Recent content by Photon

  And maybe run the security system cables through conduit to their can to prevent tampering.

I use a 90* sweep in the attic to maintain a decent bend radius, but it is not glued to the vertical conduit; it is a friction fit.  When I add a cable, I pull the sweep off the vertical run and slide it up the cables so I have a straight shot from the basement.  After I get a few feet of the...

I don't think it is realistic to expect one's agent to demonstrate the system.  Best case, the agent successfully operates a motorized shade.  Worst case, the agent attempts to demonstrate something, and he/she can't pull it off.  Then the buyer sees that 'broken' feature as a negative.  Even if...

You might ask Automated Outlet if they still do price matching, or at least a compromise on price.  Their reputation, at least on this site, is as good as it gets.  They took good care of me when I was configuring my first system.

BSR, this might be a good time to replace the HDD on the repurposed PC.  It could be months before she discovers some important file didn't migrate to her new PC.  Even if you are just using her old PC as a trial, the WAF could have a huge impact.  Besides, a cheap recertified HDD can get you...

Come look at my seven year old house. I told the electrician I needed a neutral in every box. He said that is standard. Some time after we moved in, I found he used the white wire for one of the travelers on at least one of the three-way circuits.

Elk controls all our exterior lights plus lamps in rooms visible from the street. It uses the same schedule whether or not we are home. If the bad guys are casing the neighborhood, they won't be able to use our lighting pattern to determine our absence. I'm more concerned about drapes and...

  How 'bout an AGM battery?

  I imagine more than a few of us non-pros used CAT 5 for the bus because it was recommended in the Rev. F (02/07/06) installation manual:   "For those that prefer to home run wires, use 6 or 8 conductor (CAT5 is ideal) cable."

I'd also like to see a summary of changes like we find in USAF tech manuals so I don't have to scroll through page after page looking for changes when they publish an updated manual.  Generally when a statement is preceded by "WARNING!" in all-caps and a bang it is significant.  The M1G...

  Be aware of the following statement in the Elk M1G manual, page 12:  "WARNING! Do not splice or interconnect the M1 Data Bus using Telephone type 66 or 110 punch down blocks."  That warning did not appear in the manual in effect when I began my installation.    I have a couple keypads...

Does the contact have a built-in EoL resistor?  Did you install and EoL resistor at the contact?  How did you define this zone?

Nothing to see these days.  When I began the adventure of installing the Elk system, I decided to migrate off the rack onto the backboard.  The pivot mount for the Cat5e patch panel on the backboard is more secure than on the rack, which I didn't fasten to the floor.  I sized a 1" angle aluminum...

  I used a wire closet shelf at the bottom of my back board for my consumer grade components such as modem, router, and switches.  Any 19" components go on the free standing rack to the right.

Take a look at this topic, post #5: http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/15643-running-the-elk-off-a-deep-cycle-battery-array/?hl=battery