Advice on New System Coming From ADT

Support
1

Hey everyone, I’m a previous ADC customer through Brinks and currently replacing an ADT command system. I’m very excited to get this purchased and configured. Im most excited to be able to support my own system as I used to have to tell ADT and Brinks what was wrong with the system and they would never believe me.

Here’s my situation, the house was originally pre-wired and with sensors at all of the windows and doors (approximately 20 across 2 floors). ADT repurposed some of the connections for power to cameras (Google Home). I don’t know how many are still good or not.

There were 2 smoke/co2 detectors in the system as well. We also have a few zwave and WiFi locks. Zwave is currently controlled by Home Assistant

Current thoughts:

  • IQ4 Panel
    • Zwave will migrate over
  • smoke thinking of doing either the one that listens for existing (for now) or skipping)

Sensors question, am I better doing a wired to wireless or just replacing all of the wireless and wired ones in place? If I reused the wired ones, can I test them to see if they are even any good?

I know none of the ADT equipment is usable either.

2

Are the wired sensors still hooked up to the old system? If so, does it show when they open and close?

Otherwise, do you have a multimeter or ohmmeter? You can use it to test for connectivity as the sensors open and close.

If you decide to used the wired sensors you can choose between:

  • IQ Panel 4 and IQ Hardwire PowerG
    • Wired sensors converted to wireless
    • Built in touch screen
  • IQ Pro
    • Wired sensors stay fully wired
    • Need to buy an IQ Remote PowerG
3

No, when they installed the ADT system the they took the old panel out as well. I know that there’s at least 2 or 3 that don’t work but not 100% if there are more.

4

If you feel like it, get a meter and some alligator clips. You can test them pretty easily.

Or just replace them with wireless. Whatever you prefer.

5

The smoke/CO detectors were probably powered by the former security system (if wired). If wireless, you can get an IQ4 with a legacy security frequency. Smoke detectors need to be replaced every ten years and CO detectors every seven years.

6

I’ve never wired an alarm like this before. If I remember correctly, the pro only has eight zones. What I just combined sensors if I did it that way? Is there a benefit to doing wired over wireless?

7

There is a zone expander that works with both the IQ Pro and the IQ Hardwire PowerG so you can add more wired zones if you want.

Wired is generally considered to be the most secure and reliable but PowerG is pretty close. Some people are die hard for fully wired. Wired can be harder to install though.

If you already have a bunch of working wired sensors then you would probably save money using them vs replacing them all with new wireless sensors.

8

If I remember correctly, the pro only has eight zones. What I just combined sensors if I did it that way? Is there a benefit to doing wired over wireless?

Are all of the sensors individually wired back to a central location? Typically this isn’t the case with older panels. More commonly installers would have already wired similar sensors together in series and used the 8 or so zone inputs on the original panel.

Windows in related areas of the home especially are usually in series.

If some of the sensors were disconnected and wires reused for other purposes by ADT installers, it would take some trial and error to determine what can be used. A multimeter would be required to identify what all works.

Do you have labeled wiring where the old panel used to be?