Is the WTK5504 Compatible w/ a PowerSeries PC1616/PC1832/PC1864?

Yes, the WTK5504 is compatible with a PowerSeries PC1616, PC1832 and PC1864. This DSC Touchscreen Keypad can be used with the DSC Impassa and DSC PowerSeries Panels. It serves as a good secondary keypad. But it should not be used as a main keypad, as it does not support system programming.

Every alarm system should have some type of a keypad for local on-site operation and control. An end user will interact with this keypad regularly for performing basic system functions. For most wireless panels, like the DSC Impassa, there is an integrated keypad for this purpose. But for a wired system, like a DSC PowerSeries Panel, an external keypad will almost always need to be added separately. However, a wireless system can also usually have an external keypad added. This can be good for adding a second on-site access point for the system.

The WTK5504 is a touchscreen keypad that can be used a DSC PowerSeries System. End users typically like its colorful menus and touchscreen controls. It can even perform various Z-Wave smart home automation functions after an Alarm.com cellular communicator has been activated with the DSC PowerSeries System. DSC offers AT&T LTE and Verizon LTE Alarm.com cellular communicators for this purpose. But overall, the WTK5504 is a great keypad to use with a DSC PowerSeries System.

With all of that in mind, the WTK5504 should not be used as a primary keypad for a DSC PowerSeries Panel. This is because the WTK5504 does not allow the user to access installer-level programming. A user will need to access programming when setting up their system and making changes to the settings. Therefore, having a keypad that can access programming is very important. A compatible keypad that can do access installer programming is the DSC WT5500. Although this push-button keypad does not offer touchscreen functionality, it is still a better option than the DSC WTK5504 for use as a main keypad for a DSC PowerSeries Panel.

And if a user really does want touchscreen capabilities, they can use both the DSC WT5500 and the WTK5504 with their system. In that scenario, the user would have their WTK5504 Touchscreen Keypad as the primary controller for arming and disarming. But if they needed to make programming changes, they would be able to use their WT5500 Touch-Button Keypad to access programming.