bucko
Active Member
I could use you guy's help getting me started on the right foot. My 3 story townhouse is almost built and ready for me to begin my HA project. In China, construction is much different then US construction. All walls are solid brick/concrete here. Once built, I then can have wire run behind whatever type of wall covering I decide to put in. Usually this is simply a smooth mortor covering and then painted. Wires are run by cutting channels and holes for j boxes. So I want to get this right from the git go.
As far as equip goes, I will have to make a run back the the US and buy everything at one time, so I get one chance to get this right as well. That being said here is a rundown of what I know so far. Please be free to tell me other, better options if you all have a better mousetrap. I have spent the last 2 weeks reading up on all this stuff, which leaves me with more questions than answers at this point. My experience is I am a retired security, electronics, PC tech. I am a newbi to HA, but familiar with networks, PC's and SOME automation.I want to incorporate security, lighting, whole house audio/video, voice control (limited) and 1 door control. I need to control everything remotely via iPhone.I will have a seperate server room and PC, NAS available. With what I have so far, I am concerned about buying unneccesary components that I don't need.
security- I will use an ELK M1Gold system. door/window, smoke, PIR, 5 IP POE cams, flood sensors (2) will all be hardwired. It will only be locally monitored for now.
lighting- I think the UPB units look good. I will use room light switches, receptacles, and a few appliance coontrols.
audio/video- I need to have multichannel audio/video to 4 rooms. another 2 rooms will be audio only. I have a Denon AVR-2805 already which has multizone audio (2).
controllers- main door will use a YET-V1 bio fingerprint with video and 3 inside stations. This unit is standalone, but I think I can add a relay to have it trip open via HAL 2000 or the ELK.
I want to use 3 wallmounted iPads for the visual controllers, and my iPhones for off-site remote control and monitoring.
voice control- I will install phones for voice control (no mics) and ceiling speakers for Hal's feedback and room audio (can use same for both?)
wiring- so far I think I will run lots of cat 6 for the devices. Alarm contacts/devices I will run 18/4. I am not sure about speaker wires, although I read the cat 6 will work if I get the right distributers. Also does cat 6 work for the video? I am not up to speed with any of the audio/visual systems needed. I also want ethernet wall plugs in 4 or 5 rooms for net access. I will have wireless as well and need all this secure and seperate from my HA network. I think I will run a central 4" PVC pipe to route all wires to each floor.
server room- I will end run everything to here. Use patch panels, 24 or 48 POE switcher, UPS, Elk, and all various controllers located here. Also the A/V, telco, sat recieves, video distributer will be here.I want to use the HAL 200 and the ELK for HA.
So at this point another question is about the ELK and Hal working together. I am clueless about how they both can integrate together and control all the systems. I assume that using these guys will help be eliminate other controllers that I would normally need. Exactly what controllers do I need so the Elk can update it's status to Hal? How can HAL use it's rules functions to command the ELK to do the lighting/cam control? OR, am I thinking about this all wrong?
I am trying to use both HAL and Elk to their full capability and keep my costs down while still accomplishing great HA functions. I am trying to learn visio now to organize all this stuff. I do use Sketchup 7 and have built a full model of my townhouse with it.
I hope this makes some sense to you folks. Please excuse my ignorance. I am not stupid, just not informed. Any help and suggestions will be very welcomed to me.
As far as equip goes, I will have to make a run back the the US and buy everything at one time, so I get one chance to get this right as well. That being said here is a rundown of what I know so far. Please be free to tell me other, better options if you all have a better mousetrap. I have spent the last 2 weeks reading up on all this stuff, which leaves me with more questions than answers at this point. My experience is I am a retired security, electronics, PC tech. I am a newbi to HA, but familiar with networks, PC's and SOME automation.I want to incorporate security, lighting, whole house audio/video, voice control (limited) and 1 door control. I need to control everything remotely via iPhone.I will have a seperate server room and PC, NAS available. With what I have so far, I am concerned about buying unneccesary components that I don't need.
security- I will use an ELK M1Gold system. door/window, smoke, PIR, 5 IP POE cams, flood sensors (2) will all be hardwired. It will only be locally monitored for now.
lighting- I think the UPB units look good. I will use room light switches, receptacles, and a few appliance coontrols.
audio/video- I need to have multichannel audio/video to 4 rooms. another 2 rooms will be audio only. I have a Denon AVR-2805 already which has multizone audio (2).
controllers- main door will use a YET-V1 bio fingerprint with video and 3 inside stations. This unit is standalone, but I think I can add a relay to have it trip open via HAL 2000 or the ELK.
I want to use 3 wallmounted iPads for the visual controllers, and my iPhones for off-site remote control and monitoring.
voice control- I will install phones for voice control (no mics) and ceiling speakers for Hal's feedback and room audio (can use same for both?)
wiring- so far I think I will run lots of cat 6 for the devices. Alarm contacts/devices I will run 18/4. I am not sure about speaker wires, although I read the cat 6 will work if I get the right distributers. Also does cat 6 work for the video? I am not up to speed with any of the audio/visual systems needed. I also want ethernet wall plugs in 4 or 5 rooms for net access. I will have wireless as well and need all this secure and seperate from my HA network. I think I will run a central 4" PVC pipe to route all wires to each floor.
server room- I will end run everything to here. Use patch panels, 24 or 48 POE switcher, UPS, Elk, and all various controllers located here. Also the A/V, telco, sat recieves, video distributer will be here.I want to use the HAL 200 and the ELK for HA.
So at this point another question is about the ELK and Hal working together. I am clueless about how they both can integrate together and control all the systems. I assume that using these guys will help be eliminate other controllers that I would normally need. Exactly what controllers do I need so the Elk can update it's status to Hal? How can HAL use it's rules functions to command the ELK to do the lighting/cam control? OR, am I thinking about this all wrong?
I am trying to use both HAL and Elk to their full capability and keep my costs down while still accomplishing great HA functions. I am trying to learn visio now to organize all this stuff. I do use Sketchup 7 and have built a full model of my townhouse with it.
I hope this makes some sense to you folks. Please excuse my ignorance. I am not stupid, just not informed. Any help and suggestions will be very welcomed to me.