Starting with simple Insteon door sensor (ISY) -> ELK

[MolsonB]

I was wondering if anyone can help me out with a simple task, then I can expand once I get the simple steps figured out. I have ELK M1Gold, ISY994i with Elk module, and an Insteon Open/Close sensor.

 

If the front door opens, ELK will see the violated zone and go off and display text on keypad of violated zone and beep.

 

I have the door sensor setup in ISY994i. How do we send that signal over to ELK M1G? What links the door senor to an ELK zone? Do we setup a 'fake' zone group (wireless 17-32) and create a program in ISY that when the door opens, trigger zone open for that zone 17? How do we close the zone when the door closes? What does the details/definition look like on the ELK side for Zone 17?

 

Can't seem to find a simple guide on the basics. I have all the connections and talking back and forth worked out between the controllers.

 

-Matt

[MWareman]

AFIK, you cannot setup an Insteon device as a 'zone' on Elk via the connection to the ISY. There is no supervisory connection and its not secure once it hits the PLM.

 

There are some 'hacks' involving the use of Elk outputs to trigger Elk events, but no way (that I've found so far) to have Insteon devices appear as a zone. I was trying to get the First Alert Smoke to trigger a Smoke event on Elk via a SmokeBridge.

 

If you need a device in both systems, get another Elk door sensor to replace the Insteon Open/Close sensors. Configure it on Elk then you can write programs on ISY to trigger actions on events.

 

Michael.

[apostolakisl]

That isn't really a good way to dry to do things. Insteon door sensors are not for security, they are for home automation. They aren't UL listed for that application and not as reliable as you would want.

 

Having said that, you can not have an Insteon door sensor natively register on the Elk panel. You would have to do some "tricks". Namely, you can set an unused zone up as your front door on Elk, and then use an ISY program to trigger a "zone open" event on the Elk whenever it detects that Insteon sensor opening. A "zone open" event is a "fake" opening of the zone circuit and it is just a momentary event. So it won't correspond to door being open then closed, it will just trigger for a second when the ISY program runs and then show the zone as closed again regardless of what state the sensor/door is actually in.

 

The other option would be to use an output relay on Elk. Have ISY turn the output on/off which opens/closes the relay. Connect the relay to a zone. This can be programmed to correspond to the true state of the Insteon door sensor, but requires using up a relay.

 

All in all, this is a bad way to do things. You should buy actual wireless alarm system door sensors. The elk works with a couple brands of wireless sensors and those will work without any screwy stuff. It would be cheaper also.

[MolsonB]

Ah I did not know that. I thought all along that is what made these two products great to work together, was the sharing of sensors. But you guys are saying you can/should only share security elk sensors.

 

Too bad I got insteon first to play around. I'll research some wireless door contacts and motion sensors for the elk and switch them over. And I guess the elk will need some type of wireless device too.

[apostolakisl]

Yes, you need the wireless receiver for the Elk that corresponds to the brand of sensors you want to use.

 

Elk and ISY are very integrated, but ISY/Insteon is not a security platform.

 

Frankly, you are better off not using Insteon wireless door/window sensors at all, even in non-security places. The security ones are more reliable and you will have full access to them in ISY for home automation needs.

[MolsonB]

Any brands people love? I'm new to the elk world.

[apostolakisl]

Any brands people love? I'm new to the elk world.

 

 

Sorry, I wired my house during construction so I have no experience with wireless except to know the basics. There are 2 formats Elk works with, the GE format and Honeywell format. Also Elk has its own 2 way wireless line up, but I believe you will then be limited to only Elk sensors whereas the other two formats have more options.

 

I would look at the available sensors and find ones that you like the price and how they mount. I doubt either format is universally better than the other. I am sure people who have used them will be able to give more comments.

[Brian H]

You may want to look in the Cocoontech Forums. Security Section. For more sensor information.

There are many very knowledgeable ELK users there and a few are professional security systems installers.

http://cocoontech.com/forums/forum/14-home-security/