Can M1XSP interface with weeder board

[dtreyes]

I have been contemplating on moving to ELK m1 gold from computer based (Homeseer) security/automation but I have lots of weeder boads and viom boards (serially connected to a PC) which I use with my Homeseer. The thing is, I don't want to throw away those digital io board. Now is it possible for ELK M1 to interface with these board using M1XSP .
Thanks

 

[WayneW]

Now is it possible for ELK M1 to interface with these board using M1XSP .

Possibly, but it would probably take a lot of rules. Have you considered interfacing the M1 to your HomeSeer and getting the best of both?

 

[dtreyes]

Now is it possible for ELK M1 to interface with these board using M1XSP .

Possibly, but it would probably take a lot of rules. Have you considered interfacing the M1 to your HomeSeer and getting the best of both?

The main reason I want to add M1 to the mix is its reliability since M1 can live without 24/7 PC

 

[upstatemike]

In reality your best route will be to sell the weeder boards and buy more M1 inputs. When you say "lots" of boards how many are we talking about?

 

[dtreyes]

In reality your best route will be to sell the weeder boards and buy more M1 inputs. When you say "lots" of boards how many are we talking about?

I got 2 weeder boads and 2 viom boards handling inputs for door/windows security, various monitoring (washing machine, dryer, oven, toaster and water leak sensor) and output for led indicators and powering up solenoid valves. Both this board transmit and receive ascii characters through serial ports.

 

[upstatemike]

That's not so bad. Can you transition to the M1 in stages? I woulde buy an M1 and set it up for security etc. Then buy an input card and and migrate one Weeder boards over. Sell the Weeder board and buy another Elk input or relay board, and so on until everything is on the Elk.

 

[dtreyes]

That's not so bad. Can you transition to the M1 in stages? I woulde buy an M1 and set it up for security etc. Then buy an input card and and migrate one Weeder boards over. Sell the Weeder board and buy another Elk input or relay board, and so on until everything is on the Elk.

I guess that's do-able. Thanks

 

[Steve]

Don't forget the M1 itself has 16 'channels' right on the board, so you probably only need 1 extra M1XIN input expander. You probably need 2 M1XOVR or M1RB for your outputs depending on how many you are actually using.

 

[upstatemike]

Don't forget the M1 itself has 16 'channels' right on the board, so you probably only need 1 extra M1XIN input expander. You probably need 2 M1XOVR or M1RB for your outputs depending on how many you are actually using.

True but a lot of the first 16 are the only inputs supporting 2-wire smokes, or temp sensors, etc. I don't count them as general IO because you never know when you might want to use them for these special tasks. When I got my M1 I went ahead and picked up 5 input expanders to start. I figured temp sensors on the main board, fire alarm on the first expander, wired security on the second and third expanders and general HA stuff starting on expander 4. I can get away with so few inputs to start because I plan to use quite a few wireless security sensors and I recently decided that I will keep my Stargate in my system after all so that's 80 inputs I don't have to migrate over.

I guess I am saying that M1 inputs are cheap enough that it is more important to allocate them in a way that gives you some flexibility than it is to save a few bucks by buying one less input module. (16 inputs cost about the same as 1 UPB light switch or 2/3 of a Vizia Z-Wave switch).

 

[Steve]

True, I don't disagree, was just pointing out a way to make it a bit less painful. The big thing about on board is they support analog, which is mainly temp sensors at this point. 2 wire smokes only go on zone 16 anyway. So if there were no plans for temp sensors or analog stuff, 1-15 is still there. Worst case you can wire it with a bit of slack and always just pop off the phoenix connectors and move them to an input board later. But I agree, if $ were not an issue, go with the extra boards up front.