New DIY Home Security System w/ existing ADT hardware

R

rawham

New Member
Hey everybody!  I'm a complete newbie when it comes to any of this, so please forgive any ignorance!
 
My fiancee and I bought a house about a month ago and it had an existing (disconnected) ADT system installed complete with motion and door sensors.  
 
I'm looking into security systems now and would be interested in a DIY system that could piggyback off of the existing hardware and am wondering if that's possible. 
 
Included below are photos of the existing system in case that helps to shed some light as to what I'm working with. 
 
Thanks in advance for any replies!
 

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That's an ADT Quick Connect system which is a branded Honeywell L3000 for ADT.
 
It seems you have a cellular communicator installed in that system but only ADT can activate or monitor that communicator.
 
You can replace that communicator with a new cellular communicator - GSMVLP4G. That device needs to be activated through an AlarmNet dealer and will have monthly fees involved.
 
You also have Honeywell wireless sensors are there are many other alarm systems available that would support those sensors.
 
Cool, thanks for the reply Sterling.  I figured the communicator would need to be replaced, happy to hear that the sensors can probably be salvaged.  I'm open to any suggestions for DIY hubs that can pull this all together!
 
If it was me, I would remove most of this equipment and start from scratch, but keep the wired sensors and especially the wires.  Putting the wires in is the most expensive part, so use your wires and sensors if you can.  You don't really need a cellular communicator, but you can get one if you like.  1) The system can just make noise, 2) the system can send you an email and you can be self monitored, 3) the system can be monitored over the phone/internet, 4) or the system can be monitored with phone/internet and cellular backup.  Options 3 and 4 will give you a discount on your insurance. 
 
First, pick your option first.  It costs around $10-$15/month to get your system monitored, but it can save 5-10% of your homeowners insurance. 
 
Next pick your system to meet your goals.  You can install it yourself.  The only Gotcha is what is called EOL resistors that are SOMETIMES installed at the sensor, and different alarm systems use different values. ADT typically DOESN'T put these in the sensor, so its probably a non-issue anyway.
 
In any case, the people here can help you pick a system depending what you want.  From budget to full home control/security. In fact just having an alarm might get you an insurance discount, but a monitored alarm will get you a better discount.
 
Quick connect is 100% wireless, less any POTS connection and AC wiring.
 
No EOLR's or anything else to really worry about.
 
Suggestion would be dependent on the end goal, but swapping out the cell board and reprogramming is the most economical. Performing a rip and replace is the most involved and least cost friendly.
 
Replacing the Quick Connect head unit with a Honeywell LYNX Touch L5200 or L7000 would be a fairly simple upgrade as the existing sensors would be supported and the LYNX Touch panels offer WIFI and cellular communication options for central station monitoring and/or Total Connect 2.0 services but they do have monthly fees involved and it sounds like you are trying to avoid that.
 
I ripped out the cheap builders quality Napco GEM security panel and dropped in an Elk M1 Gold. I was able to use the existing sensors and keypad wiring. Might seem like overkill for a residential application, but I've had no trouble, and the ability to add on and control from my phone has been invaluable.
 
rawham said:
Thank you Elvis, Del, Ano & Sterling (Again!) for your feedback!  
 
Question, would something like the Vera be compatible with the existing sensors?  (http://www.gokeyless.com/product/2522/vera-edge-zwave-home-automation-system-hub)
 
I'm definitely trying to avoid a monthly fee and also trying to be cost effective by using the existing hardware...
Click to expand...
I'd stick to a UL rated security panel for security and fire.  There is no monthly fee if its not monitored, and of course no home insurance discount either. If you just want to turn on some lights when motion detectors go off, the Vera is great.
 
I'm looking into security systems now and would be interested in a DIY system that could piggyback off of the existing hardware and am wondering if that's possible.
 
.......
 
Question, would something like the Vera be compatible with the existing sensors?
 
 
 
Looks like you want to DIY security and automation and looking for a low cost solution (well everybody does really).
 
Personally I would keep security in firmware.  You can do the most relating to automation in software.
 
Note too that the fastest route in communications transport is always a direct connect.  The more pieces / dependences involved the less resilient it becomes.  But it is up to you what you want and what you accept as resilient.
 
Depending on what it is you want to automation or your ideas of automation you can keep it simple or tinker with it all.
 
As you venture in to this world think about your priorities on what you want relating to security and automation.  Put the weight on your own personal needs and read and ask questions on this forum as you will see folks doing everything here (literally).
 
Here on Cocoontech two companies are always mentioned.
 
One is Elk and the other is HAI (Leviton). 
 
These companies created the first (not really though) combination security / automation panels way back in the 90's. 
 
Elk has been mentioned above.
 
Personally here have two OmniPro 2 panels and utilize automation software called Homeseer.
 
There is much more relating to software today (read here on Cocoontech).  Depending on your knowledgebase you can pay or just go open source with the automation.  Really though it is what you decide fits (like a shoe?)
 
The Leviton HAI panels include some stuff in a small footprint where as you can do basic automation / security in a very small footprint device.
 
SterlingDonnelly said:
Replacing the Quick Connect head unit with a Honeywell LYNX Touch L5200 or L7000 would be a fairly simple upgrade as the existing sensors would be supported and the LYNX Touch panels offer WIFI and cellular communication options for central station monitoring and/or Total Connect 2.0 services but they do have monthly fees involved and it sounds like you are trying to avoid that.
Click to expand...
Same exact panel. For that matter, if the OP really didn't want to spend the cash, he would just buy the chipset and swap it out. Commonly done with 20P's and other Vistas in the field. Change the identity without affecting programming.
 
In the OP's case, not wanting recurring charges, that's going to limit to a rip/replace, which in turn, is going to really negate the cost of getting his existing going vs. going with a cloud connected  (TC) service.
 
DELInstallations said:
Same exact panel. For that matter, if the OP really didn't want to spend the cash, he would just buy the chipset and swap it out. Commonly done with 20P's and other Vistas in the field. Change the identity without affecting programming.
 
In the OP's case, not wanting recurring charges, that's going to limit to a rip/replace, which in turn, is going to really negate the cost of getting his existing going vs. going with a cloud connected  (TC) service.
Click to expand...
 
Actually, a LYNX Touch (L5100/L5200/L5210/L7000) is very different than his existing LYNX Plus branded unit. The LYNX Touches have a built-in touchscreen for easier panel programming and user interface. The LYNX Touch panels also offer WIFI and Z-Wave integration which the LYNX Plus does not. There is no chipset to replace on a LYNX Plus that would make it a LYNX Touch as they are completely different systems.
 
There is even a LYNX Connect app that has a one time fee of $0.99 with no monthly fees that is supported on the LYNX Touches that he could use in conjunction with a VPN setup to access the system remotely.
 
Obviously he's asking for a system that does everything with no monthly fees and I was just giving him an alternative option to consider as many people that say they want no monthly fees say that because they think all monthly fee systems mean high price contracts which is no longer the case these days.
 
I can't see the pictures, but the QC is still a Lynx, just different housing. Blue doesn't have anything OEM'd other than the plastic housing and FW. (what do I know, I only spent 12 years in their trenches and was a lead for them).
 
Yes, it's true you're not going to convert a plus to touch, but otherwise, the panel is the same as a non-branded panel of it's same class/type.
 
I'm baaaaaack!
 
Hi everybody.  I'm finally ready to start putting some of this together and have a couple more questions.
 
I like the look (and the price!) of the Honeywell L5200 Lynx Touch.  Can I basically pop off my existing ADT communicator and pop this on?  
 
And if I get a Vera edge (or something like it), will that be able to pair with the Lynx so I can arm/disarm it remotely?  
 
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