A newbie question please.

[vdz]

Hi All,
 
Please excuse me if wrong place.
I am interested in HA, I have never done before but been reading a lot of sites (z-wave, vera, home centre 2 etc) and eventually I ended up here, 
 
What I would like to do for HA is the same as HDClown post yesterday
 
I assume elk M1 is recommended
So firstly I'd like to know which type of lock I should go for front door i.e. double entry doors? Deadbolt or Electric door strike?
would Elk M1 be able control electric door strike/ or deadbolt?  I would like to get home security such as camera, windows contacts, doors, garage etc, is pre-wire a good idea? since we are building a new house. what else should I take into in terms of pre-wire for HA?
 
Thanks in advance.
Cheers

 

[RAL]

If you are building new, pre-wiring for security and HA is a good idea.  Hardwired contacts for doors, windows, motion sensors, etc will provide better reliability than wireless sensors.
 
Running wires is relatively inexpensive at this stage, vs having to retrofit things later.  You may never use every last one of the wires you run, but having wires where you need them saves lots of time and aggravation later.
 
This guide will give you lots of things to think about.

 

[vdz]

thank you very much the guide and prompt response. surely a lot of readings, but worth it.
any idea of the lock for the double entry doors? thanks
 
Regards

 

[Del91574]

Honestly, I'd go with a wired solution over the wireless just for a lock.. Deadbolt would be the only application you couldn't really go hardwired.

 

[vdz]

Thank you Del for your opinion. is there any particular reason(s) for your opinion of wired solution? Thanks
 
Regards

 

[pete_c]

+ 1 relating to RAL's suggestion having a read here ===>
 
Wiring Your New House 101
 
Wireless is magical and sometimes there are many assumptions made relating to the rules of RF propagation.
 
In the 1990's with the advent of smart wired network topologies; there were issues related to some bean counting and methodologies used for me first traffic. 
 
It is better today. 
 
Mix in wireless and you throw away all of what was perceived to be so in an intelligent wired transport topology.  That is just the way it is and especially when the drive is mostly relating to providing an end solution and skipping the grey areas of radio.
 
Here utilize a Leviton HAI Omni Pro 2 connected to working X10, UPB, Z-Wave and Zigbee with wired sensors.
 
The sure bet of what I see and what functions 100% of the time has always been the wired sensors.
 
Wireless is getting better but has never been a sure bet.   It's an easy sell and makes for easy and cheap (relatively writing) automation.
 
It is evolving today still.  It is your home and you can do anything you want. 
 
You came here to ask about it. 
 
You are getting answers to your questions about the why and what of what you want to do from a bunch of folks that have done it or do it commercially or are in the same position you are in today relating to what it is you want.
 
The most reasonable/logical automation methodology is that you want the best bang for your buck today and tomorrow.

 

[Del91574]

Thank you Del for your opinion. is there any particular reason(s) for your opinion of wired solution? Thanks
 
Regards

Reliability and cost. Far easier to get electrified hardware and a more robust solution. Same with readers and weigand into the system. Wireless locks are good for tinkering, but for integration....there's really only one.
 
Deadbolt would be the only exception.

 

[vdz]

Thank you Pete and Del again, I am going the hardwired path as much as while I can, what about the driveway motion sensor? should I install before hand i.e. under the driveway? 
I am doing a lot of reading from the Guide (thanks Ray) i.e. very helpful for me to start with.
 
Once again much appreciated.
 
Regards

 

[pete_c]

what about the driveway motion sensor?
 
I have had a Cartell system installed here for a few years with no issues.
 
should I install before hand i.e. under the driveway?
 
Yes.
 
In the older home (1990's) I used two photoelectric beams on a long driveway which worked OK except when there was some lightning.

 

[Del91574]

I am going the hardwired path as much as while I can, what about the driveway motion sensor? should I install before hand i.e. under the driveway? 

 
Plan on conduit the entire way to an underground pullbox/hand hole. Then transition to pipe big enough to slide the detector to the center of the driveway. Best option if the grade is wide open.

 

[vdz]

Thank you Pete for the link and Del for the tips.