How Do I Upgrade My Honeywell L5210 to a Honeywell PROA7PLUS?

You can upgrade your Honeywell L5210 to a Honeywell PROA7PLUS by installing a PROTAKEOVER Module inside the PROA7PLUS Panel and enrolling the existing sensors from the L5210 to the PROA7PLUS System. Most sensors used with the L5210 will work with the PROA7PLUS and PROTAKEOVER Converter.

For a Honeywell L5210 LYNX Touch System, wireless sensors from the Honeywell 5800 Series are almost always used. The only way to pair these sensors with a Honeywell PROA7PLUS is with a PROTAKEOVER Module. The PROTAKEOVER is installed inside the PROA7PLUS. and it allows the system to work with one (1) of five (5) legacy wireless frequencies. By setting the dial on the PROTAKEOVER to O, you can use most of the same Honeywell 5800 Sensors from your L5210 with your PROA7PLUS. Alarm Grid has gone a step further in making it easy to upgrade by creating upgrade kits that include the PROA7PLUS and the PROTAKEOVER:

PROA7PLUS RF Takeover Kits

However, there are some restrictions on which Honeywell 5800 Sensors can be used with the PROA7PLUS System. First, you cannot use any life-safety sensors from the Honeywell 5800 Series. This includes smoke detectors, heat detectors and carbon monoxide sensors. Second, only uni-directional Honeywell 5800 Sensors that use "one-way" communication will work with the PROA7PLUS and PROTAKEOVER. Any Honeywell 5800 Sensor that is bi-directional and relies on a special "House ID" to receive system status information will not enroll with the PROA7PLUS.

If you have any questions regarding sensor compatibility, you may want to check this compatibility chart. It lists the sensors that are verified to work with the PROTAKEOVER and the PROA7PLUS. You will notice that no key fobs are listed, including the popular Honeywell 5834-4. Indeed, those devices are also unable to interface with the system. Also notably absent is the Honeywell 5800MINI, and we can't guarantee that it will work with the system. The same is also true for the Honeywell 5800C2W Wired to Wireless Converter. We advise checking the chart if you have questions about the compatibility of other sensors.

Complete the following steps to upgrade from a Honeywell L5210 to a Honeywell Home PROA7PLUS:

1. Install the PROTAKEOVER Module. You need to install the PROTAKEOVER inside the PROA7PLUS. The first thing you should do is power down the system if you haven't already. Unplug the system's power transformer from the wall outlet, and disconnect the system's backup battery. The backup battery can be accessed by removing the set screw at the panel's bottom, and then pulling the panel off its backplate. You should be able to locate the backup battery pack and unplug it from its connection port.

One very important thing to note when using the PROTAKEOVER with the PROA7PLUS is that you must use a special backplate that comes included with the PROTAKEOVER. You cannot continue using the original backplate that came with the PROA7PLUS. The reason for this is because the special backplate included with the PROTAKEOVER contains an antenna that is needed for communicating with legacy RF sensors. When you install the PROTAKEOVER inside the PROA7PLUS, two (2) metal prongs from the PROTAKEOVER make contact with this antenna. If the PROTAKEOVER does not have access to its special backplate and the internal antenna, then its wireless range will be very lackluster. If the system was previously mounted on the original backplate, you should take that backplate down at this time, and install the new one in its place.

While the PROA7PLUS is off its backplate, flip the system over, and then take off the cover on the right-hand side (when facing the back of the panel). Set the rotary dial on the PROTAKEOVER to 0. That is the selection for Honeywell 5800 Sensors. Take the PROTAKEOVER, and insert it into the open slot at the top right. Ensure that it secures properly into place. There is an included screw that you can use to secure it. This screw is also a good way to tell that the module has been inserted properly. If the hole for the screw in the PROTAKEOVER lines up with the hole in the panel plastic, then you know it has been fully seated. From there, reapply the side access cover. Then restore system power by plugging in the backup battery first, and then restoring AC power second. If you removed AC power by unplugging the transformer, then plug it back in. Finish by mounting the PROA7PLUS on its new backplate.

Please note that you may also want to check the PROTAKEOVER Installation Guide for more information.

2. Enroll existing L5210 sensors. Now that the PROTAKEOVER Module has been installed, you can start taking the old Honeywell 5800 Sensors from the L5210 and enrolling them with the PROA7PLUS. Because these are all non-encrypted "one-way" sensors, you do not need to delete or clear them from the L5210. Instead, they can be readily enrolled with the PROA7PLUS and its PROTAKEOVER Module.

It is important to note that as of March 2021, the PROA7PLUS does not allow users to program the system locally at the panel. Instead, all programming for the system, including sensor enrollment, is done remotely by the user's alarm monitoring company. The PROA7PLUS System must be actively monitored in order for an alarm dealer to begin the programming process. If you are replacing the L5210 with a PROA7PLUS, and your monitoring company is staying the same, then your monitoring provider should be able to access the programming information for your L5210 System, without you needing to do anything extra.

However, if your existing monitoring company cannot access the programming information for your L5210 System, or if you are switching monitoring companies, then you can access programming information locally at the panel. Providing this information to your monitoring provider will make the process significantly easier.

From the main screen of your Honeywell L5210, choose Security > More > Tools > enter Installer Code (default 4112) > Program > Zones. This will take you to Zone Programming. You can select any zone, then press Edit to see its configuration. Your monitoring provider will need to know the Zone Number, Device Type, Response Type, Zone Description(s), Serial Number, and Loop Number for any sensor you want to bring over to the PROA7PLUS. Some sensors may have additional zone settings beyond this. Many users find it easiest to take a picture of the programming screen for each zone. You can press the back arrow in the upper-right corner of a zone's settings to return to the zone list and select another zone, then choose edit to review. Once you have acquired all the information, you should compile it into an organized document or spreadsheet. This will not only make it easy to share the information with your monitoring provider, but it will also help them program the zones into your new PROA7PLUS System. Once you are finished on the L5210, return to the home screen by repeatedly pressing the return arrow in the upper-right corner. Make sure to choose "Yes" when asked if the Installer should be allowed to re-enter programming so that you do not become locked out.

Keep in mind that you may have some sensors on the L5210 that cannot be used with the PROA7PLUS. If you have an existing L5210 sensor that uses bi-directional "two-way" communication, then it cannot be used with the PROA7PLUS. Also, any life-safety sensor that works with the L5210 System should not be used with the PROA7PLUS. Remember that the PROA7PLUS supports up to (123) legacy Honeywell 5800 Sensors. This is more than the (63) wireless zones that the L5210 supports. As a result, you should have some leftover zones for pairing even more uni-directional Honeywell 5800 Sensors with your PROA7PLUS System if you wish. Furthermore, the PROA7PLUS also has another (127) wireless zones that are used for pairing encrypted PROSIX Series Sensors and Honeywell SiX Sensors.

3. Test your system. You should make sure to test your system after enrolling all of the new sensors. This is often called a Walk Test. To test sensors on the PROA7PLUS, start from the main screen, and click the three (3) horizontal bars menu button at the bottom. Then scroll to Tools, enter the Installer Code (default 4112), choose System Tests, then Test Sensors, and then press the Start Test button in the upper-right. Then go through and fault (activate) all of the newly enrolled sensors one by one. As each sensor is faulted, it will be removed from the section of the screen showing zones yet to be tested, and will be moved to the top of the screen and shown in bold. Remember to put your system on Test Mode with the central station before doing this to prevent false alarms.