DSC Security door/window magnetic contact

[lurlette]

Hi all, i am new to this forum and i was reading for about two weeks now and did``nt come across any thing on this,so I am going to ask,because I am about to upgrade the dsc system with the ELK M1 GOLD, 1- I already have wire run to all my windows and doors with the dsc door/window magnetic contacts and hardwire motion detectors (dsc) keypads (dsc),Can I just wire up the ELK to the existing DSC windows/door contacts and motion detectors?Thanks for all reply. 

 

[RAL]

Wecome to Cocoontech!
 
Wired door and window contacts and wired PIRs may be ok.  They are just switches which can work with any alarm panel as long as there is no end-of-line (EOL) resistor.  Wireless contacts are a different matter, as they have to be compatible with the wireless receiver that the alarm panel uses. 
 
If there are EOL resistors on your contacts, then they will have to be changed or bypassed, or you will have to rewire so they can work with the Elk.  DSC uses 5.6K resistors, while Elk uses 2.2K.
 
You can check one or more of your zones to see if there is an EOL by measuring the resistance with an ohm meter.  Disconnect the wire for the zone from the alarm panel, and then use the ohm meter to measure the resistance across the two wires.  The door or window should be closed when you do this, so the contact is in the "secure" state.   If you measure a value of around 5600 ohms, then you have EOL resistors.  If you measure a value close to zero, then you don't have EOLs, and it will be easy to reuse the contacts with the Elk.
 
If you have 2-wire smoke detectors, they may not be compatible between different panels, as the panels are qualified for use with specific brands and models. 
 
Keypads will only work with the brand and model(s) of panel that they are made for.

 

[lurlette]

Thanks RAL. 

 

[giansiro]

What keypad are you using for elk?

 

[RAL]

The Elk M1 has half a dozen different keypad options.  The M1KP, M1KP2 and M1KP3 are traditional looking keypads. The M1KPAS is a mini arming station keypad without a display. There is also a touch screen keypad, the M1KPNAV.
 
On my system, I have a mix of M1KPs and KP2s.  For a couple of locations, I like having the 6 functions keys and temperature sensor that the M1KP has.   For the others, I found that the 4 function keys of the KP2 were adequate.  The KP2 also has an advantage of allowing a speaker to be mounted behind the keypad if you use the M1BBK2 flush mount backing box.