Anyone come across a hardwired Z wave smokey, I have the nest, but want a zwave one
thx
Buy a relay module for your already installed hard-wired smokes, about the price of a smoke, and connect the N.O. output of the relay to a door sensor like the Ecolink. Pretty simple if you have an accessible smoke like in your basement.
Just make sure the brand of relay is compatible with your smokes.
[quote=“PhillipP, post:2, topic:180316”]Buy a relay module for your already installed hard-wired smokes, about the price of a smoke, and connect the N.O. output of the relay to a door sensor like the Ecolink. Pretty simple if you have an accessible smoke like in your basement.
Just make sure the brand of relay is compatible with your smokes.[/quote]
I am intrigued with this since i have hard wired smoke detectors. I would like to install 1 zwave hard wired smokey and have it communicate with the others. That said, have you tested this approach? This seems like a risky work around for such a vital system.
Can you explain in basic terms how to connect the “NO output of the relay to a door sensor”? sounds simple, but it could be giant steps away from my ability.
CTZW
[quote=“catchingthezwaves, post:3, topic:180316”][quote=“PhillipP, post:2, topic:180316”]Buy a relay module for your already installed hard-wired smokes, about the price of a smoke, and connect the N.O. output of the relay to a door sensor like the Ecolink. Pretty simple if you have an accessible smoke like in your basement.
Just make sure the brand of relay is compatible with your smokes.[/quote]
I am intrigued with this since i have hard wired smoke detectors. I would like to install 1 zwave hard wired smokey and have it communicate with the others. That said, have you tested this approach? This seems like a risky work around for such a vital system.
Can you explain in basic terms how to connect the “NO output of the relay to a door sensor”? sounds simple, but it could be giant steps away from my ability.
CTZW[/quote]
Not risky at all. Your hardwired smoke detectors will still funciton as they are (i.e. they will still all go off if they detect smoke). The benefit of the relay is that the relay simply communicates with your alarm panel/vera which can send you notifications, give you real time status updates, communciate w/ monitoring service + you can have the alarm sirens go off (in additional to the siren’s built into the actual smoke detectors). This is what I did. Works absolutey fine.
Ok, I’m less skeptical now. I still do not fully understand the interface with the door sensor. Can someone explain how this wires in? Does this require soldering or what?
Also, if it is the zwave + sensor capability that the door sensor provides couldn’t you use a battery operated smoke detector and wire it into the relay instead?
I would like to add CO detection to one of the smokeys near the boiler room can THIS be done?
Thanks!
As I work through this, is there a smaller zwave sensor that i can use that could fit into the box above/behind the smokes? Is there a hard wired (non battery) zwave sensor that would work?
Thanks!
CTZW
I’ll reply here for the benefit of others too…
The relay, as long as you buy one that is designed for your smokes, is listed for use with them so no risk whatsoever. That is what they are designed for, to interface/control other systems.
As long as you buy a door sensor that has screw terminals (Ecolink, Monoprice, & I believe Schlage) it is as simple as turning two screws on the sensor to connect it, no soldering involved.
The sensor should not be installed in the smoke detector back box with the 120 volt wiring. The relay installs in this box and a 2 conductor cable with 600volt rated insulation (14/2 Romex) should be attached to the common and normally open contacts of the relay and extended out thru a connector and attached to the sensor terminals outside of the box. A smoke detector located in an unfinished basement, below an unfinished attic, or in a drop ceiling would be an ideal location to do this.
Battery operated smokes, as far as I know, donor have an interface for controlling other devices.
There are hard wired smoke/CO and CO detectors that will interface with your existing hard wired smokes. Again check the new one to make sure it is compatible with your existing.
Remember the zwave part of this is only as reliable as the device, network, controller, outside world connection. I wouldn’t rely on this for anything more than a simple notification of a tripped condition. I definetly wouldn’t rely on it for life safety or property safety. There are specific systems designed for that and this is not one of them.
I think I covered it all.
One more caveat of these relays is the fact that they only operate when there is 120 volt power available. The smoke detectors will still sound on battery power but the relay will not operate if it is lacking 120 volt power, i.e. power outage.
@PhillipP thanks for all of the good information. I understand and agree that the zwave connection to the smokes is a bit of a novelty rather than reliable alarm connection. That said i still want it. I have done the research, and found the relay to attach to the door sensor, and i am now ready to do the installation.
I think that i understand the the wiring per your description. I have a few questions.
- In an earlier discussion you noted that :
The door sensor needs to have screw terminals under the cover. Ecolink and monoprice do for sure and I’ve heard that schlage ones do. Simply take the common and normally CLOSED leads from the relay and land them under the screws on the door sensor. I Misspoke earlier n.o. will have the sensor tripped when there is no alarm.
This said, i assume that NC is the correct wire to attach to the terminal…
-
Does it matter which wire, the common or N/C, connects to which screw terminal? N/C to top screw or bottom screw or does it not matter?
-
What do you do with the magnet for the door sensor? Is it abandoned?
Thanks,
CTZW
Yes NC and C. Makes no difference what screw it’s all dry. You are correct, the magnet is not needed.
My installation is complete, works brilliantly.
Thanks to PhillipP and Martinf79
CTZQ
Good to hear
[quote=“catchingthezwaves, post:11, topic:180316”]My installation is complete, works brilliantly.
Thanks to PhillipP and Martinf79
CTZQ[/quote]
I’m looking at maybe doing this too. Did you end up stuffing everything in the ceiling box, or did you wire the dry contact sensor to the outside of the smoke detector? Can you post a pic of the install?
I’m looking at maybe doing this too. Did you end up stuffing everything in the ceiling box, or did you wire the dry contact sensor to the outside of the smoke detector? Can you post a pic of the install?
[/quote]
While the Dry contact is larger than i thought, it fit nicely into the box. The N/C and common wires and the connection to them are behind the drywall in a ceiling so you cannot see them, it just looks like a smoke detector. I suppose you could jury rig something to expose the sensor… Otherwise, follow PhillipP’s direction and advice on adding this to your system. and read this thread thoroughly. Make sure that the common and N/C wires connect to the sensor and get a sensor that has screw leads. (no Soldering) i used the Ecolink door and window sensor. Also you need to check your wired smokes to see that you get their brand of relay.
BEST,
CTZW