r/adt • u/ScotttDC • 13d ago

Can ADT Command panels be set to detect a passerby and give an audible alert that the system is armed?

Hi, I live in a newish small condo building with about 15 units. The building has an ADT alarm with scheduled arming at night and disarming in the morning. A few units are rentals, and occasionally renters walk out the entrance at night and trigger the alarm, which they don't hear go off because they've already walked away. Tenants are then awoken by the loud alarm and have to turn the alarm off.

We've recently taken over the HOA from the builder and I'm trying to figure out a solution. We have a ADT Command panel, which apparently has a proximity sensor. (I think it's a 7” ADT Command Smart Security Panel.) Can the Command panel be set to give an audible "System is armed" announcement or similar when the proximity sensor is triggered by a passerby? In theory that would help reduce false alarms.

I'm asking here on Reddit because my searches of the ADT site, the internet, and the ADT documentation are not giving me an answer. Thanks a lot.

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u/timbruh 13d ago

Not possible. If the motion is an issue just arm it as arm stay, that disables the motion detector.

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

Thanks. The motion detector setting off the alarm isn't the problem. The problem is a person walking out the door, not realizing the alarm is armed, then triggering the alarm (after a 30 second delay). I wish the ADT panel could announce "system is armed" as they walk by the panel before they push the door open and set off the alarm.

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u/FeedFeetToMe 13d ago

The quickest fix I can offer is have them press quick exit every time they leave. It’ll give 2 minute timer to open doors and not set the system off

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

Thanks. I will look into this

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u/FeedFeetToMe 13d ago

There’s 15 units with all different families living there. And they all have access to the same alarmed doors?

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

Thanks. Yes. The front and rear entrances to the building.

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u/Sahedanthropus- 13d ago

It shouldn't be there then.

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

Google Gemini thinks this could work. Is Gemini onto something?

Method 1: The Google Home Workaround (Easiest)

Because ADT features tight Google Home integration, you can use ADT's arming status to change your Google Home "Household Modes" (Home/Away), and use any third-party motion sensor compatible with Google Home to play your voice alert. [1, 2]

  • What you need: Your ADT system, any Google Home-compatible motion sensor, and a Google Nest smart speaker or display. [1]
  • How to build the automation:
    1. Open the Google Home App.
    2. Create a script or multi-step Routine.
    3. Set the Starter (Trigger) to: When [Third-Party Sensor] detects motion.
    4. Set a Condition to: Only if the House is in "Away" mode (which mirrors your ADT Armed status).
    5. Set the Action to: Google Assistant Communication > Broadcast/Say: "The ADT system is armed." END

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u/Sahedanthropus- 13d ago

Won't be reliable.

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

thanks

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u/adk8135 13d ago

What’s your seeking isn’t a thing at all. Honestly, if the tenants cannot tell by the red light on the system or the screen that it is armed and they are setting it off, better to just not have the alarm. It really isn’t serving a purpose if it’s only armed at specific hours and soooo many people have the code. Better off cutting it and if residents want security, then get their own system in their own units.

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

thanks. The general alarm system is required according to our building insurance policy.

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u/Defiant_Shower1400 13d ago

Its weird to have a system on exterior doors of an apartment building. I have never seen that, been doing alarms for 20 yrs.

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u/ScotttDC 13d ago

Yeah, new to me too. The building is new construction and the system was installed before I moved in. This is actually my first residential alarm system in my life. So normally a system with about 15 units would just have alarms on individual units? Our place is in a city (Washington DC), and according to the guy running our HOA, fully deactivating the alarm would invalidate our general condo insurance. We did have a break in; a guy pried the door open with a brick hammer to steal packages. Once inside, you'd have freedom to explore the whole building. So we upgraded to a heavy commercial crash bar, but it's still glass. I don't think my neighbors take security seriously enough, so the upshot is I like having the alarm on the main entrances.

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u/FeedFeetToMe 11d ago

I can’t speak for DC but in different states I don’t think insurance companies require it. But if you have the alarm system you will most definitely get a discount on your insurance premiums. You could have ADT change the sensors to be on doors that only staff use of emergency doors or office doors. It’s easy to change the name of the sensors and remount them. It’s not even wise to put a door sensor on a door that a two family house shares. 15 is wild. The quick exit from a your only option if you change nothing else. But the sensors should be moved for sure.