As a disclaimer, I fully realize that I put myself in this situation based on my choice of equipment, but I thought I’d make the observation anyway since I feel it unnecessarily complicates DIY installations. I own an IQ Panel 4, an IQ Remote PowerG, and a DSC HS2LCDWFP9 Keypad. All three of those require power supplies of different voltages (7V, 12V, and 9V, respectively). Since I used my home’s existing alarm wiring to run power from each device to my basement, the PDU in my network rack now needs 3 different transformers, which is a little annoying. I can understand why Qolsys didn’t feel the need to match voltages with the older DSC keypads, but I feel like there was a missed opportunity to have both the IQ Panel and the IQ Remote PG use the same voltage. I could have then just used a single 12V power supply with a higher amperage to power multiple devices. What will they think of next–another small keypad that uses 5V?
Here’s my take: Systems that are UL listed go through testing and certification based on a certain setup and configuration. Part of that is the dedicated/provided power supply. If you change any of those variables, the UL testing is invalid.
I relate this to my day job in IT, where if we have a system that is FDA certified (like Blood Bank systems, PACS (digital X-rays), etc) we cannot make ANY change to those systems that is not permitted by the FDA.
So, in this case, changing the power supply to something that is not provided by Qolsys and part of the approved system compromises the integrity of the system and potentially the validity of its certification.
Therefore if they need a certain part number of a supply for a given device, why do they care about the voltage specs? You have to use that supply anyway. Also, I believe not using the included supply invalidates the warranty, probably for this same reason.
I’m basically just another customer like you, but this is my take/guess. I’ll let the Surety guys tell us if my hunch is right here!
I agree that this may be the likely reason, and I certainly wouldn’t advocate using an off the shelf power supply where complying with UL (security, life support, fire) could mean the difference between a homeowner’s insurance denying coverage for an event. I just find it odd that Qolsys wouldn’t realize that they are selling two different power supplies for essentially the same android tablets. Maybe I’m wrong about that too, and there is actually a good reason that the IQ Remote and the IQ4 require different voltages. My best guess is that they gave the Remote 12V to account for voltage drops associated with longer runs for places where you need a separate panel, whereas the IQ4 should be centrally located. But if that’s the case, why not just make the IQ4 12V as well?
I agree. My guess there is also this: history of the products
The previous IQ2 panel started at 5.5v, and then later models went to 7v. So as an easy upgrade from IQ 2+ to IQ4, I’m wondering if they kept the voltage at the 7v level to reuse the supplies. (I think the part number for the IQ2+ supply and the IQ4 supply is the same.). And, probably because the architecture of the 2+ and the 4 is likely very similar.
The IQ Remote was more of a separate product, likely starting with an ‘off the china shelf’ base android tablet, which had its own requirements.
Of course the HS2LCDWFP9 is a DSC product from a different product train and history.
I don’t know for sure but I suspect they started with 5V because the IQ Panel was based on the Android platform and tablets run on 5V (USB power).
Then they realized 5V is too low with too much voltage drop and increasing to 7V was the easiest way to solve that without completely changing the platform.
Then they finally realized 12V is better so they used that for the IQ Remote PowerG.
I think the next IQ Panel will be 12V. They should have used 12V across the board from the start.