Elk M1 Event triggered from ISY 994

[hmatos]

Does anyone know if there is a way to trigger an Elk Event Code (i.e, Appendix A - Event Codes - Elk M1 Install Guide), such as, "1013 = Water Alarm, Any Area", programmatically?  I have a few Insteon Water Leak Sensors and I'd like to tell the Elk that a Water Alarm has been triggered.  
 
I'd like to do a similar thing using my Insteon Smoke Bridge - i.e., make the Elk believe it's received a "Fire Alarm".
 
Is this even possible?
 
Thanks,
 
hm

 

[apostolakisl]

I know of only two ways to do this with both being about the same and neither terribly elegant.
 
Define two Elk outputs as water and fire.
Program the ISY to turn the respective output on/off in response to your water or fire condition.
Connect those Elk outputs to Relays.
Connect the relays to zones.
Define the zones as water and fire.
 
As an alternative, you could use an Insteon I/O link to open/close two dry contacts which are connected to the Elk zones. 
 
EDIT:
 
Just thought of a third way.  You can have 2 zones on Elk defined as water and fire, but keep them bypassed.  Set ISY to unbypass them in the event of a water or fire event.  However, you will probably not like this because your alarm will always be reporting that it has bypassed zones.  Perhaps you could set up a second area, put those 2 zones into that area, and thus not have that problem.  Not sure, never tried that.

 

[hmatos]

Thanks for the input!  I appreciate it.  So what would I use to do this option, "Elk outputs to Relays".   Would I be using something like this?
 
http://www.elkproducts.com/product-catalog/elk-m1rb-m1-relay-board

 

[apostolakisl]

Thanks for the input!  I appreciate it.  So what would I use to do this option, "Elk outputs to Relays".   Would I be using something like this?
 
http://www.elkproducts.com/product-catalog/elk-m1rb-m1-relay-board

yup

 

[hmatos]

Lou Apo,
 
So I've just ordered this - when I run one of these outputs into an M1 input, does it need a resistor?  Anything else I need to worry about as far as how it's defined in RP2?
 
Thanks again!

 

[apostolakisl]

Lou Apo,
 
So I've just ordered this - when I run one of these outputs into an M1 input, does it need a resistor?  Anything else I need to worry about as far as how it's defined in RP2?
 
Thanks again!

 
First off, I assume you do not have any relays on your Elk at present.  Elk provides a rainbow colored ribbon cable that goes from the bank of output pins on the m1g to the relay board.  Since you seemed to be unfamiliar with the relay board, I assume this is your first one and thus you haven't already used up those outputs.  If you have, you need a different board that plugs into the databus.
 
As far as going from relay to zone, just wire it directly.  There really is no need for an eol resistor, but there is no harm in putting one in either.  I would use the NC contacts on the relay so that the alarm sees a secure zone when the relays are powered down.  Then to activate the alarm, power up the relay (turn the output on) and it will open the zone and trigger an alarm.  From ISY you just write a program that turns the output on for a couple seconds.

 

[hmatos]

Exactly - no relays installed.  Thx.

 

[narih1]

I have just been setting up a similar thing.  I ended up programming the main keypad to activate a fire alarm with the press of one of the F keys.  I then wrote a program in the ISY to press that F key when the smoke bridge is active. 

 

[apostolakisl]

I have just been setting up a similar thing.  I ended up programming the main keypad to activate a fire alarm with the press of one of the F keys.  I then wrote a program in the ISY to press that F key when the smoke bridge is active. 

 
Good thinking.   Definitely simpler.