Estimate contractor pre-wire cost

[felixrosbergen]

Or you could run 120 VAC smokes that have contact closure outputs like the Gentex ones.

Any part number for the centex unit? If they building coudl put in 120VAC smokes (presumably with an internal battery as well) that have external contacts that the elk could monitor i would just have them also run some 22/2 or 22/4 to the same location. I'll connect them up when i move in.

 

[beelzerob]

Any part number for the centex unit? If they building coudl put in 120VAC smokes (presumably with an internal battery as well) that have external contacts that the elk could monitor i would just have them also run some 22/2 or 22/4 to the same location. I'll connect them up when i move in.

That's exactly what the GE ESL 350CX that opie suggested has and does, by the way.

 

[felixrosbergen]

Great, looks like GE ESL 350CX is the thing i'm looking form...I'm not so familiar with form C and form A..is that like a normally open or normally closed contact??

Since there is 2 relays will the unit trigger 1 for alarm and the other one for health state? (e.g. battery voltage low or something like that)

You guys think a contractor would have a problem putting these in for me and running a 22/2 (or 22/4 if i can use both relays) to the same box so i can connect it to the elk after?

Any part number for the centex unit? If they building coudl put in 120VAC smokes (presumably with an internal battery as well) that have external contacts that the elk could monitor i would just have them also run some 22/2 or 22/4 to the same location. I'll connect them up when i move in.

That's exactly what the GE ESL 350CX that opie suggested has and does, by the way.

 

[beelzerob]

Hehe...I had the exact same question. This page does a good job of explaining the A and C relays. Unfortunately, both relays only tell you the same thing...that the alarm is going off. They don't give any other output, like health or battery, so if you're looking for that, the 350 won't do it for ya.

You do have an option, though, of the 350CX or 350CC...the CC triggers the relay when it senses the smoke, the CX triggers when the tandem line causes it to. You can mix and match those in your setup too.

I dunno about a contractor...it depends on your builder. Our last builder wouldn't have let us do anything, our current builder let's us do everything. So, I ran 22/4 wire to all the smokes already, and I'm going to buy the 350's and hand them to the electrician to hook up.

 

[asteinmetz]

Well I paid about $6000 for network prewire, running the same bundled cable you are to every room, incl master bath, butler's pantry and mudroom AND cat5e to every light switch location. Plus $3600 for wiring and install of a security system based on the elk m1g, where I bought the components. The markup on hardware by the security guy was silly compared to, say Automated Outlet, so I made him unbundle everything. This is for a 5500 sq ft/5 bedroom in NJ. My 'hood is kind of swanky so contractors throw in an extra markup.

I'm doing the HA stuff myself using ViziaRF and a controller TBA. I wanted the the security system to be turnkey though. I am in delicate negotiations with the installer about what he will/or won't guarantee once I hack into the Elk. Basically I just want him to be sure his piece of it all works before he leaves and I get started. He would probably walk away from this job if my GC wasn't his main source of income since I am such a pain, although a polite pain. OTOH, the AV guy is a geek like me and totally gets my DIY thing.

On the smokes, can't you just put in some cheapo battery powered stand-alone smokes from Home Depot until you get your CO?

 

[koberlin1]

Same question here accept the home's location is in San Diego (La Jolla), is 3500 sq ft with around 13 locations (rooms) where we would want a multimedia plate (2 cat5e/2 RG6), a pair of speakers and a keypad for controlling the speakers. We would also like maybe 3 separate phone line locations from the multimedia plates. Was assuming around 15k to have the prewire done and trimmed out by a professional installer. We would just like small holes capped in the ceiling where the speaker wires are located as well as a plate where the keypads would be located. We have not decided on what multiroom audio system to use. THanks!