Choosing Elk M1 wireless technology

[mikefamig]

I am in the process of designing a security/HA system for my home and detached garage and can use some help choosing which wireless system to go with.
 
I was warned by an Elk rep that the zwave adapter was only capable of one-way output communications. The only zwave adapter that I see on the Elk website is the Leviton device and it doesn't mention any such limitation. I feel that 2-way communication is the future and I also like the Elk two-way wireless system but it has limited devices available compared to zwave and Honeywell-Ademco(1-way comm).
 
To sum it up I would appreciate any help with choosing a wireless system and I would love to hear from your experiences with the Elk 2-way and Leviton zwave attached to the Elk M1 controller.
 
TIA, Mike.

 

[drvnbysound]

You were mis-informed. The recommended Elk solution for Zwave is the M1XSLZW paired with the Leviton VRC0P-1LW. This setup does provide a 2-way communication.

 

[mikefamig]

You were mis-informed. The recommended Elk solution for Zwave is the M1XSLZW paired with the Leviton VRC0P-1LW. This setup does provide a 2-way communication.

I'm very happy to hear that. Things change fast in the world of tech gadgets and my source may have been a little behind the curve. I;ll have to research the M1XSLZW/VRC0P-1LW combo.
 
Thanks, Mike.

 

[drvnbysound]

I'm very happy to hear that. Things change fast in the world of tech gadgets and my source may have been a little behind the curve. I;ll have to research the M1XSLZW/VRC0P-1LW combo.
 
Thanks, Mike.

 
I think I've had this setup for about 2 years now...

 

[tmbrown97]

Don't mix up Z-Wave Automation sensors with Security functions though!  Elk's two-way is security - and compares to the GE / Honeywell 1-way sensors which have been around for 20 years - but they're still what's used in MOST installs (not talking just Elk but most alarm installs in general).  This new 2-way is cool but it's very new.
 
That's separate from Z-Wave though - Z-Wave is not security-grade - you can't use Z-Wave door sensors and window sensors in a security system (or at least you really shouldn't) - Z-Wave/UPB/X10/Insteon are for lighting and in the case of Z-Wave and Insteon, thermostat and door lock controls also comes with the lighting. 
 
You should be running both - use security grade stuff for security and keep the automation stuff separate.  Same with motion sensors - you can use Security motions for automation (though less sensitive for a good reason) but you shouldn't use automation motion sensors for security - they're more likely to false positive and trigger your alarm.

 

[mikefamig]

Don't mix up Z-Wave Automation sensors with Security functions though!  Elk's two-way is security - and compares to the GE / Honeywell 1-way sensors which have been around for 20 years - but they're still what's used in MOST installs (not talking just Elk but most alarm installs in general).  This new 2-way is cool but it's very new.
 
That's separate from Z-Wave though - Z-Wave is not security-grade - you can't use Z-Wave door sensors and window sensors in a security system (or at least you really shouldn't) - Z-Wave/UPB/X10/Insteon are for lighting and in the case of Z-Wave and Insteon, thermostat and door lock controls also comes with the lighting. 
 
Thanks that makes good sense and has cleared up my thinking some. I'm impressed that you consider the Elk and Honeywell wireless devcies as security grade and not Zwave which helps me with my decision. Q: Is the Honeywell wireless dependable? Is it widely accepted by the pros for security? How does a Honeywell wireless sensor compare to a wired sensor outside of the fact that you have to change the battereis occasionally?

You should be running both - use security grade stuff for security and keep the automation stuff separate.  Same with motion sensors - you can use Security motions for automation (though less sensitive for a good reason) but you shouldn't use automation motion sensors for security - they're more likely to false positive and trigger your alarm.

IInitally I want to use wireless to make bright lights come on when there is a breach, especially in the detached garage.
In the long run I am interested in using wireless to control door locks and thermostat and maybe flood/sump pump control and feedback. It would also be nice to control lighting when in the away mode and maybe read the door locks to ensure that things really are locked up.
 
So now I'm thinking that I may just get the Elk wireless kit for the keyfob and motion detection and add a panic button and hope that they add devices in the future. The kit also comes with two switches that I can put on my two house doors just to get up and running fast and then go to work pulling wires. And then down the road I can maybe add UPB or Zwave if  I decide that there is some gadget that I just have to have.
 
Thanks again, Mike.

 

[tmbrown97]

With any of the wireless technologies they have the ability to hook certain wireless sensors to external contact closure devices.  Since you're talking about using Elk's two-way wireless technology, you'll probably be interested in the 6022 sensor - it can act as a normal door/window sensor with the built in magnet, and/or it can accept two external contacts as well - so some examples of that:

• Using recessed door/window sensors but fishing wires to a 6022 above the door/window - keeps the transmitter hidden and maybe save money since contacts cost $2-$3 whereas transmitters are 10x that.
• Hooking into other sensor types - such as Garage Door sensors, water detection; generator trouble contacts; current relays (activate based on amperage consumed by a particular device); etc.  

You can get a relay output out of just about anything you can think of - from video signal detection, presence of voltage, water sensor, etc - and there is lots of equipment with status outputs - any of these can be adapted to transmit via a 6022.  So while I wouldn't do this for rigging up your own smoke detection, for the purposes of monitoring just about anything else and causing automation, it's perfectly doable.
 
Also FWIW - some examples of what you talk about: 1) I have lights that turn on automatically based on security sensor changes - I have security sensors on pretty much all my interior doors as well - so if the kids get up at night, it alerts me via the voice in the M1 and also turns on the lights for them outside their rooms and in the bathroom; if I enter the house at night and it's armed, it automatically lights a path for me to the kitchen which is the hub of our home; when the security countdown expires, every light in the house turns off.  If I enter the garage via any door, the garage lights go on and stay on until there's been no activity for 20 minutes.  I have a hall closet that no longer has a lightswitch - the lights go on/off with the door now via a security sensor (I stole its switch location for a scene switch).  All this is possible because the security side of the M1 can seamlessly interact with the automation side.  Heck - if I wanted to I could make it so a scene button on a lighting controller triggered the M1 to arm.  It's a very powerful system.
 
Without a controller in the middle, you might have to duplicate some efforts with automation somewhat separate from security, but with the M1 that's not necessary with how everything can talk to each other.

 

[mikefamig]

Thanks for the tip on the 6022, that's a very powerful device that allows me to tie all sorts of wired sensors/detectors into the Elk wireless system. I had read about it being a three zone sensor but didn't give any thought to the mplications of that. That clinches it, I'm going to go with the Elk 2-way.
 
Mike.