associated with the IAAI, NASS and SSA Trade Associations, Roger helped form the SSAIB in 1994 and served as its Vice-Chairman until retiring from the Board in 2004. RJB Security Systems is UKAS Certified for the installation of Intruder Alarm Systems, CCTV Installations and Access Control and holds the SSAIB "Certificate of Excellence". Operating throughout the South West, South and Mid Wales and the Thames Valley, the company has both domestic, public and high-end commercial amongst its customer portfolio.