Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - OC (Ademco Keypad Code)

I'm moving an ademco system from an office to my home. It had 4 smoke alarms and 4 motion detectors originally, as far as I can tell (it's an 8-zone system). The control box is PC5020 and the keypad is a 6137. Just to see if it was working prior to installation, I wired in just one of the motion detectors. When I powered it up, I got an "OC" code on the keypad, which means open circuit. I tested the wires between the keypad and the contriol panel, and the connections are good. My question is, is the "OC" indicating because the other 7 zones are not connected? Or is there some other reason for the OC code?
If it's the keypad, may it be possible to replace it with an ADT unit I have?
Thx for any help!

MODERATOR NOTE: Welcome to the forums. It is very helpful to all if you title posts with subject for searchable archive.

Yes, you have to turn off these zones in programming. The panel is still trying to find these motions/fire detectors, that were originally installed.

Umm, actually, the problem is (based on quoted part numbers) that you are trying to connect an Ademco keypad to a DSC motherboard. The two are different brands, and thus not compatible.

They were connected, though, and the cable from the control box has a male plug that matches the female socket on the keypad. Anyway, I'll try to reset the programming and see what happens.

I am unable to enter the programming mode on my Ademco 6137 keypad, since I don't have the code. This alarm system came from a building that was being demolished (the owner just left it), so I don't have the code. I tried disconnecting the battery, then transformer, waiting a minute, then reconnecting in opposite order, then holding down * and #. Nothing happens: the keypad just says, "OC." How else can I get into default programming, if at all?
Also, I have an ADT "Focus" keypad I picked up at a garage sale. Could I use that? (I tried hooking it up, and it says, "waiting for comm."

Thank you for any help....

Ok, let's try this again. I am going to assume that someone put an ademco board in a DSC can. The answer you want will depend partially on the model number of the mother board.

The OC means that there is not a good data connection between the motherboard and the keypad. Check the continuity of the wiring.

Look at the motherboard: If it is a DSC board, one of the large main IC chips will have a number with PCxxxx on it. If it is an Ademco board, somewhere on the edge of the PC board will be a number like SAVxxxx.

Until we actually know what specific hardware you have, any information anyone gives you is pure guesswork.

The number on the chip is PC5020 UL. The control box exterior says PC5020, and the control panel wiring diagram (inside the control box) also says PC5020. And it was directly plugged in to the Ademco 6137 keypad, with a special plug. However, the wiring diagram says, "compatible system keypads..." and lists 7 types, such as LCD5500Z, etc. (It does not list an Ademco 6137 keypad).

There is continuity between the keypad and the motherboard on all four wires; checked it w/ a continuity tester.

Hope this helps. Am willing to find a new compatible keypad if all else fails, if someone can tell me that that would solve the problem.

That's your problem, then. You have the _wrong keypad_.

Your panel is a DSC PC5020 aka Power 864. You need one of the DSC keypads like:
- PC5508Z 8 zone LED keypad
- PC5516Z 16 zone LED keypad
- PC5532Z 32 zone LED keypad
- LCD5500Z programmable message LCD keypad
- LCD5501Z fixed message LCD keypad
- LCD5501Z32-900 fixed message LCD keypad with integrated
PC5132 wireless receive

That focus keypad was made for an older DSC design, it's not compatible with the 5020 panel.

I found an LCD5500Z keypad on ebay, but it's used. I asked them if the master code was known, and they said "the keypad is just used to talk to the panel, all passwords are set in the panel, not the keypads."
I was under the impression that keypads required a passcode to work. Am I incorrect?

You are incorrect. The keypad is just an interface. Hopefully once you have it hooked up and running you will be able to default that system.

I just bought a LCD5500Z keypad. Hooked it up to the PC5020. Although I DO NOT get the phone relay click 10 times upon power-up, the keypad locks me out. I tried defaulting the main panel (hardware) per instructions in the Power864 Installation Manual, and it didn't work. There is a paragraph in the manual that says (page 45), "If installer lockout is selected a hardware default cannot be performed." Did I just waste a hundred bucks on a keypad that won't work because I don't have the installer's code?

That's what I was afraid of when I mentioned defaulting as an "if".

If you did the hardware default, and the installer code did not default, then you are kinda stuck short of a lucky guess. (The 10 clicks are probably there, but can be kinda hard to hear, especially if you aren't sure what you are listening for. They really aren't very loud, and it's easy to miss them in the midst of all of the humms and clicks when you power up).

If you did the following:

Factory Default Main Panel (Hardware)
1. Remove AC and battery from the panel.
2. Remove all wires from the Zone 1 and PGM1 terminals.
3. With a piece of wire short the Zone 1 terminal to the PGM1
terminal.
4. Apply AC power to the main panel.
5. When Zone Light 1 is lit on the keypad the default is complete.
6. Remove AC power from the control
7. Reconnect all original wiring and power up the control.
NOTE: AC power must be used to power the panel. The panel
will not default if the battery is used.

And the installer code didn't revert to 5555, then there's nothing short of a lucky guess to get past it.

You got yourself a can o' worms there. When you started out with two different brands of hardware tied together, it was pretty obvious that this could be potentially a problem system.

Yeah, my problem is I get a kick out of getting things to work. I'm giving up now. I do have one last question and then this thread can go away, if you don't mind. I don't know what this other sensor type I have is. It's the black one on the left in the photo linked below. I have a bunch of the white (on the right in the photo) motion detectors, but I also have two sets of the black ones (transmitter/receiver). What are the black ones, and are they worth using? If they are worth using, how do they get wired in to a system, since it appears that the T & R need to face each other and each has its own set of four wires?
Many thanks,
Mike
Link to photo:
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i269/mschwennes/?action=view&current=DSCN2927.jpg

Those are photo beam units. They are a way to create a perimeter crossing line. They have their uses.

Any info on how to wire the photo beam units into a system? Since two are needed, I assume they would be wired in differently than a motion detector.

It varys by brand, but since you have one labled as transmitter, and another as receiver, in general, the receiver is connected like a motion detector (power plus alarm connections) and the transmitter just needs power (which can be simply picked up from the power terminals on the receiver). It takes a bit of tinkering to get them properly aligned, but once set, they can be pretty effective, if properly placed

Go Here: http://fe0wap86.bosch.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eTS/Store/en/-/EUR/BeAT_BuyerLogin-ShowFrameset;sid=fs33mB7IEtlPcVisvsWuZBFDN5rDVlh8cYc=?Country=us&CountryLanguage=en&ShowCat=ST_NA%2eProductCatalog%2elobT2399697547

For specs that might help you sort it out. Once you find the model number, the same site has installation instructions for most of their models. Those don't look too old, so they will probably be there.