Baby Steps
Learn how to hook up the basics, then take the extras one step at a time.
In my opinion research should have come before purchase.
But that is water under the bridge.
So now I suggest you plan everything out, do not just jump in.
Planning.
I wrote a spreadsheet for my install listing every wire I needed to run, where it would go, which zone it would hook up to, what the zone settings would be.
I grouped the zones on the controller to similar functions so all the fire detectors, temperature sensors, doors, windows, water leak detector and motion sensors were in consecutive groups. Garage and outbuilding sensors were likewise grouped.
I planned my wire routes from the crawlspace up through two floors and into the attic.
I made sure I had tools like flexi drill bits, and asked advice here on how to do some of the trickier installs.
I checked off each zone as I ran the wire and then as I hooked it up to the controller.
Use this board as a resource.
You need to understand something about electrical signal flow, a little basic electronics, you need to know what continuity and resistance/impedance mean. You need to know basic IP settings.
You need to be methodical in your approach to set jumpers and software settings so things work correctly.
DesertAIP:
Thank you for your input! I did quite a bit of research before purchase... But not as much as I should have. I planned out the just of what I wanted, and then took the advice of the AutomatedOutlet tech support guys as to what I needed in order to make my plan happen. Great folks there at AO! The part that threw me off was the extra devices needed in order to make what I wanted to do work. Like the smoke detectors, I wound up having to get the EOLR and the RRSMOD. Or the Siren/Speaker driver.
But like you said... Water under the bridge now.
I really like how you said you have stuff organized by function. I had no idea how I was going to wind up organizing everything. My though originally was going to be by floor... However, Function sounds much better.
Question though.. Did you allow room for future expansion by function? Or are you completely done now with no more expansions planed?
What do you use the temperature sensors for?
I have the tools needed, flexi-bits, etc. So im good to go there.
I have ideas for my wire routes, however I am not sure if I should seperate the house by floors (its only a two story house) but im thinking about putting a can in a coat closet for all the senors, keypads, etc. on the first floor with the DBH, and then all the sensors, keypads, etc on the second floor through a DBH to the panel which is upstairs, thus making my main can much cleaner. What are your thoughts there? (obviously not seeing my house makes a diference I know)
I have blueprinted the house and marked where each sensor, keypad, smoke, CO2 detector, etc. will go, and planned out, also have wire routes planned out since I already wired the house with Cat6 for the home networking (IPTV).
Thanks again!
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