DSC PowerSeries NEO Kits & Packages

The DSC PowerSeries NEO is a completely updated revision of the PowerSeries line. It takes all the strengths that made the PowerSeries so popular and added new features and upgraded many of the old ones. The PowerSeries NEO retains the 16, 32, and 64 zone versions with the HS2016, HS2032, and HS2064 respectively. But DSC is billing the NEO as scalable from residential to commercial applications; and so they have added the HS2128 which can handle up to 128 zones. They also have a maximum number of user codes up to 95. In addition the systems can use up to 94 proximity tags with the use of a HS2LCDP9 or similar keypad. These make them ideal for a situation with a lot of employees that may need access. Or even if you just have a busy home with a lot of people in and out. Each NEO control panel needs HSM2108 zone expansion boards to reach their potential number of hardwire zones. The modules will add hardwire zones in increments of 8; so the HS2128 would need 15 HSM2108’s to reach 128 hardwired zones. Another option is to add a PowerG transceiver, like the HSM2HOST9 or HS2LCDRF9, so that you can add wireless components in addition to the hardwired parts.

Programming on the NEO has been streamlined greatly. As with previous PowerSeries incarnations, we recommend having at least 1 alphanumeric keypad (HS2LCD or better) for programming. Even though the programming is a little easier with the PowerSeries NEO, you will not see that benefit without an LCD or touchscreen keypad and you would be programming ‘blind’. DSC was able to combine some programming sections in a more intuitive fashion. For instance to program zone types on the old PowerSeries you would have to go to section 001 for the first 16 zones and 002 for the next 16 zones and so on. With the PowerSeries NEO, DSC has made it so that the zone types for zones 1-128 are all under section 001. Not only that, but you can see which zone you are on and scroll through them so that you don’t have to count the zones to determine which one you are on. These benefits have been applied across the programming on all NEO panels.

DSC has kept their exceptional partitioning capability found on previous PowerSeries lines. Even their smallest panel, the HS2016, can have 2 partitions. The HS2032 comes in at 4. And the HS2064 and HS2128 can each have 8. Partitions can greatly increase the versatility of an alarm system. This may be especially true for a commercial environment where you might want to be able to arm an office separate from the rest of the building. Or even multiple offices. They can even have many uses in residential situations: arming a garage or shop separately from the living space for example. Keep in mind Occam’s Razor though: often the simplest solution is the best one.

On DSC’s top NEO panel, the HS2128, they have increased the number of keypads available from their normal 8 to 16. But keep in mind that the panel only has 700mA to power everything on both the corbus (formally known as keybus) and auxiliary +. With each standard keypad drawing up to 105mA, you can see how that would quickly add up. Then add in your other modules and powered sensors like smoke detectors and motion detectors; and you can imagine that for a larger installation the 700mA might not be enough. But don’t worry: DSC has you covered with the HSM2300. The NEO panels can have 3 supervised (4 in the case of the HS2128) HSM2300 modules. These will add 1A of power each. Also, each one requires its own power supply and backup battery. If you still need more supervised power, DSC also has the HSM2204 which adds another 1A each in addition to 4 more high-current programmable outputs.

Do you want more sirens than the 2A on the panel’s bell output can handle? The HSM2204 modules are also great options if you need more than the 2A bell output that is on the panel to power your sirens. Output 1 on the HSM2204 can act as a supervised bell output. The HS2016 and HS2032 can have 1 of these while the HS2064 can have 3 and the HS2128 can have 4. In most cases this should be plenty out extra current. But you can add more using an ELK 912 relay with a power supply module. Keep in mind that in this setup the sirens will not be supervised. And, as yet another upgrade over the previous PowerSeries, the NEO is also compatible with PowerG wireless sirens as long as there is a PowerG transceiver connected to the panel. This is an especially good option if you don’t want to run additional wire. DSC has made available an indoor (PG9901) and outdoor (PG9911B) option. DSC’s wireless sirens used to be exclusively for their all wireless systems, but they are now finally an option for a hybrid alarm system.

Note: Kits are specially priced and individual kit pieces may not be returned for refund.