Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Replacing Ademco 6150 with 6160

I have an Ademco Vista 15P. Keypad is the 6150RF. I want to replace it with a 6160 or 6160v. I have several questions.

I believe the 5881 receiver is mounted in the cabinet. Does that mean that I can replace the keypad with a new 6160 or do I need to purchase a 6160RF and replace the unit in the cabinet, too?

I believe the wiring for the 6160 is the same. Is it really as easy as removing the old, hooking up the new and powering up? Will I have to reprogram or will all the programming still be there?

Other that voice alerts, is there any difference between the 6160 and the 6160 voice.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice you can give me.

If your current keypad is a 6150RF, then the keypad _is_ your wireless receiver. If you are going to replace it, then the replacement has to be a 6160RF model.

You have one or the other. If you have an RF keypad, unless the reciever function is disabled, or set to only work with keyfobs, then either there is no wireless receiver in the can with the motherboard, or it is physically there, but not connected.

This is a situation where you need to be very sure of your actual hardware configuration before you try to make changes.

You’re absolutely right. I’m not sure what I’ve got. The paperwork for the system says I have a 6150RF Keypad/Transceiver. Having never seen one of these things in the box, I assumed that the board in the cabinet with the antennas must be the receiver. You’re telling me that the keypad is not just a keypad.

OK, maybe this is a “mountain and molehill” thing. The best solution is probably to add a 6160 as a second keypad. I’m looking at a 6160 Custom Alpha Keypad on e-bay. Assuming that is what I need, I would need to hook that up to the same terminals the 6150 is hooked up to and set it up as address 17. Right?

The second keypad option sounds like the safest option. The key to modifying a security system is to establish exactly what you are starting with. These things are custom by definition, and no two systems are exactly alike.

Thanks Mr Ron! What a great forum. I am going to get a 6160 with complete confidence that if I have any trouble getting it to work, I can always come here for help. Thanks again.

It sounds like you have a wireless keypad. The transceiver
receives and transmits to a wireless keypad and/or keyfob.
If your paper work says 6150rf and transceiver, it's
most likely what I said. Take the keypad down
and make sure there are wires connected to it before
you order any parts.

Yep, it's got wires. Gonna just add the 6150 keypad as a second. Thanks again.

Added the 6160 as a second keypad and it works great. Thanks for all the great advice. Now I have another question. I ordered 5816 sensors but received 5815's. They are not as high and when I mount the sensor on the wall, the magnet on the window isn't directly next to the sensor as the instructions say to do. The magnet ends up just slightly above the top of the sensor (the outside edges of each almost touching). I tested and it seems to work fine. Actually, it works with the magnet several inches farther away. Not knowing how the reed switch works, my question is whether this is OK or do I need to insert a spacer under the sensor to bring it further out and line it up with the magnet as the instruction suggest.

There's about 1/4" to 1/2" of allowable gap with these transmitters. Try them in this configuration with chime mode set. If you don't get random chimes from these new zones, then you are probably good to go.

The reed switch is just a thin strip of metal that the magnet pulls into contact with another piece of metal. They are actually a rather simple mechanism.