ELK install in NJ

[mrwilson]

hello everyone,
I'm supposed to be closing on our first home this Friday and have been researching home automation & security for the past couple of weeks.  I think based on everything that I've read I want to go with the ISY994i/IR-PRO and ELK M1G systems.  I'm an IT guy so I'm confident I'll be able to figure out how to work the ISY but for the ELK I'm not so sure about the wiring/cabling/configuration.  
 
I have very little (basically zero) experience with electrical stuff.  During the inspection of our home I did find out that the house has only 100amp service which I suspect won't be enough.  Any thoughts on that?  Should I immediately upgrade to 200amp service?  If I do hire an electrician for that would he be the right person to help me with the ELK wiring?  If so, my fear is he'll want to know what/which cables need to be run where and I have no clue really.  Or does anyone have a recommended ELK installer/expert - I'm in the North Jersey (Bergen County) area.
 

 

[Del91574]

The M1 has nothing to do with the service cabling into the house, it's a low voltage controller.
 
If you are intending on separating out lighting loads and controlling those with an ancilliary controller to the M1, that's another ballgame.
 
How an electrician does low voltage and a low voltage tech does wiring are generally mutually exclusive items. You are going to need to be brave and learn to run your own cables or you need to seek out a low voltage systems tech/installer that is good at old work.

 

[mrwilson]

I have no problem attempting to run the cables on my own but how do I know where the M1 panel should be installed?  Basement? Garage?  And how to I figure out what cables need to be run to which areas of the house?  eg.  Cat5e to all rooms? etc.  Are you saying it's not worth it to hire someone who has done ELK installs to do this?

 

[snakevargas]

I would think the basement would be better than the garage for three reasons: 1) accessibility to the rest of the house, 2) security of the panel itself, and 3) consistency of climate (humidity/temperature). It really depends on the configuration of your house. Figure out where the cables are coming from and pick a point that is central.

You probably want 22/4 or 22/2 for your wired sensors (doors, windows, motions) and Cat 5 for most other things.

Regardless of whether you hire a guy who can do the install, I think it would be helpful for you to decide how many speakers and how many keypads you want.

If you hire someone, it would also be a good time to decide if you want ethernet to all rooms, if you plan on ever installing surveillance cameras, etc.

 

[Del91574]

I have no problem attempting to run the cables on my own but how do I know where the M1 panel should be installed?  Basement? Garage?  And how to I figure out what cables need to be run to which areas of the house?  eg.  Cat5e to all rooms? etc.  Are you saying it's not worth it to hire someone who has done ELK installs to do this?

I'd put the panel either in the basement or a first floor closet, but that's me. Garage would be the last choice.
 
As far as cabling, you need to know what you're installing for detectors. Keypads need at least 6, but preferably 8 conductors to them (category cable is not necessary). Generally speaking, 22/2 or 22/4 for detectors, 8 conductors for KP's or any bus devices, and a category cable for an XEP (if installed) to the location of any network hardware/modem you have. Specific wiring for cells, interfaces for other equipment, dry contacts for other items (OHD openers, etc) vary based on the application.