What Security Alarm Do I Have? How to Identify Your Panel From the Keypad

This guide is for Melbourne homeowners who have inherited a system, need a service or want phone control. You can do everything here without opening equipment, trying codes or changing a setting. If you have just bought the house, read our guides on what to do with an inherited alarm and working out what came with the house for the next steps. This one is about naming the equipment.

Clues, from weakest to strongest

Not every clue is worth the same. Start with the weak ones, because they cost nothing, but do not stop there.

An installer needs the strong clues before buying parts or giving model-specific advice. A good photo of the keypad is the best way to get the conversation started.

The keypad and the control panel are different parts

The keypad is the part by the door or in the hallway. You use it to arm and disarm the alarm and to read its status. The control panel is the brain of the system. It usually sits in a metal or plastic box somewhere less obvious, such as a cupboard or under the stairs.

They are not always from the same era. A keypad may have been replaced while the panel stayed. An installer may have put their own sticker on a box. Some systems, such as wireless or app-based ones, have a hub rather than a classic panel. Write down what you can see and how you use it, and let the installer sort out the parts.

Step 1: photograph the keypad

• Take one straight-on photo with the whole keypad in frame and enough light to read it.
• Include the screen, the buttons and the outer shape.
• Take a second close-up of any logo or model wording.
• Avoid glare that turns the screen into a white patch.

Do not enter your alarm code for the photo. The normal idle screen is enough. If the screen shows room names or personal details, share the photo only with the technician you choose. Never post a code, or the order of your finger presses, in public.

Do not take the keypad off the wall or undo screws to look for a sticker on the back. That can expose wiring and trigger a tamper alarm. If the keypad has a hinged user flap, use it only as you normally would.

Step 2: read the name and model

Write down any wording exactly, including letters and numbers. Do not correct it because a search suggests a more familiar name. Look for a brand name, a model code on the face or edge, and any wording around the screen.

Be careful with names on stickers. A keypad or siren box can carry the name of the company that installed or monitored the system, not the maker. If the company has closed, the sticker still tells you who fitted it, but not what is inside. Photograph any separate maker marking you can see.

Keypad families we often see

These are examples from the makers’ own documents. They show how names, display styles and model codes look, so you can read your own keypad more easily. A similar look does not prove your system is the same, and each family has other models.

The same keypad name can suit more than one panel, so a screen style such as icon, text or touch does not tell you the panel model. Bosch’s brochure shows icon, text and touchscreen keypads all working with the same two panels.

Older systems have their own guides. If the name on your keypad matches one of these, start there: Ademco, EDM and Bosch Solution 4 and 8, Hills Reliance, DAS and Crow. For Bosch 6000 and Inner Range side by side, see Bosch Solution 6000 vs Inner Range Inception.

Is it really an alarm keypad?

A device with number buttons may run a gate, a door or an intercom, not the alarm. A speaker, a call button or a list of names points towards an entry system. Some touchscreens do more than one job.

Describe what happens when you use it normally. Does it arm the house, open the driveway gate, answer a visitor or show camera pictures? If there are several devices, photograph each one and say what each does. In a townhouse or apartment, the building entry equipment may belong to someone else, so ask the property manager before arranging any change to it.

Step 3: use your paperwork

Look for the installation invoice, a handover folder, a recent service report or an equipment list from the previous owner. The most useful line names the control panel model, not just “alarm system”. A report that also names the keypad and the communicator saves another round of questions.

A manual can cover several related panels, so check the front page and the model range. A Bosch manual in a drawer does not prove every Bosch step fits the unit on your wall, especially if parts were replaced later. If you have a monitoring agreement, ask the provider what panel it has on record. A monitoring account number identifies the service, not necessarily the hardware.

Keep the evidence together: the model on an invoice, the date it was fitted and a recent photo. If two records disagree, tell the technician rather than picking the one you like. “The 2012 invoice says one panel, but a 2023 report lists another” is useful information.

Step 4: the control panel, from the outside only

If you know where the box is, photograph the closed outside from a safe position. Look for a clear model label or an installer sticker without moving the box. You do not need to climb into a roof space or reach across electrical equipment for a photo.

Do not open the control box or power supply to read the circuit board. It can hold a battery and live connections, and opening it can set off tamper reporting. A siren box on an outside wall is another part, not the main panel, and its company name usually shows who installed it. If nothing on the outside names the panel, that is a fine result. “Keypad photographed, box not safely reachable” gives an installer a clear starting point.

What not to do

A quick checklist

Default codes and resets are not a reliable way to identify anything. They can change a working setup, lock people out or trigger a response. If you have lost authorised access, use the proper ownership-checked recovery for that system.

A short note for the technician

Give the installer the problem as well as the equipment clues. Say whether the system works, whether a warning is showing and whether it is monitored. A beeping pattern or service light does not name the panel and does not prove a battery is flat, so describe what you see during normal use.

• One clear photo of the whole keypad.
• The exact brand and model wording.
• The closed control box, only if safely reachable.
• The installation invoice or latest service report.
• Roughly when it was installed or upgraded.
• The problem, and the job you want done.
• Whether a monitoring company is connected.

Send serial numbers, QR codes and account details directly to your chosen provider, not to an open forum. Afterwards, ask the technician to write the confirmed panel, keypad and communicator models on the service record, and keep it with the manual.

What the answer unlocks

Once the panel is confirmed, the installer can check which keypads, detectors and communicators fit it. A modern-looking keypad is not automatically a match for an older panel, so ask whether any quoted part works with your exact panel and whether it needs programming or a module.

Phone control needs its own check. MyAlarm’s requirements page shows how panel models, firmware and communication options are checked together, and it applies to MyAlarm only. Our guide on controlling an old alarm from your phone explains the options. If the real question is whether the system is worth keeping, read is your home alarm too old. For a clearer screen or easier daily use, see our alarm keypad information.

FAQ

Sources and further reading

• Bosch Security: Solution 2000 and 3000 brochure (keypad styles, zones, number of keypads)
• Bosch Security: Solution 6000-IP brochure (3.5 inch colour keypad)
• DSC: PowerSeries PK5500 keypad, 64-zone picture icon keypad and 8-zone LED keypad
• Paradox: Spectra SP control panels and TM50 and TM70 touch screen keypads
• Ness: KPX+ LCD keypad and Navigator touch screen manual
• Inner Range: user interfaces
• MyAlarm: requirements for iFob control

The keypad names above are examples taken from each maker’s own material and are not a complete list. A similar name or look does not prove your system is the same. The clue ladder and the safety advice are our own guidance from identifying systems on site. Last checked 15 October 2026 by Sergi Sipko, licensed security installer, Security Adviser and Equipment Installer Licence Z47-808-30S.

Turn the clues into a confirmed answer

Start with the keypad photo and your latest paperwork. If the model is still unclear, ask SIPKO’s security system maintenance service to inspect and record the installation. A confirmed equipment record makes the next repair, access question or upgrade decision much easier.

Serhii Sipko – Melbourne Security Installer

Serhii Sipko is the founder of SIPKO Security and a Melbourne-based security installer specialising in high-quality CCTV systems, security alarm systems, intercoms and integrated electronic security solutions for residential and commercial properties. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Serhii works with homeowners, businesses, property managers, builders and commercial clients to design, install, upgrade and maintain professional security systems. His work focuses on reliable equipment, careful system design, professional installation and long-term performance rather than simply installing the cheapest available security products. Through SIPKO Security, Serhii provides security system solutions including CCTV camera installation, IP security cameras, network video recorders (NVR), security alarm systems, Ajax alarm systems, access control, video intercoms, security system upgrades, repairs, troubleshooting and ongoing maintenance. Serhii has particular experience with professional security technologies and regularly works with leading security brands and platforms used in residential and commercial security installations. He takes a practical approach to selecting security equipment, considering factors such as property layout, camera coverage, image quality, night-time performance, network infrastructure, alarm detection, remote access and the specific security requirements of each property. As a Melbourne security installer, Serhii provides services across Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, including premium residential areas and commercial locations throughout metropolitan Melbourne. His approach is focused on delivering discreet, professionally designed security systems that integrate effectively with the property and provide reliable protection. Serhii also shares practical security advice and technical knowledge through the SIPKO Security website and blog. His articles cover topics such as CCTV installation in Melbourne, choosing security cameras, security alarm systems, Ajax security systems, commercial security, residential security, intercom systems, security system maintenance and improving the overall security of a property. The SIPKO Security blog is written to provide practical information based on real-world security installation experience. Serhii's goal is to help Melbourne homeowners and businesses make informed decisions when selecting security equipment, planning CCTV coverage, upgrading existing alarm systems or choosing a professional security installer. Serhii Sipko is associated with SIPKO Security, a Melbourne security company providing professional security installation and electronic security services. His professional focus is on quality, reliability, technical knowledge and delivering security solutions that are appropriate for the individual property and client requirements. For clients looking for a professional security installer in Melbourne, Serhii Sipko and SIPKO Security provide CCTV installation, alarm systems, intercoms and integrated security solutions for residential and commercial properties across Melbourne, Victoria.

See Full Bio