JerseyMarv
New Member
Hello Cocooners. I've been lurking your fine site for years and am finally getting around to planning my Elk install. Hopefully. Just need someone to double check it as I seem to be getting alphabet soup induced migraines trying to sort through all the parts.
First off, I am currently running a robust Insteon network through an ISY994i. Probably 50 or so devices of various sorts running through 100+ programs that automates a good portion of my house. I am looking forward to integrated the Elk with the ISY and will continue to use the ISY for the automation side.
Second, everything infrastructure related in my house I put there myself. All heating, electrical, and plumbing was entirely done by yours truly, so I know where EVERYTHING in this house is. Also a point of shame, while I was running my thousands of feet of wiring, I never thought to run any alarm wire... *cue shameful head shake*. There is, however, close to a thousand feet of Cat5e and Coax in the walls. At least two drops in every room, some more. So I had SOME forethought going, just not enough.
The situation is that I spend a lot of time away from home, usually up to an hour away, and usually overnight. I also have a terrible memory for doing things so automating stuff has been a lifesaver for me. My wife is concerned with such a big house, and no way of knowing what's going on downstairs. I've already had the ISY going for ~1 year, and have integrated that into our lives. Now its time for security.
My preliminary plan is as follows (with damn near all of it coming from JMAC. I like single source):
M1GSYS4STW Two Way Wireless Ready M1 Gold Kit
M1XEP M1
ELK-M1XIN M1 16 Zone Input Expander
ELK-M1KP LCD Keypad x 2
Additional 28" can
I say preliminary, because I'm not terribly certain I have a firm grasp on the parts and pieces together. That's where hopefully you guys come in. All my wiring runs to a centrally located wiring closet, which is where the ISY is and the Elk will go.
I want to install the Elk, in the 28" can, in the wiring closet. From there, I can snake alarm wire around the house through a variety of crafty means (I also don't have any trim yet so I can hide wire there easily). I will be wiring all the entry points on my ground floor for now, so I can prove the concept to the Wife.
I will install the Zone expander, in the 14" can that came with the Elk kit, in the garage, utilizing a cat5e drop to run it back to the panel (can I do that?). In the garage will be a KP2, along with 3 separate zones (man door, windows, garage doors). Also, looking to the future, any exterior zones I add will run to this expansion since it will be located on an outside wall, and I care little for visible wiring in my garage.
The second KP2 will go in my master bedroom, via a cat5e drop there.
The KP that comes with the Elk kit will go at my front door via another cat5e drop. I am also considering wiring the front door contacts through this keypad.
I've also read about the (ELK-M1DBH M1 Data Bus Hub) though I'm not sure what the strengths are there.
I chose the Elk wireless solution because it allowed me to use the key fobs. I had originally considered Honeywell for my wireless solutions because they just have more sensors, but I may add that in later on as I need to. Unless Honeywell has key fobs (just haven't looked yet).
So how am I looking so far? Every time I think I have this figured out, a new thing crops up and I'm back to the drawing board.
Of course, there is also the possibility that I showed just how little I've got it together there, but I'm open to learning. Fire away.
First off, I am currently running a robust Insteon network through an ISY994i. Probably 50 or so devices of various sorts running through 100+ programs that automates a good portion of my house. I am looking forward to integrated the Elk with the ISY and will continue to use the ISY for the automation side.
Second, everything infrastructure related in my house I put there myself. All heating, electrical, and plumbing was entirely done by yours truly, so I know where EVERYTHING in this house is. Also a point of shame, while I was running my thousands of feet of wiring, I never thought to run any alarm wire... *cue shameful head shake*. There is, however, close to a thousand feet of Cat5e and Coax in the walls. At least two drops in every room, some more. So I had SOME forethought going, just not enough.
The situation is that I spend a lot of time away from home, usually up to an hour away, and usually overnight. I also have a terrible memory for doing things so automating stuff has been a lifesaver for me. My wife is concerned with such a big house, and no way of knowing what's going on downstairs. I've already had the ISY going for ~1 year, and have integrated that into our lives. Now its time for security.
My preliminary plan is as follows (with damn near all of it coming from JMAC. I like single source):
M1GSYS4STW Two Way Wireless Ready M1 Gold Kit
M1XEP M1
ELK-M1XIN M1 16 Zone Input Expander
ELK-M1KP LCD Keypad x 2
Additional 28" can
I say preliminary, because I'm not terribly certain I have a firm grasp on the parts and pieces together. That's where hopefully you guys come in. All my wiring runs to a centrally located wiring closet, which is where the ISY is and the Elk will go.
I want to install the Elk, in the 28" can, in the wiring closet. From there, I can snake alarm wire around the house through a variety of crafty means (I also don't have any trim yet so I can hide wire there easily). I will be wiring all the entry points on my ground floor for now, so I can prove the concept to the Wife.
I will install the Zone expander, in the 14" can that came with the Elk kit, in the garage, utilizing a cat5e drop to run it back to the panel (can I do that?). In the garage will be a KP2, along with 3 separate zones (man door, windows, garage doors). Also, looking to the future, any exterior zones I add will run to this expansion since it will be located on an outside wall, and I care little for visible wiring in my garage.
The second KP2 will go in my master bedroom, via a cat5e drop there.
The KP that comes with the Elk kit will go at my front door via another cat5e drop. I am also considering wiring the front door contacts through this keypad.
I've also read about the (ELK-M1DBH M1 Data Bus Hub) though I'm not sure what the strengths are there.
I chose the Elk wireless solution because it allowed me to use the key fobs. I had originally considered Honeywell for my wireless solutions because they just have more sensors, but I may add that in later on as I need to. Unless Honeywell has key fobs (just haven't looked yet).
So how am I looking so far? Every time I think I have this figured out, a new thing crops up and I'm back to the drawing board.
Of course, there is also the possibility that I showed just how little I've got it together there, but I'm open to learning. Fire away.