Hi guys - former Surety customer here (and hoping to be a customer, again).
I have read some of the “covert old hardwired” threads, but it seems as if conversion is pretty specific to the existing system.
I just bought a property with a wired system.
I am not on-site right now, but I’ll attach a photo I have of the existing system. It looks like the chip is labelled WA20P-x.12 HONEYWELL 201x REV x.x
Resolution isn’t awesome, so I’m guessing a little and can’t tell on the "x"s.
There is at least one keypad, and I understand that the system has a cellular module, but I don’t know where that is located.
Honeywell Vista 20P requires an Alarm.com System Enhancement Module (SEM) in order to connect to Alarm.com. The SEM is the 4G LTE cellular module and Z-Wave radio.
We do not carry it but the SEM300 is the most recent version of this device.
More information on pairing this device, including which models are compatible with Alarm.com, can be found below:
Otherwise, you can replace the system with a Qolsys IQ Pro, or an IQ Panel 4 and a Hardwire to Wireless Translator.
Thanks. So I’m leaning towards IQ 4. How do you choose which frequency? Looks like there are three options.
Never mind - I think I get it. I would need a PowerG wired to wireless converter and then just match new wireless sensors to whichever frequency panel I pick, right?
If it’s the IQ Panel 4 then pick the default 319.5 MHz model unless you have a bunch of existing 2GIG or Honeywell wireless sensors that use 345 MHz. They both include PowerG.
If it’s the IQ4 Hub then you have to decide between 319.5 MHz and PowerG. 319.5 MHz will be lower cost sensors. PowerG is better - longer range, longer battery life, better jamming avoidance.
I have decided to go with the easiest (and cheapest) solution for now as I learn more about the various systems at this property. I bought an ADC-SEM-300 and I am heading up to the property tomorrow.
I’m following these directions: How to Install a SEM 300 System Enhancement Module for Honeywell Vista
Questions:
Just confirming that I should be able to reset the Vista installer code without anything from previous owner / previous alarm company
When should I setup / activate new alarm.com account?
Other than the items / materials listed in the linked thread above, anything else I should be prepared to do to get the SEM300 installed, activated and the existing Vista system connected to ADC?
I do (have an 6160 keypad - two of them, in fact).
Good point, you didn’t say easiest, but based on the instructions posted by Surety, it looks pretty straight-forward.
If I understand it correctly the SEM300 just ties into the existing Vista panel with power and some kind of communication port. I’m assuming the SEM can read all zone and configuration and sensor info from the Vista panel and then converts to ADC lingo and uses cellular for connectivity.
So at what point should I setup new ADC account?
Activation of your Alarm.com account is automatic and completed when you submit your activation form on our website. Go to the system manager here to get started with activation.
Just confirming that I should be able to reset the Vista installer code without anything from previous owner / previous alarm company
Yes, the Vista panel has a method to get into the programming menu where you can then change the installer code to one of your choice.
You will need to do this step before activation, as you need to include the correct current installer code for the system when submitting your activation form. This is what allows the SEM to start interfacing with the panel.
Other than the items / materials listed in the linked thread above, anything else I should be prepared to do to get the SEM300 installed, activated and the existing Vista system connected to ADC?
Nothing else would be needed. I usually recommend replacing the battery just to know you have a fresh one if you do not know when the prior one was installed, but that can be done later.
After a false start with a previously installed SEM300 (and never removed) I finally got this working with a new old stock SEM300.
Now I just need to start to figure out the system!
Let me preface with: I would welcome a simple point to the right resource(s). I did some Surety DIY forum searching last night, but didn’t find what I was looking for.
I have fixed some issues but still have questions. For future forum searches, I’ll keep my updates / answers below.
Update: I suspect in my diligence to remove the former cellular module I also removed the RF receiver - thus the “Check 100 RF Receiver” error message and the loss of signal from water sensor, heat/smoke detectors and glass break sensors. Now I just need to figure out which module was cellular and which was RF sensor
Final update: this was, indeed, the issue. I re-installed the RF Receiver Module, power cycled the system and eventually did a double disarm at the panel - this solved the Check 100 RF Receiver message and eliminated the low battery message on a glass break sensor (after replacing the battery).
Here are my remaining questions:
I would welcome input on a few SEM300 install follow-up questions I have:
Now that I can see the system on ADC app/website, how much configuration can I do there?
I did see that renaming sensors on the app/website don’t impact the control panel names, so it seems as if any renaming I want to do needs to be done through a 6160 panel.
How about things like re-program installer code?
Can this be done through ADC or do I need to use 6160 panel commands?
This was solved (see above):
or removal of the RF Receiver (I removed the former RF Receiver hardware when installing the SEM300, as instructed, but my panels are giving me “Check 100 RF Receiver” messages - I am assuming this is because the Vista 20P programming thinks there should be a receiver)?
Finally, my system has multiple temperature sensors. My insurance company would like me to have centralized monitoring of these temp sensors.
I don’t see any obvious way to activate temp monitoring. Is that thing?
Solved (see updates above):
One more thing: while doing some other stuff around the house I was turning off a variety of breakers. While doing this I started receiving ADC alerts about malfunctions with various sensors. After getting all breakers turned back on, I am still receiving malfunction indicators on a high-water sensor (in laundry room), several smoke/heat detectors and several glass sensors.
It feels odd that they all have issues simultaneously (entirely possible that some of them have low batteries or something, but I’m surprised they are all malfunctioning).
Any ideas on this issue?
No, I don’t think so. If you can it would be in System Manager. Do you see a way to do it there?
Any sensors you have on your system are being monitored. What kind of temp sensors? Heat or freeze? Heat sensors would trigger a fire alarm. Freeze sensors would just trigger a notification or call to you.
Thanks, Frank. I definitely have several heat detectors, but I also have some sensors labeled as “temperature sensor”. I’ll need to track down the model number.
On the SEM, installer code changes can be made at the panel, or you can send us a private message requesting the code reset to a specific value. This is only possible if you already knew your current installer code and activated service.
Finally, my system has multiple temperature sensors. My insurance company would like me to have centralized monitoring of these temp sensors.
I don’t see any obvious way to activate temp monitoring. Is that thing?
I see that there are a handful of sensors which are labeled as temperature sensors by name, however in your system they appear to be programmed using Zone type 12 and reporting as a tamper switch.
For those you would want them to be programmed as Zone type 8, which is an aux alarm zone type used for temperature sensors, flood sensors, etc.
I am trying to reconcile hand-written notes on the physical Vista 20P panel along with sensor / zone names I see in the 6160 panel along with names that I see via ADC website / app.
On my physical panel I see most sensors labeled with a zone number, a name and some notes. The notes indicate whether the sensor is wireless, “zone doubled” or “zone expander”.
I have a few questions:
Why don’t the ADC names match what I see on 6160?
What is a “doubled-zone” and how does that work?
Is there an easy way to try to map the ADC sensors to the hand-written notes that I have? As far as I can tell, on ADC all I can see is the name of a sensor (which often does not match the 6160 name and definitely doesn’t match the hand-written notes). For example, ADC shows a “Laundry” sensor, but 6160 clearly indicates that as zone 39 Laundry High Water (which matches the hand-written note).
Names can be changed in ADC independent of what is in the panel. If you would like we can send a command to try and get the exact names in the panel. This would replace the ADC names with what it gets in reply from the system.
Let me know if you would like me to send that.
What is a “doubled-zone” and how does that work?
The panel supports two zones wired into zone terminals 2-8. The doubled zone corresponds to another zone then if doubled. If you use zone doubling on 2, the additional zone is 10. 3 is 11, 4 is 12, etc.
The two zones must use different specific resistances which allows the panel to know which opens. It only works with Normally closed zones.
Is there an easy way to try to map the ADC sensors to the hand-written notes that I have?
The zone numbers should be the same, so assuming the notes are accurate you could manually rename sensors in Alarm.com under Settings > Manage Devices if any do not match the specificity. It won’t show in Alarm.com in your sensors list whether a zone is wired to an expander or zone doubled, etc. That can be determined by inspection of the wiring to be sure.
I don’t see zone numbers in ADC otherwise I would be happy to change them manually.
Most of what I have seen on the panel look better than what ADC currently shows, so if you could send that command I would appreciate it!
I don’t see zone numbers in ADC otherwise I would be happy to change them manually.
It is a bit unintuitive to get to the zone IDs. Alarm.com tried to organize the devices in a more natural way according to type on that first Manage Devices page but it leads to some confusion.
Head to Settings > Manage Devices, then click the menu ellipse button on the right of one of the sensors, click device settings. You’ll come to a page with a list of all the sensors where you can rename them and change their sensor activity monitoring status if needed. They will be listed in their zone number order.
I’ve sent that command to get the panel names. Allow about 5 minutes before checking.
