I have an Elk M1 Gold and just ordered the Vera 3.
My question involves the BEST way to connect Vera to the Elk. I need my Elk RP2 to see and control my Z-wave devices, but use the Vera to do the heavy lifting in really controlling all the Z-Wave devices. But Vera needs input from my Elk since my OC sensors will be hardwired to the Elk. Vera needs to know when the OC’s are tripped so it can execute whatever rule for lighting control. Hope that all makes sense.
So, not even having Vera to play with yet, in my mind I thought I would connect everything as follows…
Elk to Vera USB via a serial adapter cable using the Elk M1XSLZW serial Z-Wave card (which I have yet to order).
Then connect the Vera wan port to my TP Link switcher in my LAN.
I’m thinking this will allow full bi-comm between Elk and Vera with them updating and polling each other so all devices are on the same page. But, I will want Vera to operated lighting stand alone in the long run. My PC will not be on 24/7.
BTW, I also use the Elk XEP, which is already connected to my switcher.
OR…do I just need to connect Vera directly to my switcher and the Elk will see and connect to Vera through the XEP, accomplishing the same thing AND saving me $200 on buying the Elk M1XSLZW? I just don’t fully understand how the Elk and Vera communicate with each other. In the end, I don’t care if I have to buy the Elk M1XSLZW. I just need it all to work.
[quote=“bucko, post:1, topic:172075”]I have an Elk M1 Gold and just ordered the Vera 3.
My question involves the BEST way to connect Vera to the Elk. I need my Elk RP2 to see and control my Z-wave devices, but use the Vera to do the heavy lifting in really controlling all the Z-Wave devices. But Vera needs input from my Elk since my OC sensors will be hardwired to the Elk. Vera needs to know when the OC’s are tripped so it can execute whatever rule for lighting control. Hope that all makes sense.
So, not even having Vera to play with yet, in my mind I thought I would connect everything as follows…
Elk to Vera USB via a serial adapter cable using the Elk M1XSLZW serial Z-Wave card (which I have yet to order).
Then connect the Vera wan port to my TP Link switcher in my LAN.
I’m thinking this will allow full bi-comm between Elk and Vera with them updating and polling each other so all devices are on the same page. But, I will want Vera to operated lighting stand alone in the long run. My PC will not be on 24/7.
BTW, I also use the Elk XEP, which is already connected to my switcher.
OR…do I just need to connect Vera directly to my switcher and the Elk will see and connect to Vera through the XEP, accomplishing the same thing AND saving me $200 on buying the Elk M1XSLZW? I just don’t fully understand how the Elk and Vera communicate with each other. In the end, I don’t care if I have to buy the Elk M1XSLZW. I just need it all to work.
Anybody doing this now? What is my best option? [/quote]I have the Elk just connecting via the XEP… The plugin for Vera will communicate via your LAN(network/switch) and get all the sensor inputs. For example I have my front door sensor triggering lights when it is night time. Doing this over your network eliminates the need for the the Elk and Vera having to be in close proximity.
Thanks for the input. If I understand correctly, your Door contact is wired to a zone on your M1 and the Vera can see this zone state to trigger lights?
And what is this plug in? Do I get this when I have my Vera set up new?
[quote=“bucko, post:3, topic:172075”]Thanks for the input. If I understand correctly, your Door contact is wired to a zone on your M1 and the Vera can see this zone state to trigger lights?
And what is this plug in? Do I get this when I have my Vera set up new?
Thanks[/quote]
Yes (sort of) I actually have the wireless contacts for the doors but they are in a zone on the Elk… When you buy and setup your vera there is a market place where you can download the plugins. They are free, but you need to install it on your vera. This adds in your elk as a device in vera and each of your door/window/motion/fire sensors as device in your vera. Then you can create scenes that trigger off of these. You can even arm or disarm your elk based on Vera events/scenes/triggers.
Yes (sort of) I actually have the wireless contacts for the doors but they are in a zone on the Elk… When you buy and setup your vera there is a market place where you can download the plugins. They are free, but you need to install it on your vera. This adds in your elk as a device in vera and each of your door/window/motion/fire sensors as device in your vera. Then you can create scenes that trigger off of these. You can even arm or disarm your elk based on Vera events/scenes/triggers.
[/quote]
Then you are using Vera to handle all your lighting scenes? Do you have any rules set up in the M1? With Vera, can it trigger the Elk to run it’s rules, OR, can the Elk activate Vera’s own rules? Like can I write a Vera rule that is blah blah blah, THEN activate Elk rule 2 (or some such thing). How does that part work?
Maybe it is better policy to use the Vera for all security and light control rules?
Sorry to ask these questions, but I am building my HA project in mainland China and info is very difficult to get from here. Specific hardware is even worse. I can’t even get the Vera 3 here! I ordered it from Germany as they use the same Z-Wave freq as China.
Right now I have a short window open to get extra things from the US if I need them. My friend is in the US and will return to China where he can bring me stuff (i.e. M1XSLZW) I might need. If I order direct from the US, I pay another 20% duty in China for electronic goods. Plus if it has a battery, it cannot even be shipped within China anyway.
[quote=“bucko, post:5, topic:172075”]Then you are using Vera to handle all your lighting scenes? Do you have any rules set up in the M1? With Vera, can it trigger the Elk to run it’s rules, OR, can the Elk activate Vera’s own rules? Like can I write a Vera rule that is blah blah blah, THEN activate Elk rule 2 (or some such thing). How does that part work?
Maybe it is better policy to use the Vera for all security and light control rules?[/quote]
I use Vera for ALL logic and scene control. The current plug-in for the ELK is very basic. I simply get the status of all sensors (door / window / smoke ). Then I use Vera to manage the scenes etc… You can arm and disarm via the plugin so you can have Vera manage that and several of the mobile phone apps support this. My Elk is doing very little. I may do more in the future, but I dont think the current plug-in allows you to trigger macros in the Elk.