Omnipro II vs Lumina Pro?

[ecborgoyn]

I'm looking to augment an existing security system with a HA platform. The HAI products look interesting and flexible. My intent is to NOT co-mingle security/safety functionality with automation functionality. This implies maintaining a separate security/safety panel and perhaps communicating sensor status from the security/safety panel to the HA panel. Maybe I'm a fanatic, but I foresee actively modifying and expanding the HA system and I do not want to compromise the security/safety functionality. I might also implement a thin interface from the HA to the security/safety controller. For instance, a contact closure to arm the system or maybe a contact closure to trigger an alarm condition.

That said, are the Omnipro II and Lumina Pro controllers implemented on the same h/w platform? Are the differences only s/w? What are the functionality differences? It looks as if a can purchase the Omnipro II controller in a bare board or perhaps structured wiring cabinet versions. The Lumina Pro controller appears to only be sold in kits with enclosures. Correct? I may want to mount the HA controller in the same SW cabinet as the security/safety controller. I haven't looked at exact pricing, maybe the Omnipro II controller is significantly more expensive. Perhaps due to UL certifications.

Thanks for any and all info.

 

[tmbrown97]

Let me just say that neither Elk or HAI would've received their UL certifications if they weren't able to handle automation without compromising security.

If you want your security only doing security, you could save a few bucks and get a DSC or other model that can tie back to an automation controller.

Unfortunately I don't have the answer to your HAI question without doing some research but getting the right starting point will help.

 

[coretech]

They are almost identical systems. The omni activates the dialer function on the panel so that it can connect to a monitoring station. I do not know if there are any differences in weither the omni can integrate with a dsc security system, but the Lumina does. We use the HAI Omni 2e for security and automation. It is much simpler, more control over everything. It allows does to activate lights or security to do the same. And the security details are the same as other security panels. I dont see why you would want to have the hassle to integrate and deal with two separate but related systems if you didnt have to. You aren't saving any money.

 

[fcwilt]

I would have zero concerns about using the HAI OmniPro II as it was designed - for both security and automation - it has been around a good long while.

 

[ecborgoyn]

Thanks for the input.

Correction/Amplification: I have NO concerns about the Omnipro II security AND automation functionality (and UL listings). The concern is configuration and operation. I foresee automation system expansion, changes, testings, etc and associated h/w and s/w modifications. BUT, I would like the security/safety system to remain stable and reliable. For example, I would expect the security/safety to send 'zone' status to the HA system but the HA system would act on the information. I know it's not the lowest cost architecture, but (in my mind) the higher availability architecture.

I need to inventory what HA functionality I might need. Perhaps a 'computer based' HA system such as Homeseer or CQC would be more applicable. I see a Lumina Pro based HA system providing a robust h/w interface and wiring scheme that a host-based system would not.

 

[tmbrown97]

I can understand your thoughts. It's why I have most of my automation done through my Elk M1 - the stuff I really consider "Mission Critical" - then I use Elve a little bit to augment the rules and add in touchscreens and other nice-to-have's; but basically anything hardwired to/programmed in the Elk is rock solid and never has a hiccup.

You'd find that having your HAI security hooked into your lights and thermostat still rock solid - and then you can still have HomeSeer or CQC doing the more advanced rules, the touchscreens, etc without really messing with the core wiring/infrastructure. That's a far more common approach many of us have taken.