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My quest started with a simple vision ... my alarm system would turn on exterior lights when the alarm is tripped (or panic is pressed) While it sounded like a simple thing to do, I am perplexed at how to accomplish this simple task.
The house has an existing alarm system that I am not ready to replace. (DSC Power 832) It works well and although I like the ELK M1 Gold I am not sure I am willing to spend the money today. I have open relays on the DSC alarm that can be used to control "something external." I even manged to get the DSC to control a Potter & Brumfield relay to turn on and off a light in the basement. Of course turning a light on in a windowless room in the basement does not impress many people :-O
Around the exterior of my home I have several lights. Above the driveway is a motion detector based flood light. In the back is another flood light (not motion based) Near the front door is another light. I have wanted to do something better with the flood in the driveway. Is is a cheap light and when the kids want to play basketball at night they endlessly flip the switch to try to magically get the light to not turn off after the motion detector times out. Those of you with children can surely imagine that after one of the late night basketball games the flood lights are left on until dad comes home the next day.
I have looked at many technologies to try to automate the lights. I threw out X10 because of the challenges I had years ago. (we just don't have clean power. Maybe I can blame my neighbors?) I am not a fan of Insteon because it seems like fancy X10. (maybe you can change my mind) I like Zwave however I keep hitting the same two bumps:
1) Having the floodlight motion controlled and home automation controlled (how can I have both turn the light on?)
2) Using a 12v relay to turn on home automation based lights?
I hate to imagine that I need to invest in a computer to receive a message based on the relay on the alarm to then run a task to turn the lights on. Isn't there an easier (more reliable) way? The ELK M1 keeps looking better and better ... Your thoughts or advice is appreciated.
Pat
The house has an existing alarm system that I am not ready to replace. (DSC Power 832) It works well and although I like the ELK M1 Gold I am not sure I am willing to spend the money today. I have open relays on the DSC alarm that can be used to control "something external." I even manged to get the DSC to control a Potter & Brumfield relay to turn on and off a light in the basement. Of course turning a light on in a windowless room in the basement does not impress many people :-O
Around the exterior of my home I have several lights. Above the driveway is a motion detector based flood light. In the back is another flood light (not motion based) Near the front door is another light. I have wanted to do something better with the flood in the driveway. Is is a cheap light and when the kids want to play basketball at night they endlessly flip the switch to try to magically get the light to not turn off after the motion detector times out. Those of you with children can surely imagine that after one of the late night basketball games the flood lights are left on until dad comes home the next day.
I have looked at many technologies to try to automate the lights. I threw out X10 because of the challenges I had years ago. (we just don't have clean power. Maybe I can blame my neighbors?) I am not a fan of Insteon because it seems like fancy X10. (maybe you can change my mind) I like Zwave however I keep hitting the same two bumps:
1) Having the floodlight motion controlled and home automation controlled (how can I have both turn the light on?)
2) Using a 12v relay to turn on home automation based lights?
I hate to imagine that I need to invest in a computer to receive a message based on the relay on the alarm to then run a task to turn the lights on. Isn't there an easier (more reliable) way? The ELK M1 keeps looking better and better ... Your thoughts or advice is appreciated.
Pat