sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging setting up alarm for the first time, need second keypad

Hi, I'm a newbie to alarm systems. But I have been working in IT for years and used to string cat5 for a living.

I'm not sure what kind of alarm it is, it came with my house which is under 2 years old. it has a honeywell/ademco 6150 keypad by the garage and I want to install a second keypad by the front door.

Unfortunately the last owner of the house lost the keys to the panel and the panel doesn't have any info on the outside. I am going to test my lock picking skills when I get home tonight.

Basically my question is, what kind of alarm would you guys guess it to be and will that alarm accept a second keypad. If I buy another keypad, would it just wire in or would I have to buy anything else?

Thanks

Danny welcome to the board, would you mind taking a minute to complete your profile. Thanks.

It is more then likely a honeywell/ademco panel. If it was recently installed I am going to guess a Vista series. You should be able to add a second keypad, but you will need to set the correct address on the second keypad. The keypad should just wire in.

Anthony is right, it's an Ademco Vista panel.
You may luck out and find an installers guide inside of the control panel cabinet but I doubt it.

I can't find a copy right off hand but I'll keep looking.

they keypad should come with a manual on how to set the address.

Thanks guys! I went to try to finish my profile, but it looks done, I just need to make a signature and add a photo. I will add a photo as soon as I can find one and add a signature as soon at I can think of something whitty to say.

I'm going to try to get the box open tonight to see where I would hook up the second keypad, or does it wire in parallel with the first?
What kind of cabling do you guys use, I have a few boxes of cat6 plenum sitting in my garage that I was planning on using.

Thanks

I would not use the cat 6, I would use a standard quad and pull a home run to the panel. You are going to need 4 conductors. You could daisy chain them but it is never really a good idea.

Check on top of the cabinet for the key.

Use quad - A.K.A. - JK wire. Four conductor, not twisted, 22 gauge.

would you guys recommend a different keypad? maybe a cooler model? My biggest client is an HVAC company and deals dierctly with honeywell and the honeywell reps are coming out next week, so I could probably get a keypad for free.

would there be any compatability issues with running different keypads?

Thanks

That was the first place I looked, then I looked through all the keys in the house... nothing :-(

Its getting close to holiday season here in vegas and a few people I work with got robbed recently, so I want to get my alarm situation in order. The wife got rid of our old alarm system, his name was Zeke, a 140 lb rottie who really didn't like things moving at night.

Like Twitsed pair said once you get the model number we can give you more info..but generally speaking if your panel supports it, I like the ademco 6270. a fairly inexpensive touchscreen. works well. The 6160 is nice as well. The trouble is if you do not have the programming code you will not be able to make any changes to the system..like adding zone names. You should not have any compatibility issues as long as your system supports the keypad you choose. But as far as funtion the 6150 is all you need.