Just moved into a new home with a pre-installed ADT Safewatch 3000 that is no longer monitored and wireless window sensors. I have since installed a Ring alarm system from our old house using a Retrofit kit to utilize the hardwired door sensors. However the retrofit kit is now tied into both the AC power and the backup battery from the old ADT system. Any suggestions know how to completely pull the ADT system offline and still provide power to the Ring Retrofit kit?
I apologize for taking so long to respond, but I had to do some homework: As a retired security alarm tech, I’m very familiar with ADT’s Safewatch Pro 3000 Panel (which is actually a re-branded Honeywell Vista-20P Control Panel) as well as most professional-grade brands used in North America; but I have no experience with Ring systems. I searched around and didn’t find much technical information about them. I had no trouble finding tons of promo, but darned little useful technical data.
I’m at a loss to understand the problem you’re having. I found a couple of YouTube tutorials about installing the “Retrofit” Kit, and it looks like it’s just an 8-zone Hardwired-to-Wireless module. I didn’t see any mention of powering it from the ADT Panel’s 12VDC Aux Power output. As far as I can tell, it looks like the “Retrofit” module is powered by lithium batteries. So I don’t know why you say the “Retrofit” Kit is tied to the ADT Panel’s power.
Now it’s possible that I found some old and obsolete YT vids, and maybe newer models use the old Panel’s power supply, but I’d be guessing about that; and I abhor troubleshooting-by-guessing. It’s much simpler if you tell me HOW your “Retrofit” Kit is tied to your ADT Panel’s power supply. Did you connect the ADT Panel’s PCB Terminals 4 & 5 ( 12VDC Aux Power) to your Retrofit Kit? Do I need to find another YT vid of a later model? If so, could you find it for me? Or just tell me how your Ring is tied to the ADT Panel’s power.
Are you using the ADT system’s hardwired motion or glassbreak sensors? If you have them, I’d recommend using them. Hardwired powered sensors (motion & glassbreak) tend to be better than wireless because such sensors are developed in hardwire and later adapted as wireless, if that’s possible. Some types of more sophisticated hardwired sensors ( e.g., duel-tech motion) take more power than a wireless sensor battery can support, and never get wireless-ized.
But as I said, I’m not going to guess what you’re working with.
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Side quest: If that's not possible, how do I disconnect the clunky old Honeywell 5816 wireless sensors from the system so that I can toss them to replace with Ring sensors?
The Honeywell 5816 sensor/transmitters aren’t “connected” to the Vista-20P Panel, per se. They transmit signals that include their RFIDs, and the V-20P is programmed to recognize each RFID that’s “enrolled” (sometimes called “learned”) in its system at the time of installation. The only way to “disconnect” a 5816 sensor/transmitter is to go into the V-20P’s programming and “un-enroll” each device you want to delete from the system. Expect a learning curve in re system programming if you go that route.
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I also realize that I could have not used the retrofit kit and just gotten wireless sensors for the doors and powered down the entire ADT kit. But the wife didn't want them on the doors, so here we are....
I recommend you use hardwired sensors when you already have them. Wireless sensor/transmitters have gotten very reliable in the last few decades, but hardwiring is still more reliable and has fewer maintenance issues.
Whatever your issue(s) is/are, you may want a tech support call. I have no qualms with working with a control panel I haven’t worked on before (I’ve done it many times), but going back-and-forth in text is time-consuming. You can PM me your number, or you can ask for mine, and we can set a time we’re both free for an hour or two. I’m retired with time on my hands and don’t mind keeping my hand in.
