Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Ademco Vista-20P Keypad Function Key's

My alarm background is with EST, Bosch / Radionics, and Firelite. I bought an Ademco Vista-20P kit to teach myself how to program and install these panels as possible work on the weekends for family and friends. I wired up my panel with some 4-wire smoke detectors, programmed trigger 17 for detector reset. What I haven't figured out yet is how to program one of the function keys on the keypads to reset the detectors. I don't know about many of the other home owners out there, but for some of my family entering [code] + 1 several times in a row may be confusing, pressing and holding one button for a couple of seconds would be much easier.

Function keys are programmed in field 57. Most people use a-c for Police Medical and Fire. You could program a funtion button to activate the relay, but there is no sticker that reads "smoke reset". I think it would be easier to just explain to disarm the system twice in a row.

Function keys are programmed in field 57. Most people use a-c for Police Medical and Fire. You could program a funtion button to activate the relay, but there is no sticker that reads "smoke reset". I think it would be easier to just explain to disarm the system twice in a row.

hi kcxj
You can program a funtion button to activate the relay can you tell us how
:beers:

OK, I tried a few more things and I finally figured it out.

*56 menu, I programmed zone 95 (button A) as type 23 and disabled the report code.

*80 menu, I programmed an output function to be activated by a zone number (zone 95), on an event restoral, output action (close for 2 seconds), output number is my onboard trigger #17.

Works great.

There are dozens of operations these function keys can do: Dialer test, display time, arm system, activate a relay. Here are the steps:

You can program it by entering *57,
press the desired fuction key A,B,C or D.
Enter 07 (Output Device Command) Device must be programmed as operation 66 in field 80.

Alternatively, you could program it as a macro command YOU WILL STILL NEED TO ENTER A CODE:


Program the macro:
Master code #66 enter macro 09
[7]+[17] (trigger assigned to reset smokes)
Program the Function key, I will use function key D as the example.

Enter programming
press *57
Press key D, then press *
Enter partition #
enter 09.

Once programmed, the function key d would ativate relay 17 to reset the smokes.

I have mine to activate the relay to open may garage door.

The problem with this is: How do you label this button to clearly indicate Fire Reset? Perhaps there is a reset sticker.

Good Luck.

magoojr,


If it were me, I would leave A as Fire, B as Panic and C as Medical.

You can then use button D as a reset.

By the way, how are you labeling this button? You do not want there to be any confusion as to whether this button activates a fire alarm or resets a fire alarm. Although you may understand what this key does, a guest may not. I once had a great idea to label my keyfob disarm button with a panic button so that nobody would be able to think they could disarm my system if it got into the wrong hands. I then realized, what if someone had my fob and really needed help :confused:
Remember this: keep it simple.

Maybe you could use a momentary button switch next to the keypad to temporarily cut power to the smokes. You could then affix a label stating "reset smokes"

Like this one:
http://products.isc365.com/AVCat/images%2Fproducts%2Fdetail%2F5231-P15_detail.jpg

Perhaps as a Fire guy, you are just used to having a reset button like with most FACPs :p j/k

Yeah, I'm a commercial alarm guy and I want my detector reset button! :) I did get it figured out, as far as the label, I have a label maker and some scissors. And really, who needs a button to send a signal to a pager? Who even knows what a pager is anymore?

I'm waiting for a Vista-ICM to go on sale, from what I've read so far, it looks like I can set it up to send text messages or emails to my cell phone to report alarms and troubles.

Not to get too in depth but you can use Zone 1 as a smoke reset for 4 wire smoke. I have only done this with two smokes at one time. You basically take the power from the smokes and put it under zone 1's terminals + - then wire the circuit under another zone. You will have to put a resistor across the power wires at the panel. When you put in your code and off it resets zone 1 which drops power to the four wire smokes.

The Vista ICM has been on sale for a while now. It has been overshadowed by Total Connect.