Programming a Zone

[nov0798]

I have an ELK M1
I would like to have my garage door monitored with the door contact, however, I dont want it in a zone that is a burgular zone. I would like to be able to use the remote phone programming feature to call in and see if the door has been left open, even though the alarm is armed and in away mode. Does anyone know what type of sensor definition I should use, or does anyone have an idea for a rule?

Thanks

 

[Lagerhead]

Define the garage door zone as type 16-Non-Alarm. One simple way to get status by phone -- select an unused Output, and have that Output reflect the state of the garage door zone. One rule for zone secure, and another rule for not secure.

 

[nov0798]

That doesnt work! Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[Sandpiper]

That doesnt work! Any other ideas?

Thanks

That will work. What is the problem? Tell us why it doesn't work for you.

 

[nov0798]

It doesnt report on the phone that the zone is unsecured or secured!

 

[Sandpiper]

It doesnt report on the phone that the zone is unsecured or secured!

Here is how to do it.

1. Zone configuration. For the garage door zone, program it as a non-alarm (type 16). Second, in the zone Voice Description pick these words: "Garage", "Door", "is", "Say Closed/Open" . You will find "Say closed/Open" near the end of the list.

2. Set up task. Under Automation/Tasks, define a task such as task 1. Give it a voice description such as "Check Garage Door Status". Check the "show" attribute.

3. Define a rule. Under automation/rules create a new rule. The rule is only 2 lines and like this:

Line 1 - WHENEVER TASK 1 IS ACTIVATED
Line 2- THEN ANNOUNCE ZONE (garage door zone)

Thats all for programming.

When you call in on the phone, use the menus to activate TASK 1. It will then tell you if the door is open or closed.
If this is not enough detail, please let us know where you get hung up.

 

[Lagerhead]

Here is how to do it.

Yes, a better solution, thanks. This way too you can stack the THENs for a nice set of status reports.

 

[tmbrown97]

Along these lines, and not to hijack the thread, are people generally securing their large garage door in any way? Originally I was thinking I could set it to ignore the garage door for 5 minutes, then beep for a minute as a reminder that the alarm is armed (buzz something in the garage), then if it's still ignored, trip the alarm... That was before I bought the panel though. Also thinking it could be included in its own 10 minute exit delay, but that doesn't seem as easy either. What I don't want is to have to force-arm because it seems like extra steps, but would like the garage (my tools) secured as well. Open to any thoughts.

Good tips on checking status though - I hadn't gotten to that point, but I'll definitely use that. I often leave the house while the wife is asleep (hence alarm not armed), and would like to be able to check status. That was my whole reason for buying the M1 - calming my OCD.

 

[nov0798]

I will try that. I wrote a different srt of rules that I couldnt get to work. Oh well! as for the garage door, I would arm it and add it to the secondary delay exit for a longer time, and that would be fine with me if it armed but the wife doesnt always open the garage and then go directly inside to shut off the alarm (problem). Oh well it is what it is. anyway, sometimes I forget whether or not I shut the door, and the phone option would be great. This is better than asking the 15 year ld next door to check the door al the time.

I wish I understood all the tasks, outputs, etc a little better. Oh well im new to this and still learning.
Thanks for all the help!

 

[Lagerhead]

Are people generally securing their large garage door in any way?

Haven't got my head around this one yet. I have open/close indication and an open-only interlock in the rules, but including it in the perimeter has all of the challenges you mention.

 

[nov0798]

Awesome, it works.
Thanks
Im not sure how it works, so Ill have to analyze the rules, etc to figure it out.

Thanks again.

 

[Sandpiper]

Awesome, it works.
Thanks
Im not sure how it works, so Ill have to analyze the rules, etc to figure it out.

Thanks again.

Glad it worked out for you. To help with the education a bit, let me offer this:

Tasks. Think of a task as nothing but a handle with a name. It gives you a way of activating something. You can activate tasks from rules, the phone interface, from keypad buttons (through a rule), and from other tasks (through a rule).

Rules. Rules is a set of instructions that describe the details of what you want to do when the rule is initiated. Rules always have at least two lines. The first line is the initiator, it always starts with WHENEVER. The next line is the action you want to take. The action line always starts with THEN. So it goes like this; WHENEVER something happens, THEN do what I want. (There are other possiblilities also, but I dont want to get into that here).

In our garage door case, we need use a rule to define what the TASK is going to do. A TASK is just a name, so we use a rule to define what the task is suppose to do.

That's it for todays lesson. Have a great day.