Write a Program to Turn my Elk Alarm On

[jblackst5000]

I have had an Elk security panel now for about 3 years. I also have the Elk Module and it is integrated with my ISY 994ir and also have an ISY Portal. I have written many rules within EKRP2 software to trigger evens associated with my sensors eg motion, window, fire. I have also written programs related to Elk events in my ISY Admin Console. This may seem like a silly question, but I would like to write a program that if executed would turn my Elk alarm on without requiring a violation of any of many sensors. The reason I want to do this is that I also own the Amazon Echo and if we feel for security/safety reason I would like to give a voice command to Amazon Echo (Alexa) to turn alarm on.

 

If anyone would have any suggestions I would certainly appreciate it. There may be a much better way like a panic button but It would also be nice to just be able to issue a voice command to Alexa and the alarm would be turned on.

 

Thanks again for all the wonderful help on this forum.

 

Jim

 

 

[shannong]

There are a few ways I can think of to approach this. Depends on your desired outcome.

 

Is your alarm monitored? And do you want the police summoned? Do you want this able to executed even when the alarm isn't armed as a sort of panic option?

 

If so, then you could use a phantom zone that the ISY triggers. A zone not actually wired to anything. But even those not physically wired can be open/violated by Elk & ISY.

 

This phantom zone could be assigned type "08=Burglar Box 24 hr". This zone would trigger a Burglar Alarm any time the zone is violated regardless of whether the alarm is Armed or not.

 

You would write an Echo Alexa command for the ISY for a program that triggers that zone open.

[jblackst5000]

Hi Shannog,

Thanks so much for your quick replay. I will try what you suggested. I actually self monitor my Elk System. When any of my zones are violated I receive a text message and even a call to my iPhone that a particular zone was violated. I have special direct numbers to the Police/Fire in case I need to call them quickly to report the violation.

 

As you suggested I will set up a phantom zone using my ElkRp2 software and then write a program that triggers that phantom zone.

 

Thanks so much for your help.

 

 

[Scottmichaelj]

Do you own the ISY Elk module? If so this is a easy thing to do and I can post a sample program if needed. Then in the portal just point to the then for on and else for off, give it a spoken name and your done. You can even add bypasses to zones if you need. Let me know if you need more help.

[shannong]

Since your system isn't monitored, there really isn't a reason that your M1 needs to actually register a "Burglar" event. Rather than triggering a zone to set off the M1, you could simply write an ISY program that turns on the Outputs of whatever sirens/horns that you have. Then you could call that program with Alexa.

 

If it's night time, probably also a good idea to create a scene for certain lights to turn on as part of that program.