Inline alarm zone isolator / signaller / replicator

[xAPPO]

I would like to bring signalling from my (24) alarm zones, inparticular PIR's, into a home automation system. However I would like to leave the existing alarm system wiring untouched as it is externally maintained and monitored. The company involved has asked if I can locate a commercial box of tricks that they could wire inbetween the sensors and the panel that preserves the integrity of the existing sensor wiring and fully isolates these additional zone outputs that I would then be able to use as I wish. Inparticular they would like to retain both four wire , and two wire tamper loop protection - although I believe two wire is all my system uses.

As an electronics engineer I could fairly easily create such circuitry but an approved commercial box is far more acceptable to the installer. Does anyone know of such a thing ? I suspect a few home automation enthusiasts might have wanted this. I am currently using sone input/output linkages and also the serial RS232 zone reporting from the panel but this has a significant delay and also impacts the internal logging that the panel provides so isn't satisfactory.

Kevin

 

[ano]

I would like to bring signalling from my (24) alarm zones, inparticular PIR's, into a home automation system. However I would like to leave the existing alarm system wiring untouched as it is externally maintained and monitored. The company involved has asked if I can locate a commercial box of tricks that they could wire inbetween the sensors and the panel that preserves the integrity of the existing sensor wiring and fully isolates these additional zone outputs that I would then be able to use as I wish. Inparticular they would like to retain both four wire , and two wire tamper loop protection - although I believe two wire is all my system uses.

As an electronics engineer I could fairly easily create such circuitry but an approved commercial box is far more acceptable to the installer. Does anyone know of such a thing ? I suspect a few home automation enthusiasts might have wanted this. I am currently using sone input/output linkages and also the serial RS232 zone reporting from the panel but this has a significant delay and also impacts the internal logging that the panel provides so isn't satisfactory.

Kevin

Hmm, it doesn't sound like a good idea. In other words, you have an ADT contract that you are in for life, but you sill want home automation. B)

No, just scrap the original panel and get a new system, like an Omni Pro II that can be monitored AND control your home automation.

What you have to realize, as an EE, is that correctly wired zones are not simply on/off switches. The should also have an End of Line (EOL) resister so the the wiring can be monitored. Its not trivial to connect to 24 of these, and then somehow isolate them to another system. Don't do it. Once you go Omni (or ELK) you won't go back.