wuench
Senior Member
If you want to go with a direct connect and not using the Elk doorbell detector module... You first of all need to use a non-lighted doorbell, or one with an led light that draws very little voltage so as not to trigger the zone. You should wire them directly to M1's first 16 zones or the reaction time will be slower. If you are going to use a single zone for multiple doorbells you'd have to wire them in parallel. Set the zone as non-alarm, and use a rule to activate the sound you want. You can input a custom sound but it will be scratchy as you have to do it over a phone mic and it is tricky as you have to use the keypad, phone and whatever is playing your sound. I also have my rule email me, etc.
The alternative is to use the Elk doorbell detector which allows you to use a lighted doorbell. It is really made to be inserted into an existing doorbell setup, not to replace the doorbell, so I think you still need a separate transformer and load of some sort to represent the bell. I haven't done it, maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong about that. I am not sure how it works with multiple buttons.
And as far as wiring goes 22/2 is probably fine for direct connect, home runs are best so you can rewire at the can if necessary. For the doorbell detector you'll have to check the manual. It think typical doorbell wiring is 18ga or 16ga. You may want to wire for a typical doorbell just in case you decide to change it in the future.
The alternative is to use the Elk doorbell detector which allows you to use a lighted doorbell. It is really made to be inserted into an existing doorbell setup, not to replace the doorbell, so I think you still need a separate transformer and load of some sort to represent the bell. I haven't done it, maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong about that. I am not sure how it works with multiple buttons.
And as far as wiring goes 22/2 is probably fine for direct connect, home runs are best so you can rewire at the can if necessary. For the doorbell detector you'll have to check the manual. It think typical doorbell wiring is 18ga or 16ga. You may want to wire for a typical doorbell just in case you decide to change it in the future.