Dean Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 I have the zwave First Alert smoke and CO combo. All works well with eisy. However, I would like to write a program that cause all other detectors to send an alarm if one of the detectors detects smoke or CO. The nodes are a little different in a couple of devices (version). There is no clear definition of each node, so I'm a little clear as to which should trigger or be triggered if smoke or CO is detected. Basically, what I want to do is this: A detector senses and sets off its alarm. At that point, I want to send the signal to all devices to set off its alarm. I can write the IF statement fine. I think those nodes are clear. However, moving to THEN, the nodes are not clear to me as to which to use. The "Smoke Alarm" action only allow Query, Set Configuration and Write Changes. Most other nodes are Query only. Am I missing a basic programming issue with the actions? You can see from the IF code below how some of the nodes are named differently. Smoke Detected - [ID 00A3][Parent 0086] If 'Smoke / DS TV Area -Smoke Alarm / DS TV Area -Smoke Alarm (S2 A' is switched On Or 'Smoke / 1st Floor Hall-Smoke Alarm / 1st Floor Hall-Smoke Detected' is switched On Or 'Smoke / Guest BR-Notify Sensor / Guest BR-Smoke Alarm2' is switched On Or 'Smoke / Guest BR2-Smoke Alarm / Guest BR2-Smoke Detected' is switched On Or 'Smoke / Guest BRHall Smoke Alarm / Guest BRHall Smoke Detected' is switched On Or 'Smoke / Storage-Smoke Alarm / Storage-Smoke Detected' is switched On Or 'Smoke / MBR Smoke Alarm / MBR Smoke Detected' is switched On Or 'Smoke / ZY 061 Smoke Alarm / ZY 061 Smoke Detected' is switched On Then - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Link to comment
tlightne Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 I do not believe you can activate a Smoke detector remotely but I am following this to learn.. 1 Link to comment
MrBill Posted April 23, 2023 Share Posted April 23, 2023 I read the PDF manual for the unit and realized it's a battery device. Battery devices don't listen, they only speak. Therefor you won't be able to command the smoke detector to do anything. https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/products/alarms/combo-smoke-carbon-monoxide-alarms/zcombo-wireless-smoke-carbon-monoxide-alarm-works-with-zwave-ring-zcombo/#resources 1 Link to comment
Dean Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 Interesting observation. First Alert mentions that it can interconnect with a hub, but I'll have to look farther to see if there is anything I can do. This may be something @Michel Kohanimand his team need to weigh in on. I assume all of the nodes came over when adding to eisy. https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Z-Wave-alarms Z-Wave is a wireless protocol that uses radio waves to help smart devices or appliances communicate with one another. The benefit of these alarms is that they can relay alerts to Z-wave compatible smart home hubs like SmartThings or Ring Alarm Security (not included). The alarm links to your smart home hub via Z-wave wireless protocol, while the hub connects to the internet and provides notifications. If your smart home hub supports Z-wave protocols, a Z-wave alarm is probably right for you. Link to comment
dbuss Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 19 minutes ago, Dean said: Interesting observation. First Alert mentions that it can interconnect with a hub, but I'll have to look farther to see if there is anything I can do. This may be something @Michel Kohanimand his team need to weigh in on. I assume all of the nodes came over when adding to eisy. https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Z-Wave-alarms Z-Wave is a wireless protocol that uses radio waves to help smart devices or appliances communicate with one another. The benefit of these alarms is that they can relay alerts to Z-wave compatible smart home hubs like SmartThings or Ring Alarm Security (not included). The alarm links to your smart home hub via Z-wave wireless protocol, while the hub connects to the internet and provides notifications. If your smart home hub supports Z-wave protocols, a Z-wave alarm is probably right for you. I have First Alert Z-Wave CO/Smoke detectors also. As @MrBillsaid Z-Wave battery device can only speak and not hear. The key phrase is "they can relay alerts to Z-wave compatible smart home hubs". They can relay(send) alerts to hubs but they cannot receive alerts from hubs. 1 Link to comment
MrBill Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 @Dean the problem is battery powered z-wave radios go to sleep to preserve battery. In order to receive (things such as parameter changes) they must first be manually woken up. as @dbuss points out the key word is TO... let me change the bold face... 34 minutes ago, dbuss said: The key phrase is "they can relay alerts to Z-wave compatible smart home hubs". If the device was line powered, the z-wave radio could listen continuously, unfortunately however I'm still certain that the smoke alarm manufacturer would not allow an external system to sound the horn. Why? there's all sorts of rules and insurance limitations around "Life Safety Devices" performing as expected. If the device is relying on a z-wave network to provide interconnection, it might not work as expected during an actual emergency because the z-wave controller might have lost power first, or some other device is flooding the network with traffic or noise and the z-wave message can't get through. The smoke alarm manufacturer can't guarantee the z-wave network will work correctly, therefor they can't rely on it. 1 hour ago, Dean said: This may be something @Michel Kohanimand his team need to weigh in on. It's not, because battery powered z-wave radio's are simply not awake to receive. 1 Link to comment
Dean Posted April 24, 2023 Author Share Posted April 24, 2023 Hopefully, the detector is loud enough. At least I can use them to signal the lights to all come on for safety and the doors to be unlocked. Maybe I'll get a siren that I can trigger. Thanks for everyone's input. Link to comment
dbuss Posted April 24, 2023 Share Posted April 24, 2023 6 minutes ago, Dean said: At least I can use them to signal the lights to all come on for safety and the doors to be unlocked This is what I do. I also have Alexa routines that make an announcement of the alarm location and if it's a smoke or CO alarm. Link to comment
Dean Posted April 25, 2023 Author Share Posted April 25, 2023 17 hours ago, dbuss said: This is what I do. I also have Alexa routines that make an announcement of the alarm location and if it's a smoke or CO alarm. That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment
MrBill Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 19 hours ago, Dean said: Hopefully, the detector is loud enough. At least I can use them to signal the lights to all come on for safety and the doors to be unlocked. Maybe I'll get a siren that I can trigger. Thanks for everyone's input. 19 hours ago, dbuss said: This is what I do. I also have Alexa routines that make an announcement of the alarm location and if it's a smoke or CO alarm. Always remember never to depend on secondary systems to be there in an actual emergency. I used to receive a Security and Alarm trade publication, the most interesting column was always the legal corner where they would discuss lawsuits and the failures that led to the lawsuit. Too often the cause is something like "After the original design and installation, the owner disconnected the horns and connected an XYZ annunciation device without realizing the power supply for that device was not backed up, nor was the device listed for that use." The above problem only gets worse with Home Automation... ever written an ISY program and then it preformed other than expected and you dig into to troubleshoot why? Only to later say..."Oh I didn't think of that set of conditions", or "I didn't think about what would happen after a restart". Don't expect anything other than Approved Life Safety Devices to work in an actual emergency. If you need interconnected alarms then install them, they are available. 1 Link to comment
dbuss Posted April 25, 2023 Share Posted April 25, 2023 59 minutes ago, MrBill said: Always remember never to depend on secondary systems to be there in an actual emergency. I used to receive a Security and Alarm trade publication, the most interesting column was always the legal corner where they would discuss lawsuits and the failures that led to the lawsuit. Too often the cause is something like "After the original design and installation, the owner disconnected the horns and connected an XYZ annunciation device without realizing the power supply for that device was not backed up, nor was the device listed for that use." The above problem only gets worse with Home Automation... ever written an ISY program and then it preformed other than expected and you dig into to troubleshoot why? Only to later say..."Oh I didn't think of that set of conditions", or "I didn't think about what would happen after a restart". Don't expect anything other than Approved Life Safety Devices to work in an actual emergency. If you need interconnected alarms then install them, they are available. I couldn't agree more. The smoke/co alarm is the primary notification. We have two systems. A wired system and a wireless system. Link to comment
Dean Posted April 25, 2023 Author Share Posted April 25, 2023 27 minutes ago, dbuss said: I couldn't agree more. The smoke/co alarm is the primary notification. We have two systems. A wired system and a wireless system. Great advice! Link to comment
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