I'm curious to learn whether anyone here has come across situations where you had to install a keypad in an unusual location, to accomodate special functional and aesthetic needs of the end-user, or to work around physical construction obstacles.
In typical installations, we're used to seeing a keypad mounted on the wall near an entry/exit point. However there may be situations where secondary keypads are discreetly mounted in other places to give the user greater convenience and access to the security/HA system. With increasingly complex and integrated systems, the keypad becomes more than just an "on/off" switch for the alarm; it is the interface providing system status, customizable messages or alerts, and even control of other automation, safety or comfort systems. The strategic placement of these keypads (or touchpanels) becomes an integral part in providing the user the full experience he demands from all the technology he's acquired and installed. Bottom line is if the system is not easy and accessible to use, it probably won't be used.
So to address the "accessible to use" point, I'm imagining that there's a good number of custom installations where, besides primary keypads located on the wall next to an entry/exit point, secondary keypads are placed unobtrusively "within reach" throughout the home.
Some unusual locations may be:
- a bedstand drawer
- a desk drawer
- inside cabinetry or built-ins
- a secret compartment
- a closet that could double as a saferoom
(Some may ask, why not use a wireless device or tablet to function as a portable keypad interface, and have access anywhere. There are pros and cons to a wireless device, and a debate in wireless vs. hardwire keypads can be made in a separate thread.)
As an example, in assessing my own daily habits, I've considered mounting a keypad inside the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. When I get out of the shower in the morning, I would like to use the keypad to get a reading of the outside temperature, see the status of some sensors, and perhaps activate some other automated tasks. For me it would be convenient to have a keypad at this location.
What are some other unusual locations people have found to locate a keypad? Were there any unique considerations in terms of wiring, mounting hardware, or environmental (temperature, moisture, ventilation) concerns?
In typical installations, we're used to seeing a keypad mounted on the wall near an entry/exit point. However there may be situations where secondary keypads are discreetly mounted in other places to give the user greater convenience and access to the security/HA system. With increasingly complex and integrated systems, the keypad becomes more than just an "on/off" switch for the alarm; it is the interface providing system status, customizable messages or alerts, and even control of other automation, safety or comfort systems. The strategic placement of these keypads (or touchpanels) becomes an integral part in providing the user the full experience he demands from all the technology he's acquired and installed. Bottom line is if the system is not easy and accessible to use, it probably won't be used.
So to address the "accessible to use" point, I'm imagining that there's a good number of custom installations where, besides primary keypads located on the wall next to an entry/exit point, secondary keypads are placed unobtrusively "within reach" throughout the home.
Some unusual locations may be:
- a bedstand drawer
- a desk drawer
- inside cabinetry or built-ins
- a secret compartment
- a closet that could double as a saferoom
(Some may ask, why not use a wireless device or tablet to function as a portable keypad interface, and have access anywhere. There are pros and cons to a wireless device, and a debate in wireless vs. hardwire keypads can be made in a separate thread.)
As an example, in assessing my own daily habits, I've considered mounting a keypad inside the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. When I get out of the shower in the morning, I would like to use the keypad to get a reading of the outside temperature, see the status of some sensors, and perhaps activate some other automated tasks. For me it would be convenient to have a keypad at this location.
What are some other unusual locations people have found to locate a keypad? Were there any unique considerations in terms of wiring, mounting hardware, or environmental (temperature, moisture, ventilation) concerns?
