Elk sirens

[scottgoodman]

Hey all,
 
Just lining up all the equipment for my ELK M1 system, and had a siren question.
 
Which siren do I buy and how many should I be purchasing?  I believe I can run it right off of the ELK M1, is that correct?  Do I need one for the inside of the home and 1 for the outside (i.e. in the attic)? Do I need a separate siren driver or can 2 sirens run off the M1 directly?
 
Thanks! 
 
Scott

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

 I like the piezos.  Loud sound, low current draw. 
 
 
 
http://www.automatedoutlet.com/Home/Automation-Audio/DSC-SGST-W
 
 
http://www.prosecuritys.com/ge-security-mpi47c.html

 

[gatchel]

A siren driver is for having a siren sound come out of a speaker. Not needed if you use a true siren.
 
If you buy sirens you can have as many as you want within your current draw limitations. More if you add a relay or use output 3.
 
Output 2 can be set to voltage and used to run a siren directly. OR it can be set to siren and a speaker(s) can be used. (Elk Manual page 4, note #2)
 
or
 
Output 3 can be used like any other relay to switch voltage to the siren(s)
 
My personal thought is that the Elk output 1 speakers make enough noise in the house and one siren would be needed for outdoors.
 
 
Look at your current limitations of the outputs and your available power on your power source that you will be using to feed the siren. That will determine what you can and can't do.
 
The simplest way is to wire a siren to output 2, set it to voltage, and call it a day. Output 2 gives you 1 Amp to play with. Don't max out the 1 Amp of available power.

 

[ano]

You want loud inside sirens to get the bad guys/gals out. The outside sirens pretty much just annoy your neighbors.

 

[Del91574]

WIth the M1, I'd recommend speakers before a siren.
 
The M1 does not need a driver unless you really start pushing the capabilities of the M1 hard with a lot of audible equipment. If you choose to install sirens, then you need to consider the loading on the panel, bell times and backup battery capacity.

 

[scottgoodman]

So two 15 watt horn speakers would work off of the ELK?  

 

[gatchel]

The wattage is important but the Ohm load on the panel is more critical so you don't burn things out.

 

[video321]

I have the Elk exterior siren conncected to out2. However, I ended up bypassing the internal driver and wired it directly to the speaker and set out2 for siren - the Elk siren draws way too much power (I may end up changing it back to a siren and run it directly off the battery.) Inside I have a few speakers running at a total load of 6 ohms (IIRC) coupled with a few piezo screamers running directly off the battery via a relay. When those screamers go off you don't want to be inside - you can ask my neighbor who forgot to disarm and literally ran out of the house when it when off!
 
I, personally, believe that anything you can do to distract and disorientate them is a good idea which is why I like those screamers. I also have all of my lights turn on which makes for easier target recognition h34r:

 

[MrGibbage]

I've got four outside (one on each side of the house), one in the garage, and in the house I've got two downstairs and one upstairs. They are all voltage driven (12V), and I use an external switched power supply to drive them. Needless to say it is very loud when the alarms go off.
 
By the way, I also have the Elk chirp my external alarms whenever I arm them. I want all of my neighbors to know, yeah, my house is wired. Go find someone else less protected to rob.

 

[sda]

By the way, I also have the Elk chirp my external alarms whenever I arm them. I want all of my neighbors to know, yeah, my house is wired. Go find someone else less protected to rob.

Mind sharing your rule for that?

 

[Del91574]

I might be thinking of another panel but I believe a rule isn't necessary, generally it's a UL confirmation of arming ding, however it can be easily done by rule for fob or other action.
 
I doubt your neighbors enjoy your alarm panel as much as you.....part of the reason outdoor horns are banned in many locales here.

 

[video321]

I've got four outside (one on each side of the house), one in the garage, and in the house I've got two downstairs and one upstairs. They are all voltage driven (12V), and I use an external switched power supply to drive them. Needless to say it is very loud when the alarms go off.

I know I wouldn't want any sirens going off inside my home when armed in any stay mode. The screamers I have are only active in away mode. I only use the M1's output 1 speakers for stay modes.