Hello All,

I bought the current house I am in a little over a year ago and it was already equipped with the ADT Safewatch Pro 3000. I didn't get the security code from the previous owner so I have never been able to use it. Just recently every 8 hours or so the keypads in the house start beeping until you walk up to one of them and select 'off'. The only display notifications on the panels are 'FC' which is fine since it's not monitored, 'AC' which is fine since they have power, and finally 'BAT'. I am unable to find a device that uses a battery to replace it. The 'BAT' notification has been on the display for about a year and this can't be the cause of these new alerts every 8 hours?? Does anyone know what's going on? How can I stop these beeps? How can I find out how to reset my security code? Below are the devices I have in the home...

2 - main panels, one located downstairs near the garage door and the other in the master bedroom.

3 - door alarms, one on each of the doors in the home, front, back, and garage door.

1- motion sensor located in the family room downstairs (can't figure out how to open then to see if there is a battery inside)

1- white box located upstairs next to the attic door, I have no idea what this could be?? I don't think its a smoke alarm or anything? Maybe it's a siren?

I am desperate for any help guys... I'm at the point I might just cut the power cables to my control panels to stop the beeping....

-Brian

 

Your main alarm box, probably the box near the attic, takes a big battery. It's the backup if the power fails. Open this box up, and there you will see it. If the battery drains down enough, you will get warnings like you are now.

your KEYPADS are not your main box like you stated.

 

Actually you just reminded me I have a ADT panel in one of the master bedroom closets. It has a circuit board and a big black battery. The battery doesn't have any markings on it but appears to be a std. 12volt battery. I will check with Radio Shack in the morning. Also I am not sure that this is the cause of these recent alarms ever few hours since I have had the 'BAT' message on the keypads for at least 12 months now...

-Brian

 

Usually these are 6V batteries but some can take 12. The kind some big flashlights and computer backups take. You can find them at home center type places as well.

 

It's going to be a 12v battery, for one of these systems; either 4-5AH or 7AH (get the 7 if you can, they tend to last longer).

The reason for the alerts is that the panel is trying to notify the monitoring center that it has a problem, and is failing to connect.

Key in the following keystrokes:

6321 + 8 + 00
*41*
*42*
*94*
*99

That will turn off the dialer and eliminate the FC.

It's probably been doing this for some time, but you didn't notice, because it may have been doing it during the work day when you weren't around and the sounder eventually times out. There may have been a power failure recently, and since you didn't have a good backup battery, on power up, the clock reset.

 

I tried entering in those key sequences but am having no luck removing that 'FC' notification. I don't have a "+" key on my pad so I just ignored that? Also it's possible that the installer code was changed by the previous owners. I can take a picture of my keypad if that would help? What about me not having the security code? Is there anyway to reset this or am I just out of luck? Thanks

-Brian

 

He doesn't mean hit a + sign. He's telling you to press those numbers in that order.

If you have the correct installer/programmer code, you will be able to change the access code. You will have to wait for MrRonFl though.

 

Yea I figured as much, hopefully he will have a suggestion since I do not have the programmer code. I did notice though that after pressing those key sequences the 'BAT' display has gone away. ('FC' still present and flashing) I am still planning to purchase a new 12V battery this afternoon anyway.

 

Replaced battery and now the 'BAT' notification is back and the beeping is also back. I'm am really thinking of just ripping out the 'brain' in the closet and killing all the power to the system.

 

Do you have access to a multimeter? If so, test the voltage to that new battery. It is not uncommon for a "new" battery to be drained. You should have 12v.

Also, not sure if this system is the same, but sometimes if a wireless sensor has a low battery it will say BAT with a zone # next to it.

 

Don't go killing something yet. The unit should have a 110 transformer plugged into an outlet somewhere ( mine has a screw to replace the wall plate screw ) Try just unplugging it, disconnect the battery and see if it will shut down, before you gut it .

 

Hmmm.. I don't see it plugged into anything, all of the wires run back into the wall. According to this panel diagram it has two wires tied into the circuit board from 110VAC unswitched outlet. I see where this ties into the board but it runs back into the wall.... I can take a picture if needed?

-Brian

 

Take a look at this thread

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=255864

 

If you have AC power, it will state this on the keypad as "AC", if there is no AC power to the unit, the keypad will state "no AC"

EDIT: Disregard this post, sorry

 

Copy/Paste these links for the images. Hoping this may help see what I see.. I had to link off another gallery of mine...

Diagram:
http://www.f150online.com/galleries/images/1477-12721-178080.jpg

Keypad:
http://www.f150online.com/galleries/images/1477-12721-178081.jpg

Circuit Board:
http://www.f150online.com/galleries/images/1477-12721-178079.jpg

-Brian

 

Well....

I ran through that key sequence again now that I have a new battery. And this time it actually beeped back at me as I entered those numbers (*41* etc..) Now my display says CHIME tough? I'm assuming it will chime everytime a door is opened now? How can I turn that off? It looks like the default installer code works after all... This means I can change the security code I guess? Anyone? I'm finally making progress!!!!!!!!


EDIT: The beeping just went off again except now it says 'CHIME BAT' Wondering if this is the small white box upstairs near the attic door... might be a battery in there?

-Brian

 

Checked the white box near the attic and found no battery to replace. Just another circuit board powered via AC. Any idea where to locate this low battery for CHIME?

-Brian

 

The bat display, if there is no number displayed with it is the main system battery, just means that the system hasn't registered with the system yet. It only runs an automatic battery test about every 4 hours or so.

The keystrokes for changing the master code are in the following thread:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=289662

The plus symbols are just there to break the string up into manageable chunks.

Look at the user manual, which you can get from either the ADT or Honeywell Security website for free. The chime feature turns on and off by entering [code] + 9 (chime).

You can also enter the disarm command [code] + 1 (off) to clear the trouble conditions.

 

Thank you to everyone, I know have the chime off and have reset my master code! I guess I will test this new 12V battery and if it fails which I'm sure it will I will bring it back to Radio Shack. Thanks again to all!

-Brian