Yet another new user/installation

[Digger]

Thanks for all the replies. This helps a great deal.

The smokes are wired into the panel (as are keypads) so I'm optimistic on their re-use.

One poster suggested the EOLs belong in the field rather than at the panel. Curious as to why you feel that way. Having them at the panel makes install and maintenance so much easier. Does it really make that much of a difference?

Homeseer is where I will start looking for software.

Now to scrape together some funds for the Elk and Z-Wave devices.

Anyone have experience dealing with either zwaveproducts.com or orchestratedhome.com??

Please check the smoke detectors carefully. There are several 2 wire smoke detectors that are compatible with the ELK on Zone 16 (only). Make sure if you have 2 wire smoke detectors that they are compatible with the ELK (see the installation manual for the Elk-M1).

If you have 4 wire smoke detectors then they will be compatible and can be used on any zone. For 4 wire smoke detectors you will have an end of line relay to supervise the power (or you should). I am guessing you have 2 wire smokes though.

If the smokes are 10 years or older you might want to consider replacing them.

 

[Lensman]

Excellent, thanks. They are less than 1 year old. I am guessing 2-wire as well. Just haven't had time to pull one yet and look. The weekend is coming.

 

[Lensman]

You live in NJ, or NYC? I grew up in CT myself, NYC 'burbs.

Thanks for the advice.

I live at the shore in NJ near Atlantic City.

 

[Lensman]

New twist. Brinks tells me I am locked in for 3 years so guess which part of the system I'm NOT starting with.

Given that there will be no alarm integration for at least two years, should I still be thinking about starting with a controller (ELK M1 Gold was the plan) or would a simple PC interface to ZWave be easier? I don't have a problem leaving a PC powered-on full-time. I'm dedicating a stand-alone system to HA anyway.

I've decided to start in the game/TV room controlling main lights, wall sconces, bar lights and driving one or two scenes with the TV remote (Harmony RF). I'm in the process of building out that space so it's easy to get things wired the right way.

Once that is up and running and I have a better understanding of all this, I'll move on to more intricate stuff in the rest of the house.