Honeywell VISTA-20P Ademco Control Panel, PCB in Aluminum Enclosure

Nice alarm system, very configurable and works well.

Works as advertised and arrived on time. Installation is a challenge but doable. I was able to complete the job after making some errors and help is available online.

spent 3 weaks trying to program vista20p over 40 man howers an have watched every video and how to do check list. sledge hammer is coming next. burn in hell honeywell

If you are a professional alarm installer then I guess this thing is just peachy. If not, you are probably out of luck. I have read and re-read the book a dozen times. I have watched hours of video online. I have beat my damned brains out trying to get it to work. The instructions are NOT user friendly at all. There is no glossary of terms and believe me there are many you must know and comprehend to be able to program it. The instructions assume that you already have knowledge of alarm systems. Everything is abbreviated, both in the book and on the panel display. You will find yourself wandering aimlessly through the book for clarification of a term, function, or device at the most inopportune times. I suggest you download the PDF manual from Ademco and read it before you buy this monstrosity. If you find yourself confused after that DO NOT buy the system. I have added a snip from the manual as am example of what you will be dealing with(see photo).

I bought this to replace a VISTA-15P that was locked to a security monitor service provider. This VISTA-20P is 100% compatible and the switch over went without a hitch. Now I switch service providers any time.

These systems are easy to install for anyone with any basic tech skills...

Our Brinks system from 1998 lost 10-12 zones over the past 8 years. When we were down to the smoke detectors and just the front door I knew it was time to invest in a new system. At least we could update to 2022-wifi-phone-alert-app-ready-newness. But what do I do with the 142 hardwired sensors ran throughout my house that still work perfectly? And a wife and kids that are used to the 4 keypad panels we have at multiple entrance/exits? Enter the Vista 20P. Everything that I need from 1980 but just slightly newer. Even programming the sensors was something straight out of 1980. But it works. And every sensor works. And every zone works. No lost wifi signals... No dead batteries in sensors... Not a single problem (there was one). I had to add more boards to cover all of our zones wired in parallel and series. There is not enough room in the alarm panel for the extra boards? Weird. There is so much empty space under the main board. Adding extra boards is a complete afterthought and many people wire them outside of the locked alarm box and run wires in...that seems counterproductive to a security system...I removed the extra boards from the plastic cases they came in and CNCd some mounts for inside the box. Also got a DIN-rail and some Wagos. I can also add another board for wifi-internet-app access later but it will have to be mounted on the back of the door. The only thing that did not work, was a LiPo battery to use as a backup. I figured I updated the panel and rewired everything, I may as well add a fancy battery. As soon as I did that, the heatsink on the mainboard got uncomforatbly hot. 142 hardwired sensors, 4 smoke detectors, and 4 keypad panels and that thing was barely warm. Added a LiPo backup battery and that did it. Went back to the old one that I had for now. Panel comes with a new power supply and is straightforward to hookup and program. The average DIY person can tackle this. Do not be afraid.

Great price.

Works fine but as with other Honeywell alarm products, documentation is not aimed at the amateur. Takes a while but with some good DIY video on the internet, you can eventually get there.

This is a great price for a new and up-to-date 20P. Resistors, lock/key and documentation provided were complete. However, be aware that although the image on the main page showed the unit with a battery, the unit received did NOT have a battery. Also, the image did NOT show a power transformer but the unit did come with the necessary power transformer. Neither the battery nor transformer are mentioned in description. Hopefully this will be corrected by the seller, and if not for this Id have rated this listing with 5 stars. As for the batteries: Typical Vista 20P kits that are furnished with a battery include a small (4.5ah) 12V battery. I have learned that this small capacity battery is hardly sufficient to sustain a typical system over repeated or extended power outage(s), as necessary to ensure reliability for security and emergency (i.e. panic & fire/smoke detectors). My practice has been told to use no less than a 7ah battery in a Vista 20P at a minimum. Even then, one must consider that batteries are living things and will degrade over time, even if not used. For this reason I run my Vista systems with two 7ah batteries in parallel (providing 14ah support to the Vista), and also with the power transformer connected to a UPS. Using the UPS helps protect the Vista power supply from utility/power line fluctuations and spikes, from lightening damage, and also prevents discharge/recharge cycles on the Vista batteries thereby extending their service life too. I replace my batteries in my UPS every two years and in my Vista 20Ps every three years. Failure to regularly replace batteries can also lead-to equipment failures because the battery cells can short-circuit thereby drawing higher current from the power supply. Disclaimer: I am not an authority on this subject matter. The statements made are my own opinion and may not be accurate. Use them at your own risk.