ADT is among the most common
home security systems that are installed in houses nowadays. Security measures include a control panel, motions sensor, wireless door/windows sensor, smoke/fire detector and a keypad to activate/deactivate the system. Each of these sensors when activated, the alarm will sound and alert the security firm then appropriate measures can be taken.

It would be embarrassing if the alarm rang and there was no danger, but rather it was a false alarm and a lot of people became scared. Well, fortunately, ADT systems make it pretty simple to silence and clear the alarms if one has the proper procedures in mind. Here is a simple procedure on how to use the keypad to disarm an ADT alarm system.

The first step of any alarm is to identify what actually triggered the alarm.

First, go to the keypad and look at what has set off the alarm system. There will be a green LED light that blinks on the keypad next to the type of sensor that has been triggered. Some of the possible causes may include, motion detectors, a door or window has been opened, smoke or fire detector or signal, CO detector, flood detector and so on.

Find out what triggered it so you can determine whether there is actually some sort of threat happening that requires your immediate response, or if it was some sort of false alarm that you can just turn off and leave at that.

Step 2: Enter Your Passcode

Having determined what triggered the alarm, go to the keypad and press the 4-digit or 6-digit code you have been provided with. By default, ADT systems have default codes; the simplest one is 1234 and the slightly more complicated one is 123456.

Of course, if the system was installed professionally then the default code which would have been ‘0000’ or ‘1234’ would probably be changed to a more complex code. If you or your security provider activated the passcode, then enter whichever passcode was activated in the system.

Using the passcode will not completely cancel the alarm but it is the first step to undertake to stop the audible notification and get you in a position to clear it fully.

Step 3 Press the “Off” or “Silence” 

Button The last thing to do is to turn off the call, and this can be done in the following way, Press the “Off” or “Silence” Button.

Insert the passcode: search for the “Off” or “Silence” button on the keypad and press it.

It might also be named something such as “Cancel” or have the image of a bell that has been crossed out.

Depressing this will halt and turn off the alarm alerts to the emergency responders and the ADT monitoring center when this button is pressed. It will take the system to a “trouble” instead of taking it to “alarm”.

Step 4 Dial “* then 1”

Next, type the asterisk (*) symbol on the keyboard, then the number 1 key. This will help the triggered alarm sensors “acknowledge” and help in erasing almost all of the sensors from the system’s warning screen. This in itself is basically a form of acknowledgment of the fact that you know an alarm was activated.

In cases where your system has various alarm triggers activated, this may have to be done successively for the various alarm triggers that were activated.

Sometimes it could take some time before the system clears and therefore you should carefully observe the keypad to see if there are any other alerts that require confirmation.

Step 5: Lastly, verify whether there are any outstanding error messages on the keypad.

As such, you have disarmed the sounds and nulled any further notifications, accepting the warning signals. However, some of the keypad displays may still indicate the error messages with the sensors that were triggered.

Press the questions mark button or look at the keypad if there are any error messages displayed. They could state something like ‘Window Open’ or ‘Motion Detected’. Each triggered sensor may have to be cleared or reset before the system is back to normal operation and you may have to do this manually.

Step 6: Close Doors/Windos or Reset Motion Sensors

If there are remaining specific sensor error messages, take the needed action such as:If there are remaining specific sensor error messages, take the needed action such as:

  • Disabling any of the door/ window openers when the door/window sensors were triggered

  • Asking people to remove any objects or beings moving around the immediate vicinity of motion detectors

  • It will involve cancelling alarms such as smoke or fire detectors if those have been triggered by accident.

    Perform any additional steps required to handle what is left on your keypad display until no more flashes are shown.

    Press “* then 1” again to clear It is also important to note that unless the caller has more than 10 digits to enter, this combination of steps should only take a total of seven seconds.

    After you have dealt with any open zones that may be showing on your screen and all the error messages disappear, press “*1” on your keypad again. This will inform the system that there are no other tripped sensors to come and that it should go back to normal.

    The keypad should now read ‘Ready’ or ‘Disarmed’ depending on the device to confirm that the system has been cleared and reset with no more alerts remaining.

    Step 8 Arm System Again If Necessary

    If you have completed all the desired changes, you can unarm the system as needed by entering the passcode once more and pressing the “Arm Stay” or “Arm Away” buttons associated with the stay or leaving homes accordingly.

    The alarm is going to be reset now and all the sensors are set and ready for any next time whenever someone tries to intrude or when there is any sort of danger. And you’ll read about how to silence and clear it in case of the false or accidental alarms occur again

    Therefore, one should be able to easily manage the alarms which have been triggered inadvertently and also be able to put ADT in the correct position. Simply make sure you determine which sensor was involved, input your password to mute the audible signal, then affirm the other alerts remaining, and deal with what caused them.

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