Trouble with partitions

[newalarm]

So I am trying to figure out partitions on Elk M1G and am testing with what i have in the house currently. I set up my upper floor as Area 4 with one motion in the hallway assigned to it as 01- buglary entry/exit. Area 1 is the main house with motion near keypad, also on 01- buglary entry/exit.
 
I got an exit error message on Zone 3 (the upstairs motion) when i had first hit the exit buttom on upstairs KP, was down the stairs when the error message rang out on speaker and alarm went off. I had set exit delay to 10. So I increased it to 15 thinking it could have been that).
 
I also got this message when i armed upstairs, can came down and tripped the downstairs motion.
 
Is this simply an error due to zone not being secured at end of countdown?
 
Is there a problem with arming stations or being in exit/entry delays on different areas at same time?

 

[newalarm]

Upon further testing, System seems to be working right. I think my delay was too short (set that way for testing) and the motions need 5-6 seconds to clear (close) the circuit, so it was creating a exit error.
 
I have a few Questions about areas on Elk M1g.
 
1. I noticed that if the alarm is tripped in one Area, lets say the garage, the system goes off and the speakers throughout notify of the alarm condition. However, only the keypad of that area will show the alarm condition. Is there anyway of letting another keypad know?
 
2. When one area is Armed (lets say the garage), Is it possible to know or show on a keypad that that area is armed? I am worried that we may leave the house, arm the house Area, and forget to arm the garage. I know things can be done in rules, but i would like to be able to arm the house, and hang out in the garage for example. On Elk RP, you can see the status and it is kind of cool.
 
Thanks.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

I have my Elk configured with 4 areas, one for each floor and garage. The garage is not a burglar zone since I have to open the garage before I can disarm the system, but I have a door position and motion sensors in the garage. With these inputs you can create garage specific rules. I also don't put all areas in a cross zone pool, since all secondary areas must be armed before you can arm the primary area. Instead I use rules to sympathetically arm (I don't have keypads on every floor) the secondary areas. My interior motion sensors are followers which do not trip in stay mode unless a burglar zone is violated. I arm only the first floor (so I can open a bedroom window or walk out on my balcony) and garage automatically at specific times of the day/night to stay mode (if not already armed and no zones violated) so I don't have to remember to do it.

 

[newalarm]

Thanks for the response elvisimprsntr, I will look at the option to automatically arm the garage.
 
I would like to know though, when an alarm goes off in another area, what area has been violated. I thought the keypads would indicate that but they don't seem to. I think I could achieve something through rules?
 
We are going to rent out our basement, and wanted to set up the rental as a separate, armable area, and it would be good for everyone to know where the emergency is when alarm goes off. I thought the keypad would be perfect for this.

 

[signal15]

Thanks for the response elvisimprsntr, I will look at the option to automatically arm the garage.
 
I would like to know though, when an alarm goes off in another area, what area has been violated. I thought the keypads would indicate that but they don't seem to. I think I could achieve something through rules?
 
We are going to rent out our basement, and wanted to set up the rental as a separate, armable area, and it would be good for everyone to know where the emergency is when alarm goes off. I thought the keypad would be perfect for this.

 
How are you going to handle chimes and voice announcements?  Your renters aren't going to want to hear yours, and you certainly aren't going to want to hear theirs.

 

[newalarm]

I turned off announcements. Frankly, it is not really necessary. On exit, the keypads beep so you know when it is about to expire. I only left on Trouble announcements, and alarm announcements. That needs to be heard by all.
 
Now, I am not sure if it announces the area that has been violated when a burglar or other goes off.
 
The smokes are all on one zone. i installed thermals in the garage and will add one in rental above cooking area. It would probably go off after smoke, but it would help pinpoint the emergency i thought.
 
 I would really like violated zones to come up on keypads. This will take some testing as to how it works.

 

[signal15]

It does announce the violated zone. Additionally, there is no way to only trigger a single siren. So when they come home drunk at 2am and set it off, you're getting up also. You might be able to do some fancy footwork with relays and automation rules to disconnect the siren located in another area.