Should I Arm My System with My Installer Code?

No, you should not arm your system with the Installer Code. When an alarm system is armed with the Installer Code, it becomes possible to disarm the system with that code as well. Assuming that the Installer Code is at its default, anyone who knows the default code can disarm the system.

Alarm Grid has a few recommendations regarding system codes. For one, we always recommend keeping the Installer Code at the default. This will prevent the user from ever being locked out of programming. Even if a user forgets the code, then they can always look it up later. But if they change the code and forget it, then they will potentially be locked out of programming. And once a user is locked out of programming, it can very inconvenient or even impossible to get back in.

But by keeping the Installer Code at the default, the user will definitely want to use a different code to arm and disarm their system. Installer Codes are commonly known, and an intruder would have little problem obtaining a default Installer Code for a popular security system. But Installer Codes can usually only disarm if they are used to arm the system in the first place. As long as a user doesn't arm their system using their Installer Code, they won't have to worry about an intruder using the code to disarm. For some systems, the Installer Code can only be used to enter programming and can neither arm nor disarm.

Instead of using the Installer Code to arm, a user should use their Master Code or a regular user code to arm and disarm. Unlike the default Installer Code, we definitely recommend changing the Master Code from its default. Default Master Codes are also commonly available, and it's likely that an intruder would know a default Master Code. Additionally, we encourage users to use codes that are easy for them to remember, but difficult for others to guess. For example, a system isn't exactly the most secure if its Master Code is 9999 or 0000.