Short answer
Press * 2. The numbers that light up (LED keypads) or scroll by (LCD keypads) tell you what is wrong: 1 service required, 2 AC power lost, 3 phone line, 4 failed to communicate, 5 zone fault, 6 zone tamper, 7 wireless low battery, 8 clock needs setting. Press # to exit.
On this page
Which keypads this applies to
This guide covers the classic DSC PowerSeries panels (PC1616, PC1832, PC1864, and older PC1555/PC585-family systems) with LED or LCD keypads such as the PK5500, PK5501, PK5508, RFK5500, and LCD5500. The newer PowerSeries Neo (HS2016, HS2032, HS2064, HS2128) uses a different trouble menu, though * 2 still opens it and LCD keypads describe each trouble in words.
View the troubles
- When the yellow Trouble light (a triangle or wrench on some keypads) is on, press * then 2.
- On an LED keypad, the zone lights now show trouble numbers instead of zones. On an LCD keypad, scroll with the arrow keys.
- Press # to leave the trouble display.
The keypad beeps every 10 seconds when a new trouble appears. Pressing any key, or viewing * 2, silences the beeps until the next new trouble, but the light stays on until the problem is fixed.
What each trouble number means
| Trouble | Meaning | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service required | Press 1 while in the trouble display for details (see below). |
| 2 | AC failure | The panel is on battery. Check the plug-in transformer, the outlet, and the breaker. |
| 3 | Telephone line trouble | The phone line to the panel is missing. Common after switching to VoIP, fiber, or cable phone service, or cancelling a landline. |
| 4 | Failure to communicate | The panel tried to send a signal and could not. See communication failure. |
| 5 | Zone fault | Press 5 to see which zones. Usually a wiring problem on that zone. |
| 6 | Zone tamper | Press 6 to see which zones. A device cover is open or loose. |
| 7 | Wireless device low battery | Press 7 to see which zones. Replace that device's battery. |
| 8 | Loss of clock | The panel lost power completely. Set the time and date (below). |
Trouble 1: service required details
With trouble 1 showing, press 1 to see the sub-troubles:
- 1 Low panel battery. The backup battery in the cabinet is weak or disconnected. See replacing the backup battery.
- 2 Bell circuit trouble. The siren is disconnected or the siren wiring is open.
- 3 General system trouble.
- 4 General system tamper.
- 5 Module supervision. A keypad or expansion module has stopped talking to the panel.
- 6 RF jam detected by the wireless receiver.
- 7 and 8 Low battery or AC failure on a PC5204 power supply module, if you have one.
Exact sub-trouble lists vary slightly by panel model and firmware, so confirm against your panel's user manual.
Trouble 8: set the time and date
- Press * 6, then enter your master code.
- Press 1 for time and date.
- Enter the time in 24-hour format (HHMM) and then the date (MMDDYY). For example, 2:30 pm on October 7, 2026 is
1430 100726. - Press # to exit.
When to call the alarm company
Troubles 3 and 4 often mean the monitoring company is not receiving your signals, even if everything looks fine at the keypad. If you see either one, call them and ask for a test signal check. Zone faults on smoke detector zones should also go to a technician.