Strange little box on wall - wired with little key - what is it?

[mightyw]

Hello

Random question time. Just moved house and in the master bedroom there's a small white box on the wall with a really basic black key, and a red push switch on the top. Turning the key seems to 'untrip' the switch once pressed. I opened it up and there's some very basic wiring in there, but I was reluctant to dismantle the whole thing.

Anyone know what this mysterious little box might be? No visible brand name for the box.



Any ideas gratefully received!!

MightyW

 

[Electricalserv]

Looks like a panic button?

 

[Apollo]

Looks to me like a panic button for an alarm. Is there an alarm in the place?

 

[Paul.M]

It's a Panic Attack switch that sets off your house alarm if still working. It's normally located in bedrooms and front doorways so you can press it if you want to get rid of pushy salesmen or if your in bed and hear a noise of a burglar.


Beaten to it again

 

[mightyw]

Good call, guys! Makes total sense now I think about it. There is an alarm, and bedside is the logical place for it. Cheers!

 

[miner69er]

yep thats a panic button for a house alarm. if there is an alarm in place on the house, be sure to have the reset code as it may have an anti tamper switch inside which will set the alarm off when you take it apart.

 

[BOROROBBO]

good job youve got the key. theres nothing worse than walking into a void and pressing it "just to see what it does" and alarms start going off left right and centre!!!

 

[mightyw]

Oh, and of course I pressed the big red scary looking button before I knew what it did. I'm a bloke.

The alarm was switched off though which explained why it didn't help much!

 

[telectrix]

Should work if alarm is switched off

 

[oldtimer]

A panic button is designed and meant to work 24 hours a day ie panel set or unset and the alarm will not silence unless the user code is entered you will see a little window on the front it should be green (for safe) if and I say (so dont push the button) if the button is depressed then the window will change from green to red.

One last thing the plastic key is there to reset it as the regulations require a manual reset never and I say NEVER leave the key in it because you could put it in the reset position and it will stop the button from operating I had a customer who reported they heard someone down stairs they tried to push the button but the key was in they now know not to do that Ahhhh what if you take the key out how are you meant to reset it ? well if you have a screwdriver take the front cover off and push the slide button back up and what if you are a customer who phones you to say they cannot find the key then I direct them to the wardrobe or cupboard the control panel is in and tell them to look up and when they do they see a couple of black plastic keys hanging on a nail so why do that simple because the idiots would loose them if you hand them over plus also when you tell them where they are they say "Iremember now you told me about this years ago when you put the alarm in" funny ol world