Honeywell 5898 walk test mode results ... confusing

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Hi. Are there any good YouTube (or other) videos demonstrating the ENROLL Walk Test and LED Walk Test Modes on the Honeywell 5898 motion sensor? I’ve just installed a 5898 (to workaround pet-induced false alarms on previous PIR motion sensor), and I’m having trouble interpreting the 5898 LED output during these test – it doesn’t seem to match what the instructions say it should do.

The instructions give the following descriptions for LED behavior in Enroll and Walk test modes:

Red ON for 3 seconds = Loop 1 / Low Sensitivity Alarm [Default] Red Blinks rapidly for 3 seconds = Loop 2 / High Sensitivity Alarm Yellow ON for 2 seconds = Microwave event detected Green ON for 2 seconds = PIR event detected Red Flickers rapidly for 3 seconds = Walk test period ended or the flashlight sequence toggled the Loop / Sensitivity and LED indication
ENROLL Walk Test Mode (to enroll or walk test the sensor): This mode is active for 10 minutes and begins either after power up or the sensor cover is opened and closed. When faulted in this mode, the sensor transmits alarm signals to the panel for the selected loop only, and the LED flashes the relative loop indication.
LED Walk Test Mode (to walk test the detection pattern): This mode is active for 10 minutes and is activated using the flashlight feature after Enroll Walk Test mode expires. In this mode, the sensor transmits both loop alarms as they occur, mimicking normal operation. The LED, however, only indicates the selected loop when it is alarmed, allowing a walk test of each loop/sensitivity setting.

So based on the above descriptions, I’m expecting to see:
Red ON for 3 seconds
Red Blinks rapidly for 3 seconds
Yellow ON for 2 seconds
Green ON for 2 seconds
Red Flickers rapidly for 3 seconds

But instead, what I’m seeing is that the LED lights up with several colors (green/yellow/red) in quick succession, like all three colors within a second. Sometimes two colors, sometimes all three. That behavior doesn’t match any of the descriptions in the instructions that I’ve found. Even if I were somehow in LED Walk test mode (which I shouldn’t be, since I haven’t used the flashlight feature to switch into it), I should be seeing each color for at least 2 or 3 seconds.

The unit itself seems to be working OK, based on the fact that it did light up in response to movement during the walk test, and based on sensor activity I see via alarm.com, but I’d like to understand if:

  • my device is malfunctioning
  • the instructions are inaccurate
  • operator error (most likely…)

If the above description isn’t clear, I can probably post a video, but I’m hoping someone familiar with this device might be able to explain what I’m seeing.

My device configuration, if it matters:
DIP1 = ON -> low sensitivity
DIP2 = OFF -> low temp fault
DIP3 = OFF -> 60 Hz filter
DIP4 = OFF -> Normal walk test mode

Only Loop 1 has been enrolled to the panel. That is, per supplied instructions, I enrolled the sensor to the panel only by activating the sensor with motion, rather than by using the tamper switch (which is used to enroll loop 2/3).

I installed the supplied Animal Immune lens, and I also installed the supplied look down mask.

Thanks!
Chris

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According to Honewell, during the walk test the Yellow Light (for Microwaves) and the Green Light (PIR) have to register before the Red Light (Alarm) will go off. So if you are seeing Green/Yellow then Red that should be normal function during the walk test.

I would agree that the instructions are somewhat vague on which lights should light up during a loop 1 test.

From how you have the sensor configured, the dip switches are in the proper places for loop one setting.

If you are testing the range for motion sensing capabilities of your Honeywell 5898 we recommend testing these in a more realistic setting using the panel. So enter walk test mode on your panel and trip the sensor. Do you get the proper response on your panel?

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Thanks for the reply Tyler!

According to Honewell, during the walk test the Yellow Light (for Microwaves) and the Green Light (PIR) have to register before the Red Light (Alarm) will go off. So if you are seeing Green/Yellow then Red that should be normal function during the walk test.

That makes more sense. If you don’t mind me asking, where’d you find that? Did I over look this in the instructions supplied with the unit, or is this from somewhere else? I’ll facepalm if this is a case of RTFM. :slight_smile:

If you are testing the range for motion sensing capabilities of your Honeywell 5898 we recommend testing these in a more realistic setting using the panel. So enter walk test mode on your panel and trip the sensor. Do you get the proper response on your panel?

I hadn’t thought to try that, but yes, I can do that.

One additional question:

Can I enroll loop 1 (pet immunune / low sensitivity) and loop 2 (high sensitivity) as two separate zones on my 2GIG GC2 controller? What I’d like to do is use the low sensitivity loop as a real trigger for the alarm, but to set up the high sensitivity loop as “notification only”? It would be cool to at least get the high sensitivity alerts on my phone so I can assess the situation with the live feed on my cameras.

The manual implies that both loop alarms are transmitted as they occur in normal operation, which is what gave me the idea to do this…

Would that work?

Chris

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Did I over look this in the instructions supplied with the unit, or is this from somewhere else?

That was directly from a Honeywell technician. :slight_smile: The 5898 is a bit more complex than other PIR sensors. They have condensed the instructions into a single sheet to save trees i think. Suffice it to say, the instructions aren’t quite complete.

Can I enroll loop 1 (pet immunune / low sensitivity) and loop 2 (high sensitivity) as two separate zones on my 2GIG GC2 controller?

Loops allow multi-function devices to use multiple loops with the same serial number. So in theory you should be able to keep loop 1 as low sensitivity and report alarm events and Loop 2 as high sensitivity but not report alarm events. Just program loop 2 Sensor Type as 23 No response Type. This will forward the signal to Alarm.com but not to Central Station. Then you would choose motion and disable dialer delay.

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Perfect, thanks Tyler.

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Anytime!