Alarm panel replacment recommendations

[Arne73]

My Radio Shack model 49-485 alarm panel has lost its mind. The main keyboard randomly "loses it's mind", beeping an flashing.
I've isolated zones but no change.

Any recommendations for a replacement?

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[JRC3]

I do Smartthings.

In the house it monitors 16 window and door sensor, 4 motion sensors, 3 water sensors. It also controls exterior and interior lighting and crawlspace ventilation. My unattached garage has a an overhead and man door sensor as well as a motion sensor (I have no windows). It controls motion lights behind the garage and over the driveway. Both sheds also have door sensors.

Smartthing notifies you or anyone you want of an intrusion, water leak or whatever temps you choose as extreme. Every sensor reads temp. Furnace malfunctions, get alerts before pipes freeze and so on. You can also set specific lights or every single light to come on in the house if there's an intrusion. Thieves hate light.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Bosch makes really good alarm panels.

If you want to start over, simplisafe is good. I use them for my house.

 

[Innovate1]

Do you want a panel that can be monitored? Since you have wired sensors I would replace it with a panel that can do wired sensors. The trend is to wireless but wired are more reliable and no batteries in the sensors to replace. A panel swap is pretty easy. cocoontech.com has a good forum on those sorts of things. I went with caddx since I had the same in the house but they are dropping the line so wouldn't recommend for this.

Now would be a good time to think about going to cell monitoring if you want it monitored. Self monitoring is another option. Some systems can provide alerts through the net. Lots of options for monitoring - some other them have monthly fees.

 

[jbwilkins]

Your Radio Shack panel was probably made by Ademco(Honeywell/Resido), DSC, or another major manufacturer. If you can figure that out you can probably just buy a replacement controller.

A Vista 20-P (Ademco 8 Zone) runs $49 on E-Bay. You are probably going to need new keypads and a cell communicator if you totally swap out the panel.

 

[Arne73]

Thanks for the responses guys-

The sensors are all hardwired and for the sake of simplicity I'll stick with them.
I've added an auto dialer and cell calling, they worked fine for several years before these current problems.

I'll try to determine the manufacturer of the system. The panel itself is primarily a battery charger and terminal board so replacing the main keyboard may be the key.

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[nadogail]

Your Radio Shack panel was probably made by Ademco(Honeywell/Resido), DSC, or another major manufacturer. If you can figure that out you can probably just buy a replacement controller.

A Vista 20-P (Ademco 8 Zone) runs $49 on E-Bay. You are probably going to need new keypads and a cell communicator if you totally swap out the panel.

What he said.

 

[jbwilkins]

Just doing some quick research, you're going to probably be better off replacing the panel.

I found one on E-Bay, just the panel alone is $150 and a keypad for $150.

You're trying to fix an alarm panel that was made/installed in the 80's., it's 30-40 years old.

 

[Innovate1]

Given the age of it and the low cost of total replacement I would replace both panel and keypad with a current model.

If you are up for it you could try fixing the current one. My guess is the electrolytic caps may be bad. They go bad (dry out) over time. But just a guess and I wouldn't spend the time to try it.

 

[Steve.S]

That sign is great!

 

[Arne73]

Thanks guys- I'd rather replace than attempt repair.
Any brand recommendations or watch outs?

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[jbwilkins]

Honeywell (Ademco) and DSC will probably be the easiest to source for a wired install.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Go with a vista panel. They are solid.

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

Look into a Konnected panel replacement. Best of both worlds

 

[Tmart86]

Alarm.com and. 2gig cellular panel works out well. You can do a wired expansion module and re use all the wired sensors. Then do self monitored or a monitoring service.

 

[Bigbandguy]

I second the Ademco/Honeywell Vista 20P. It is pretty much an industry standard. If you want to program it yourself (which is pretty involved) make sure you get the right keypad as they will not all handle that. I installed everything and just got the company that was going to monitor it send out someone to set it up, a one time cost and probably worth it. The unit is very reliable and used by many security companies. If you have a detached shop it will even allow for a separate zone for that.

 

[beatuptruck]

Look into a Konnected panel replacement. Best of both worlds

I'd also suggest replacing the panel with a Konnected system. It uses your existing alarm sensors and integrates with smartthings home automation. Turns your system into a self monitored smart home.

Best part is there are zero montly fees.

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

I'd also suggest replacing the panel with a Konnected system. It uses your existing alarm sensors and integrates with smartthings home automation. Turns your system into a self monitored smart home.

Best part is there are zero montly fees.

Exactly, but if he wants it professionally monitored they now have that worked out. I use each sensor as a z wave enabled input and have different scenes for different timing etc. Very clean and interfaces with Hubitat nicely.

 

[Arne73]

I'm glad I asked here, there are units with features I hadn't even thought of.

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[Git]

Exactly, but if he wants it professionally monitored they now have that worked out. I use each sensor as a z wave enabled input and have different scenes for different timing etc. Very clean and interfaces with Hubitat nicely.

We are kind of in the same boat - but we have a 15 year old professionally installed hard wired panel, but we haven't used it in years/

I have a pretty elaborate z-wave setup using HomeSeer, and although I have played around with battery powered door and window sensors, I was thinking about replacing the panel with something that was z-wave compatible to use the hard wired sensors (no more batteries to change) and Konnected was one of the brands that came up. I haven't really looked into that much at this point, but I was wondering what your thoughts were about them or what else do you suggest to look at?

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

We are kind of in the same boat - but we have a 15 year old professionally installed hard wired panel, but we haven't used it in years/

I have a pretty elaborate z-wave setup using HomeSeer, and although I have played around with battery powered door and window sensors, I was thinking about replacing the panel with something that was z-wave compatible to use the hard wired sensors (no more batteries to change) and Konnected was one of the brands that came up. I haven't really looked into that much at this point, but I was wondering what your thoughts were about them or what else do you suggest to look at?

Konnected was built to do exactly what you are describing, I haven't came across anything else with the level of support and assistance that there forums provide....I can't say I would try anything else with the ease i have had.

 

[Git]

thanks