Elk M1 PLC feature?

[cezar_oz]

I'm leaning towards M1 for my next home automation project but cannot get sufficient details around what can (and can't) be done for the lights control using M1 only.

Depending on who I talk to, the views are that M1 can either "do everything" or that Clipsal/Dynalite/etc is required to control the lights.

I can see a PLC connector on the board, but the manual does not specify where/how do you connect it, whether you need to use UPStart or a similar tool, what types of UPB devices can be controlled and from what vendors, etc

Thanks heaps

 

[electron]

Welcome to CT!

The PLC connector allows you to interface a PSC05, which gives you 2-way X-10 communications. If you want to use UPB, you will have to purchase an ELK M1XSP serial port module, and a UPB PIM.

 

[Steve]

Yea, the M1 strictly by itself can't control any lighting. At the very least you need x10 pim like Dan said. Any other lighting technology you will need a serial board (M1XSP) and whatever interface device your chosen technology requires (usually PIM's for PLC, Bridges for wireless, etc)

 

[AceCannon]

OnQ's ALC hardwired lighting has a single device that combines the Elk M1XSP serial board, ALC serial interface, and the ALC automation controller. It wires directly to the Elk databus.

(It also seems to work just fine as a stand-alone controller, I happen to know since I have not gotten around to introducing it to the Elk.)

 

[cezar_oz]

Welcome to CT!

The PLC connector allows you to interface a PSC05, which gives you 2-way X-10 communications. If you want to use UPB, you will have to purchase an ELK M1XSP serial port module, and a UPB PIM.

Thanks, that makes sense.

Will I be able to set up UPB devices and network directly from M1, or will I need to connect PIM to my computer first and use something like UPstart?

 

[Steve]

You need to use UpStart to setup and configure the switches first, then the M1 will simply control them. Many people with UPB use 2 PIMS. Personally I have 2, 1 is on my HA server and I can RDP into it and use UpStart and the other is on the controller. But by no means is 2 required, you can do all your setup then put the PIM on the M1 but remember you will have to move it back and forth if you want to do more configuring.

Technically it is possible to get switches preconfigured but that usually doesn't work for much besides simple lab testing. You will want to set them up with your parameters in UpStart.