How Do I Permanently Extend the Exit Delay Time for a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus?

You can permanently extend the Exit Delay time for a Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus by changing the setting within programming. By doing this, the Exit Delay countdown will be longer every time you Arm Away. This can be useful if you want to have more time to vacate the premises when you Arm Away.

The purpose of extending the Exit Delay timer is to give you and other building occupants additional time to exit the building. An exit delay serves as an important false alarm prevention mechanism. This countdown timer gives you a chance to gather your things and leave the premises before the system is actually in an Armed state. That way, you are less likely to be caught inside the building once the system is armed. By extending the Exit Delay, you can have more time to take proper action, and you can feel more comfortable when Arming Away.

The Qolsys IQ Panel 2 and Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus Systems have two (2) different Exit Delay countdown options. There is a Normal Exit Delay, and a Long Exit Delay. The Normal Exit Delay will be applied if there is at least one sensor enrolled with the system, and no programmed zones have a Sensor Group setting of Sensor Group 12 Entry-Exit Long Delay. But if there is at least one zone with Sensor Group 12, or if the system has no sensors enrolled, then the Long Exit Delay will be used. The remaining Exit Delay option (Normal or Long) will never be used on the system, unless you add or edit sensors accordingly. Therefore, only changing one of the settings is really important.

Once you change the Exit Delay, it will be applied every time you Arm Away. Also be aware that you have the option of extending the Exit Delay for a single arming session by pressing the green +60 button. This will increase the Exit Delay for that arming session by 60 seconds. This can be useful if you've forgotten something inside, and you need to increase the Exit Delay in a pinch. You can only activate that function once per arming session. If you need to increase the time further, then you must cancel the arming session by pressing the red X button, and then re-arm the system once you are ready.

But if you want to have the Exit Delay change for every time you Arm Away, then you must change the setting within programming. Complete the following steps to permanently change the Exit Delay for a Qolsys IQ Panel 2:

1. Enter Security And Arming. To enter the System And Arming Menu, start from the main screen of the IQ Panel 2. Press the small grey bar that the top of the screen, and choose Settings > Advanced Settings > Installer Code (default 1111) > Installation > Security And Arming. You will enter the Security And Arming Menu.

2. Adjust The Exit Delay. Scroll down to the Delay Timers section. You will need to adjust either the Normal Exit Delay or the Long Exit Delay. Only one (1) of these settings will matter, depending on your system settings. The other setting is irrelevant and not applicable for this purpose.

The Normal Exit Delay is applicable, as long as you have at least one (1) sensor programmed with the system, and no zones are programmed with a setting of Sensor Group 12. The Long Exit Delay is applicable either if you have at least one (1) programmed zone with a setting of Sensor Group 12, or if no sensors are programmed with the system. Click on the appropriate field, set the value using the on-screen keypad, and click "Set" to confirm.

Selections of 5 seconds thru 254 seconds are available. However, if you have SIA Limits enabled within Installer Settings, then you will be limited to selections of 45 seconds thru 254 seconds. Once you have finished confirming the desired selection, press the picture of the house at the bottom of the screen to return to the main menu.

3. Confirm Proper Exit Delay. Test the Exit Delay by Arming Away. From the main screen, click on the green "System Disarmed" button. It may alternatively be called "Partition Disarmed" if you have partitions enabled. Then choose the option to Arm Away. The Exit Delay countdown will begin. It should be what you set inside of the settings earlier. You can then click the red X to cancel the arming session.

If the improper Exit Delay countdown is displayed, then you most likely either changed the incorrect Exit Delay option, or you forgot to press "Set" to confirm the selection you made. In that case, return to Step 1, and try again.