Best way to get 12vdc from Elk

[signal15]

I need 12vdc to actuate a paging function on my audio system.  I've also got a Vera.
 
1. Should I just use my relay board and my 12vdc camera power supply mounted in the security cabinet to do this?
2. I need to be able to supply 12v for a variable period of time.  If the alert says "Front door open", I only need 1-2 seconds.  If it speaks the weather forecast, I need like 10-15 seconds.  Any ideas how to do this?  Even better, would there be a way to monitor if sound came over a pre-amp out or speaker wire, and supply the 12vdc until there's no sound being sent by my android TTS device?

 

[elvisimprsntr]

I use the Elk main board 12v to power the XEP and an Ethernet hub I have mounted in the Elk enclosure. This has two advantages. It reduces the number of wall transformers which also generate heat, and means the devices will be on backup power. In your case, it sounds like you need momentary power vs continuous power in my example. I would be concerned about transient voltage spikes when you switch the load. But if you borrow power from the Elk main board for the XEP buy cutting off a 2 foot section of the wall transformer wire, you can now use the wall transformer to provide 12v to a relay to switch power to you load.

 

[signal15]

I use the Elk main board 12v to power the XEP and an Ethernet hub I have mounted in the Elk enclosure. This has two advantages. It reduces the number of wall transformers which also generate heat, and means the devices will be on backup power. In your case, it sounds like you need momentary power vs continuous power in my example. I would be concerned about transient voltage spikes when you switch the load. But if you borrow power from the Elk main board for the XEP buy cutting off a 2 foot section of the wall transformer wire, you can now use the wall transformer to provide 12v to a relay to switch power to you load.

 
I'm too lazy to go look, but isn't the Elk's board power AC, not DC?

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I believe he meant to use (cut off a section of...) the 'transformer WIRE' (i.e. not connect to the 'transformer' itself) to connect to the Elk's 12 volt DC Auxiliary power.
 
The transformer that is used to provide the main input power to the Elk is indeed AC (16.5 volt AC to be exact).

 

[Del91574]

I think you need to look to see what sort of headroom you have on your hardware before anyone guesses where to connect the +12V trigger.
 
Conservative is to use a wall wart. Second to that is the camera power supply.
 
Personally, I wouldn't use the M1 itself....too many other factors including what it may or may not do in the case of the panel running on battery only.

 

[Monk]

I have Homeseer activate a 12V output from the M1 in order to turn on paging for 2 Russound CAV 6.6's.