How-To Guides & Device Instructions

Step-by-step help for your APB system — look up your device and do it yourself

Most quick fixes — like a low-battery beep or a sensor showing a fault — you can handle in a couple of minutes. Find your device by its model number (printed on a small sticker inside the sensor cover or on the back of the device) and open its guide below. Still stuck? Contact us or call (718) 698-8244 and we'll walk you through it.

Quick How-Tos

The most common things customers call about. Tap any question to see the steps.

Stop the keypad beeping & reset your system after a low battery

After you've replaced a sensor battery (or to clear a low-battery message), reset the panel:

  1. Make sure the sensor cover is fully closed and clicked shut.
  2. At your keypad, enter your 4-digit code and press OFF — then enter your code and press OFF again. (Code + OFF, Code + OFF.)
  3. The beeping stops and the low-battery message clears from the display. Your system is ready to use again.
Heads up: opening a sensor cover can trip its tamper switch and start the keypad beeping — that's normal. The reset above silences it once the cover is closed.
Change a sensor battery

Battery steps are slightly different for each device. Find your sensor's model number and open its guide in the Find Your Device section below — each guide shows exactly how to open the cover, which battery it takes, and how to close it back up.

Tip: the model number is on a sticker inside the sensor cover. The most common door/window sensor is the Honeywell 5816, which uses a CR123 battery.
Test your system with central station

We recommend testing your system monthly so you know every signal reaches our monitoring center. Because testing puts your account on test mode, please do it with us on the line:

  1. Call our Central Station at (718) 494-6414 and tell them you'd like to place your system on test.
  2. Arm your system, then trip a door, window, or motion sensor so a signal is sent.
  3. Confirm with the operator that each signal came through, then disarm. They'll take your system off test.
Add or change a user code

User codes are set up differently depending on your panel, and we keep this secure to protect your account. The fastest, safest way is to let us help:

  1. Call us at (718) 698-8244 during business hours.
  2. We'll verify your identity, then walk you through adding, changing, or deleting a code on your specific keypad.
Never share your master code over email or text. APB will only make changes after verifying you're the account holder.

Find Your Device

Search by model number (e.g. 5816) or device type to open a battery-replacement guide for your sensor.

5816

Door / Window Sensor

The most common wireless door/window contact. Battery swap & reset.

CR123 Open Guide (PDF)
5811

Door / Window Sensor

Slim two-piece wireless contact for doors & windows.

CR2032 Open Guide (PDF)
5820L

Door / Window Sensor

Thin bar-style wireless contact. Lithium only — never alkaline.

AAA Lithium Open Guide (PDF)
5818MNL

Recessed Door Sensor

Hidden contact mounted inside the door frame.

AAA Lithium Open Guide (PDF)
5890

PIR Motion Detector

Wireless motion sensor — open the housing & swap the cells.

CR123 × 2 Open Guide (PDF)
5800

Motion Detector

Wireless PIR motion detector.

CR123 Open Guide (PDF)
5898

Motion Detector

Wide-angle wireless motion detector. Lithium only — never alkaline.

AA Lithium Open Guide (PDF)
5853

Glass Break Detector

Listens for breaking glass. Battery replacement guide.

CR123 Open Guide (PDF)
5834

Wireless Key Fob

Pocket remote to arm & disarm your system.

CR2032 Open Guide (PDF)
5802WXT

Panic Button

Portable single-button panic transmitter.

CR2032 Open Guide (PDF)
Smoke

Wireless Smoke Detector

Fire/smoke sensor — change the battery safely & reset.

CR123 Open Guide (PDF)
5817CBXT

Universal Transmitter

Multi-point universal wireless transmitter.

CR123 Open Guide (PDF)
GSMV4G

Cellular Communicator

Cellular backup communicator — replace the backup battery.

6V Sealed Lead-Acid Open Guide (PDF)
Reference

Battery Types Chart

Not sure which battery you need? Quick reference for every APB sensor.

All battery types View Chart (PDF)

No guide matches that search. Try a model number like “5816,” or contact us and we'll send it over.

Can't Find Your Device or Still Stuck?

We're adding new guides all the time. Tell us your model number and we'll send the right instructions — or our team can walk you through it over the phone.

Contact Our Support Team

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