Elk zone breakup

tisserda

Member
This may be difficult to grasp without seeing the floor plan, but hopefully I can describe enough to make sense. Below are the proposed zones I plan to setup/route:
Z1 - front door
Z2 - back doors (I have 2 sets of double doors leading onto the backporch that are side by side so I was going to run on them serially)
Z3 - garage entry door
Z4 - garage doors (I'm referring to the outside car entry doors)
Z5 - windows in master bedroom
Z6 - windows on back porch
Z7 - windows on front of house (3 rooms)
Z8 - windows in kids bedrooms/playroom (6 windows)

This is a single story house. Anything else to consider?
 
Motion, smoke, flood detectors might be worth considering. If you're pre-wiring stuff then maybe something to doors for cameras or intercoms.
 
Honestly, I'd consider a zone expander. If you go to arm the system and it says Zone 7 or Zone 8 is violated, that's a lot of windows to check. And if I get a notice of zone violation anywhere near my kids, I want to know exactly which one - also helps so you don't have to wake the wrong kid up checking it out. And last, for the garage doors - if you ever think you'll do any automation, those should be separate... can't write a rule to close the garage door if you don't know which one needs closing.
 
Separate as much as possible. Doors, barring a double door (same opening) should be separate. Windows would be typical by room, or even wall (compass direction) if there's multiples.
 
All, thanks alot for the feedback. i had definitely forgotten a couple of things I need to go refigure: smoke detectors and glass break sensor(s).

DEL, my original intent was to put a glass break sensor in the main living area that has almost a whole wall of glass windows facing the back porch. I take it you are recommending install at every room with windows, correct?
 
A glassbreak is very specific in coverage and mounting requirements for coverage. Generally, a single unit per room is normal, with more being added based on room size, distance, window coverings, even pane size of the glass itself.

Most DIY and a lot of pros tend to oversell the coverage qualities of a single GBD without testing.
 
Any recommendations on wiring the glass break detectors and brand/model? I have 1 large room (20x36) with glass windows/doors the length of one of the long walls. I'm assuming I need 1-2 sensors mounted on the opposite side. The master bedroom is 16x16 with windows on 1 wall, so 1 sensor for that room. The rest of the rooms are small with only 1-2 windows each.
 
These work pretty well if installed correctly and adjusted properly.

http://www.security.honeywell.com/hsc/products/sensor/gl/19102.html
 
FG730's are decent, however they're more "old school" tech IMHO. My prior house had them everywhere (I installed 6) and while they work, they really do require a lot of time with a tester to adjust properly for ample coverage and no falsing.

For a DIY without the tools or experience, I'd recommend FG1625 before a FG730, but I digress.....one of the best GBD's I've ever installed and used is a Visonic Gtech. I have 8 installed in this house with even more installed in customer locations. Auto adjusting and I can count the falses within my own house on a hand (contributed by a 4 and 5 yo banging into the wall very hard and slamming items).
 
I covered a room similar as OP’s size with two sets of windows on opposite sides. I took about 90 minutes to find the best spot to FG1625RFM using Honeywell FG701 tester. Basically, I used an extra long length of 4-wire and walked sensor around to different locations. A second person controls the FG701. I found the GB sensor tends to perform best when installed at 45deg angle adjacent to windows being monitored.
 
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