How to remove old ADT/Brinks alarm system wall keypad?

November 23, 2018 11:32 AM

In the past year I moved into a condo that has hardwired security system keypads (specifically: Brinks model BHS 3000), but the security system itself is defunct, and I don't plan to start it up again (at least, not the same kind of system). I want to remove one or two of the keypads by myself, but they are designed to be hard to remove by a non-specialist. Which is to say, I don't know how to do it. Advice?

I'd pay ADT to have a technician come out to remove the keypads, but they refuse to, unless I'm a full subscriber of their security services. And again, device removal is by design difficult to do by myself. The keypad wallboxes do not have any exposed fasteners and do not come apart in any way so as to reveal fasteners. There are two small slots on the bottom of the unit, and my best guess is that a special tool (a "key") is inserted into these slots to allow the unit to open up. Short of having this special tool, I think my only option is to carefully destroy the unit with a hacksaw and other implements of destruction, and that is something that could easily go awry or at least be quite difficult. Do I have any other options, such as ways to get ahold of the special tool, or to hire a person with the tool to do the job?

posted by Get-Go to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

We removed the system in our house (we have small kids, nothing of value to steal!), in all cases the electronics were attached to the faceplate, which could be pried off of it's clips, and then the wall mount screws were on the back plate attached to the wall. Don't be shy, try sliding the front plate up and then out on items to make it release.
posted by nickggully at 11:39 AM on November 23, 2018

Cut the main power in your home before attempting this so you don’t accidentally electrocute yourself? Make sure live wires are disconnected at the main or safely capped before closing up the wall. I don’t know enough about alarm system wiring to say anything other than to make sure you are careful about the wiring.
posted by jbenben at 12:12 PM on November 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

There are two small slots on the bottom of the unit, and my best guess is that a special tool (a "key") is inserted into these slots to allow the unit to open up

This person says putting a small screwdriver in each of the two slots will let you pry it away.
posted by exogenous at 12:22 PM on November 23, 2018

A keypad based alarm system will be low voltage, with the possible (but unlikely) exception of the main control box.
posted by Larry David Syndrome at 2:11 PM on November 23, 2018

Cut the main power in your home before attempting this so you don’t accidentally electrocute yourself?

The only mains feed will be into the central control unit. All the peripherals, including the keypads, will be running off a low DC voltage (usually 12V) supplied by the central unit, often backed by a sealed 12V battery to keep things working even when power is out.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:17 PM on November 23, 2018

And the BHS3000 appears to be powered by a wall wart; unplug that and there's no mains problem to worry about at all.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:28 PM on November 23, 2018