If you need to replace a Mercury controller in your Genea access control system—whether due to hardware failure, an upgrade, or relocation—this guide walks you through the process to ensure a smooth transition without losing any configurations or device associations.
When is a Controller Replacement Needed?
You may need to replace a Mercury controller in the following situations:
The controller is faulty or no longer functioning.
You're upgrading hardware (e.g., from EP series to LP/MP series).
The controller has been damaged by power or network issues.
You are relocating the controller to a different site or panel.
Goal of Replacement
The goal is to seamlessly transfer all configurations—including doors, schedules, access groups, I/O rules — and maintain associations with connected hardware like:
Inputs
Outputs
Interfaces
Doors
Elevator controls
By updating the controller’s MAC address in Genea, the system will automatically recognize the new controller as a replacement and apply the existing configuration—eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Genea currently supports controller replacement only when the new controller is of the same model or a compatible model within the same or supported series.
For example, you can replace:
An LP1502 with another LP1502 (same model, same series)
An LP1502 with an MP1502 or EP1502 (same model across different supported series)
An EP1502 with an LP1502, and vice versa
Ensure that the replacement controller supports the same hardware configuration and capacity to avoid compatibility issues.
Supported Controller Replacement Combinations
The table below outlines the compatibility of advanced features when replacing Mercury controllers within Genea. While replacing controllers of the same model across the same or different series (e.g., LP1502 to EP1502 or MP1502) is generally supported, some feature-level differences may still apply between series.
Important:
Even with a compatible replacement, certain features — such as Elevator Destination Dispatch and OSDP, and integrations with interface panels such as Aperio hubs and Schlage — may not be fully supported. In such cases, physical verification and manual configuration may be required to ensure full functionality.
Refer to the matrix below to identify supported features and understand where additional checks may be necessary:
From → To | Feature: | Feature: | Feature: | Interface Panel:
Aperio Hub AH30 Gen 5
| Interface Panel: | Interface Panel: | Interface Panel: | Interface Panel: | Interface Panel: | Interface Panel: |
LP1501 → LP1501 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP1501 → EP1501 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP1501 → MP1501 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP1502 → LP1502 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP1502 → EP1502 | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP1502 → MP1502 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP2500 → LP2500 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP2500 → EP2500 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP2500 → MP2500 | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP4502 → LP4502 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
LP4502 → EP4502 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
LP4502 → MP4502 | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
Steps to Replace a Mercury Controller
1. Navigate to Hardware > Access from your Genea Admin Dashboard.
2. Locate the controller you want to replace and click 'Replace'
3. A controller replacement modal will open. Enter the details of the new controller that will replace the current one. Click 'Save'.
Case 1: The model number entered for the replacement controller is incompatible with the current controller.
For example, replacing an LP1502 controller with an LP4502 or any model other than LP1502, EP1502, or MP1502 is not supported. Please note that controller replacement is only supported between the same series with the same model number, or between different series with the same model number.
Case 2: The model number entered for the replacement controller is compatible with the current controller.
In this case, the replacement process will proceed.
Step 1: Once you click the Save button after entering the replacement controller details, the replacement process will be initiated.
If the new controller is online and able to connect to the Genea Cloud, the system will verify whether the entered model number matches the actual model number of the device.
If the model numbers match, the replacement process will continue to Step 2.
If there is a mismatch, the cloud will abort the process. In this case, the original controller will remain active, and all associated data and hardware linkages will remain unaffected.
The replacement process is designed with safeguards to prevent data loss, even in the event of an incompatibility.
You may also choose to cancel the process at this stage, since the replacement has not yet started.
Step 2: Once the cloud verifies the new controller, the actual replacement process begins.
At this stage, the system will disassociate the old controller and begin associating the new one.
This transition is typically quick and, in many cases, may occur so seamlessly that you might not even notice it.
Step 3: Once all associations have been successfully transferred from the old controller to the new one, the replacement will be marked as complete.
Please note: The "Controller Replacement Successful" message will appear immediately after the associations are transferred. However, the controller may take a few minutes to become fully operational. During this time, background processes such as data synchronization, including hardware configurations and key syncing, will take place.
If your portal has a large number of keys, the time required for the controller to be ready may be slightly longer. We appreciate your patience during this final step.
That concludes the controller replacement process. The new MAC address of the controller will now be visible in all relevant sections of the portal.
The final banner message stating "Controller Replaced Successfully" will continue to appear until it is acknowledged. This is intended as a reference in case any issues arise with the controller’s functionality — such as physical connectivity problems or other anomalies — shortly after the replacement.
The banner will disappear once it is acknowledged by any authorized user. If not acknowledged, it will automatically expire 7 days after the replacement date.
If you would like to learn more about this feature, please send inquiries to acsupport@getgenea.com.