Elk M1 - I'm overwhelmed

[Spanky]

If you are using a self contained siren, one that sounds a siren sound when 12 VDC is applied to it, program Output 2 as a voltage output.

To get the M1's voice prompts and its siren you will have to connect a speaker to Output 1.

Do not connect a self contained siren to Output 1. As you stated, all you will hear is a buzz with the audio amplier trying to drive the self contained siren.

The 8 ohm speaker provided with the M1 can be connected to Output 1 for voice and siren sounds.

 

[MikeB]

If you are using a self contained siren, one that sounds a siren sound when 12 VDC is applied to it, program Output 2 as a voltage output.

To get the M1's voice prompts and its siren you will have to connect a speaker to Output 1.

Do not connect a self contained siren to Output 1. As you stated, all you will hear is a buzz with the audio amplier trying to drive the self contained siren.

The 8 ohm speaker provided with the M1 can be connected to Output 1 for voice and siren sounds.

Thanks for the reply Spanky! So, is there any way at all to hook this additional siren to the Elk?

 

[Steve]

Mike,

A few things...

1. You need to be careful with sirens to not overcurrent the panel. Many sirens will draw close to an amp and the panel will only be able to handle 1 may. Check your sirens to see how much current they draw. Unless they are the low current piezo 'screamer' sirens, it is usually not wise to have 2 sirens on the panel along with all your other stuff. You can check the current draw using the menu on the keypad (I think its under menu 8). You must obviously check that with siren sounding. Another option is to use a separate power supply (sized by how big a siren, etc will be on it). You can then use an output/relay to trigger the siren with a rule that turns it on whenever any alarm occurs (or whatever else you may want).

2. You said you wanted to use wireless motions for lighting mainly. You may be disappointed by that. A wireless PIR has a motion lockout to save battery. That means once it senses motion it won't sense it again for a few minutes. Usually that is not a problem for security, but it can be a limitation for HA uses. You are better off with a wired PIR for automation if at all possible.

 

[MikeB]

Thanks Steve. I think I may just swap that 2nd siren with the included speaker and be done with it. I assume 1 siren, 1 speaker, and 2 keypads would be fine with the included power adapter.

If my Elk is in alarm mode, firing the sirens, can I still use the keypad to check the load? I thought it was locked until I typed a code to disarm.

Or is there another method I should use to fire the sirens? Can the load be checked using ElkRP?

 

[Steve]

Yea, depends on the siren. I've seen some as high as 1.25A and that alone will put a pretty big load on the built in supply. You can just turn on Output 2 to trigger the siren.

Edit - Check from kpd - Menu 8 > 6 > 2

 

[MikeB]

I must be a dope... how do I turn Output 2 on??

 

[Photon]

See Elk Installation Manual, page 36. Global System Def G26.

 

[Spanky]

Many installers draw extra current for sirens from the battery by adding a relay that switches the siren on from the battery power. Of course if the battery is dead then no siren, but this would be a very rare case.

The advantage of using speakers on output 1 and 2 is that the siren sound will be coordinated both inside and outside instead of having one siren sound inside and another sound outside.

 

[Steve]

I must be a dope... how do I turn Output 2 on??

You can just write a simple rule, WHENEVER 'whatever' THEN TURN OUTPUT 2 ON

 

[WayneW]

The advantage of using speakers on output 1 and 2 is that the siren sound will be coordinated both inside and outside instead of having one siren sound inside and another sound outside.

When the inside speaker is doing voice, what does the outside speaker do? voice or siren?

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Well, this reply is a little late, but I finally found my "Self-install elk or get a pro thread with my comment about the "high density" of the manual.

Reading through that now, checking my "total lifetime spend" at AO (damn you martin), and how much my neighbors ask me now about this stuff, i wonder if I should have gone with plan B (spend my time in cooking class instead). Of course, that route would have ended with thousands in cooking stuff and my wife making me cook dinner every night, so I guess this was the better path.

 

[Spanky]

I must be a dope... how do I turn Output 2 on??

You can just write a simple rule, WHENEVER 'whatever' THEN TURN OUTPUT 2 ON

Output 2 automatically comes on when the alarm is activated. You can also turn it on with Steve's Rule, but remember to write a Rule to turn Output 2 off when the system is disarmed.

 

[WayneW]

bump... When the inside speaker is doing voice, what does the outside speaker do? voice or siren? or silent?

The advantage of using speakers on output 1 and 2 is that the siren sound will be coordinated both inside and outside instead of having one siren sound inside and another sound outside.

When the inside speaker is doing voice, what does the outside speaker do? voice or siren?

 

[MikeB]

OK, haven't been playing much, but I do have a few questions hopefully someone can answer.

1 - Like I mentioned above, I found a bad window sensor that I need to replace. These sensors work on the Elk configured as 'Normally Closed'. I have to measure the exact diameter, but I'm guessing they are 3/8". So, browsing at Automated Outlet I found these:

http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php...=198&page=1

Does this look like what I'd need?

2 - I notice with the Elk that, even when arming in STAY mode, there must be no motion detected - which is kind of annoying. Is there a way around this?

3 - Once everything is stable and I'm done tuning, I plan on signing up with a monitoring company. Can anyone give me an idea of what is required to configure my Elk for a monitoring company?

Thanks again guys!

 

[Digger]

OK, haven't been playing much, but I do have a few questions hopefully someone can answer.

1 - Like I mentioned above, I found a bad window sensor that I need to replace. These sensors work on the Elk configured as 'Normally Closed'. I have to measure the exact diameter, but I'm guessing they are 3/8". So, browsing at Automated Outlet I found these:

http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php...=198&page=1

Does this look like what I'd need?

2 - I notice with the Elk that, even when arming in STAY mode, there must be no motion detected - which is kind of annoying. Is there a way around this?

3 - Once everything is stable and I'm done tuning, I plan on signing up with a monitoring company. Can anyone give me an idea of what is required to configure my Elk for a monitoring company?

Thanks again guys!

Mike make sure your motions are defined as types 4, 5, 6, or 7 (5 is common if the motion is looking at your keypad area or entranceway).

NextAlarm is a reasonably priced central station that several cocooners are using.