Speakers for ELK alarm announcements AND music?

[SIMKO]

I am in the beginning process of putting in an ELK M1 security system (along with a little bit of home automation to start).

Since I need to run speaker wires to a few locations for the ELK alarm announcements and chimes, I thought it might be better to just wire up some nicer speakers that could also be used for playing music.

Is this a crazy idea? Rather than putting in small speakers in switch boxes, I'd rather install some nice speakers in the ceilings or walls that could also be used for playing music throughout the house.

Any ideas of were to start researching to put together a system like this?

Or is it a better practice to have the ELK and home audio systems seperate?

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

You could do this, but a lot of the methodology would depend on what technology you were going to use for the matrix switching/zone handling of the music source/audio. For instance, I believe Russound has some sort of paging input that would over ride any of its standard zone inputs so the announcements can be heard over the music.

 

[ecborgoyn]

I'd like to head in the same direction. I'll soon be installing an M1G system primarily for security and life safety purposes, but with a little automation thrown in. For interior alarming and announcements I'll be installing some new speakers and interfacing with some existing speakers. I also would rather not use the speaker behind the keypads or small speakers on the wall or in boxes.

I also want the new speakers to be able to be incorporated into a future whole house audio system (assuming my wife agrees....). But anyway...

The main system design issues are: 1) assuring that the security/safety function has priority over other audio. 2) assuring that the security/safety audio capabilities are NOT dependent on another power source (external to the sec/saf system).

If you assume something like a Russound or Nuvo system for WHA. You can use a paging input, but NOT for critical audio purposes (like a CO alarm).

My thoughts (not totally worked through) is to use in-ceiling speakers in a few central locations of the house for primarily sec/saf functions. These speakers would be switched either to the M1G or the WHA system with relays. I don't need ALL of the speakers in the house connected this way, only enough to provide good alarm coverage. The NC contact on the relay to the M1, NO contact to the WHA system. This way a relay failure connects the speakers to the sec/saf system.

Since I won't initially have the WHA system, I'll connect all of the speakers to the M1 system. I'll probably need additional amplifier modules (powered from battery backed 12VDC) for all of the speakers. This will also provide a mechanism to adjust the volume in various parts of the house.

I'll add more details as I complete the design. Elk has an amp module, but I'm also looking at some alternatives. A Class-D amp module would be the most efficient. I don't have the part numbers, but I've found sealed in-ceiling speakers from Parts Express that I'll install in the foyer as the first set. They are medium price point speakers that would also work for a WHA system.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Yes, still retain some sort of alarm bell on a siren output...Good point ecborgoyn!