Which Smoke Detectors Work w/ a Honeywell VISTA-15P?

System Sensor Wired Smoke Detectors work with a Honeywell VISTA-15P. These smoke detectors were specifically designed with the VISTA Series Panels in mind. You can choose between 2-wire and 4-wire smoke detectors. You can also use compatible wireless smokes if you add a wireless receiver.

Smoke detectors make a great addition to a VISTA-15P System. This is especially true if you have Alarm Grid monitoring service. Depending on your plan, you can receive automatic emergency fire dispatch from a central monitoring station, as well as text and/or email alerts from Total Connect 2.0 regarding any system activity. However, you will first need to add compatible smoke detectors to your VISTA-15P System so that the system can detect a fire in the building. Luckily, you have a few different options for choosing smoke detectors.

Certain hardwired smoke detectors can be used with a VISTA-15P without any extra add-ons. Most users choose to add 2-wire smoke detectors to a VISTA-15P. This is because 2-wire smokes do not require any additional equipment for resetting after a fire alarm is cleared. The one important requirement is that the 2-wire smoke detector is used at a designated zone that automatically cuts power to the sensor after the alarm is cleared. This is necessary for achieving a proper device reset. On a VISTA-15P this is Zone 1. If you want to use any 2-wire smoke detectors on a VISTA-15P, they must be used at Zone 1. More information on using 2-wire smoke detectors can be found here. A good 2-wire smoke detector to use is the System Sensor 2W-B.

Using a 4-wire smoke detector with a VISTA-15P System is a much more complex task. However, it is still possible. Just like with a 2-wire smoke detector, a 4-wire smoke detector must have its power cut after a fire alarm is cleared. However, the VISTA-15P cannot automatically reset a 4-wire smoke like it can a 2-wire smoke at Zone 1. With that in mind, you will need a power relay and an end of line resistor (EOLR) to properly configure a 2-wire smoke detector with a VISTA-15P. You might also need a separate power supply as well. The advantage to using a 4-wire smoke is that you can use it on any panel zone. You are not restricted to just Zone 1. More information on using 4-wire smoke detectors can be found in this FAQ. A good 4-wire smoke detector to use is the System Sensor 4W-B.

Some users may choose to use wireless smoke detectors with a VISTA-15P System. This is perfectly acceptable, but the system cannot support wireless devices right out of the box. If you want to use wireless smoke detectors, you must add a wireless receiver first. This can be a keypad with a built-in wireless transceiver like a 6160RF or a standalone accessory like a Honeywell 5583H. If you go the wireless route, you will want to use Honeywell 5800 Series Smoke Detectors. A good wireless smoke detector to use is the Honeywell 5806W3.