Ademco Vista 10P Battery Replacement Procedure

The Ademco Vista 10P is an alarm system manufactured by ADT. The backup battery (which looks something like this) is recharged whenever house electricity is on. This battery keeps the alarm system functioning during a power outage. The battery will need to be replaced every 3-5 years.

You will know that the battery is low on charge when the keypad displays “BAT” with no zone number. This can happen because you just experienced a long power outage that drained the battery, or the battery is dead and needs replacing.

You can silence the battery warning beeps by pressing [1 OFF]. If the “BAT” display is still there after 1-2 days of house electricity being on after an outage, scroll down for instructions on replacing the battery.

Ademco Vista 10P — Image courtesy of MyADT.com

Get a new battery (Ademco Vista 10P Replacement Battery)
Put the system on test.
Find and open the control panel box; it is usually located in a closet, garage, or attic.
Use pliers with insulated handles to remove the black wire from the negative terminal. Next, remove the red wire from the positive terminal. If a wire is tight, try wiggling the wire to get it loose. Remove the old battery from the control panel. BE CAREFUL not to short the battery when removing it.
Take off plastic terminal protectors from the new battery (if present). Connect the red wire to the positive (red) terminal then connect the black wire to the negative (black) terminal.
Close the control panel.
Check the keypad display for “BAT” warning. If the warning is there and doesn’t go away in 24 to 48 hours, the system may be damaged. Get in touch with your alarm provider.
Recycle the old battery.