Hello world from Anacortes, WA

[scriptx]

Hello all,

I have been a automation anything geek since my college days. Fast forward more years than I'll admit, add wife, add daughters and a hodgepodge of equipment (mainly X10) that is installed (yet no longer used) and you have one of my summer projects. Furthermore, I see a real need for it now after catching one of my daughters attempting to sneak out of the house. Fast forward two days , Elk ordered, new member on ConcoonTech and I am looking at one hell of an intimidating M1G installation manual and a forum button I will call home for a while (Search).

One day, I hope to even grow up enough to help others out on here as well!

 

[Steve]

Welcome to CocoonTech! Yes, Search can be your friend. The M1G install is easier than it looks. Feel free to post questions you can't find answers too or just drop in the chat room, there is usually somebody in there that can help.

 

[TXFlatLander]

I bought my M1G about 9 months ago and planned on installing it last winter winter. Health issues with a family member prevented it. Needless to say, it is too hot in the attic for me this summer. I have never wanted winter to hurry up and come so fast so I can install it.

IVB's online videos and these really helped me. Also, reading the manuals and googling anything I didn't understand. And of course, these forums. Read, read, and read. I am far from knowing anything compared to a lot of the usual suspects you will see around here. They walk on water when it comes to this stuff and can only aspire to know what they know.

Best of luck. Watch your bank account and I hope you have a supportive wife -- it's all so very addicting.

 

[Neurorad]

Welcome - I'm in the same boat as you, planning an M1 install. You may want to consider the M1EZ8.

Read through the first 20 pages of the M1 installation manual, maybe 4-5 times.

Supplement with the Elk-M1DBHR and Elk-M1DBH installation instructions - explains how the RS-485 Data Bus Hub works. And supplement this with a couple Cocoontech searches for "RS-485".

The Elk-RP Remote Programming software (search the Elk website for a guide) replaces the keypad programming (from what I understand), so don't be intimidated by the bulk of the M1 installation manual.

Those were my biggest obstacles - understanding how RS485 works (not really necessary for a clean install, but required for my retrofit), and the keypad programming.

BSR's 'How to install an alarm system guide' is a must-review.

After you buy the alarm panel, and the needed accesorries, set it up on a table/bench and play with it.

Draw diagrams of your house, and designate where you need to put stuff (door/window sensors, keypads). This will help you make a shopping list.

After the basic stuff is installed, buy more stuff.

Be patient, it will take a few months, but it's really the learning and installation that's the fun part.

Think about what other systems you want to automate while you're working on the alarm design - you may want to run a few more wires, while you're at it. But be cautious of 'scope creep' - you'll get all kinds of crazy ideas that will keep you from completing the alarm install (lights, distributed A/V, touchscreens, CQC/HomeSeer/MainLobby, flood sensors, carbon monoxide/smoke detectors - not all crazy, but you get the idea).

Depending on the size of your house, and the ease of access of the walls above and below (finished basement/finished attic?), you could consider using some wireless sensors - less drilling/drywall, but more expensive sensors. $7 wired contact vs. $60 wireless.

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

 

[TXFlatLander]

I'm glad Neurorad brought up home automation software. CQC is currently on sale for $333, regularly $595, until 3.0 is released. The first release candidate went public so it won't be on sale much longer. I bought it based on the loyal following it has here and what I saw others do with it. There are other applications to, free and pay, but figured I would bring it up in case you liked CQC and could take advantage of the sale.

 

[scriptx]

Wow, thanks everyone for the welcomed suggestions! I took a dive and just ordered the Elk M1G from one of cocoontech's 5 star partners (not to mention they had the lowest price and were authorized dealers)! I'll be reading the RS-485 stuff pointed out tonight.

I haven't seen CQC software, but the suggestion is welcome. I tried Homeseer years ago (maybe 6/7) and was leaning that way this round but I love options! However, the last time it seemed I spent more time tinkering with Homeseer rather than using it if that makes any sense.