What should I know about converting to Elk M1Gold?

[Xpendable]

The wife and I bought a house that we will be moving into in about a month. The house already has a wired alarm system consisting of an old (and discontinued) Omegalarm D4112, as seen in the picture below:

http://www.hauntsoft.com/house/images/Drury023.jpg

The existing alarm was poorly wired. The wiring is just all over the place. It's spliced together in numerous places with electrical tape, and in some cases wiring comes in through a closet wall and goes back out the same closet wall with no rhyme or reason.

I'm interested in replacing the alarm with an Elk M1Gold. I plan on redoing the wire where it makes sense.

So... What should I know about the Elk M1Gold? Where is a good starting point?

 

[GraysonPeddie]

Can you get the old alarm system to work? The reason why I ask is you'll want to do some labelling for the wires in your closet. This is when it comes to violating zones (you don't need to arm the system in order to receive trouble message). Make sure you label the keypad wire, wire that leads to A/C adapter, etc.

That way, everything will be easier down the road when installing Elk M1 Gold.

 

[Steve]

You can violate zones on the old one to get an idea of where they are (if the panel even gives labels), but likely several zones are wires together so you will not a true idea of exactly what windows/doors are which. You will probably need to trace them out with a toner or meter to be sure - and also to look for hidden EOLs.

 

[rfdesq]

Follow the above advice. Then rip out all the suspect wiring and install new. The M1 is only as good as the least reliable sensor.

 

[Xpendable]

Follow the above advice. Then rip out all the suspect wiring and install new. The M1 is only as good as the least reliable sensor.

The existing alarm does work, although I don't know how to arm/disarm it -- yet. I will definitely test each zone. I don't think there are any window sensors, just door sensors and motion detectors. The keyboard panel has an LED for each zone. The zones are labeled on the sticker on the inside door of the alarm panel, although I'm a little suspicious... One of the zones says "BSMT door". There is no basement door!

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Use a multimeter to check the wiring (leakage and continuity). My Security System How-to discusses these details.

 

[Xpendable]

Use a multimeter to check the wiring (leakage and continuity). My Security System How-to discusses these details.

Thanks, I have read through your how-to.

 

[IVB]

Come up with a list of all sensor types you want to put in, & location. That way if you have to re-run wiring, you do it only once.

Here's my list of parts, you may see stuff you missed in reading through it. Stuff like maglocks, interior door sensors (for automated lighting), motions in every room, get missed a lot. Silly stuff like HVAC wiring, irrigation, so you can control that from the Elk would be nice too.