Okay I am still new here and need some help. Everyone has been great so far!
So far I have the MiCasa Verde Veralite, a Schlage front door lock, and a RCS Thermostat. I also have one light switch that still needs to be installed…just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
But where I really need help is in the alarm area. I have an alarm system now that was installed when the house was built in 1996. It consists of door and window sensors (wired) on every first floor door and window. These all go to the main panel in the basement which is wired to a siren and a control panel by the door. This is all monitored by a local security company. The panel by the door is a pretty simple First Alert FA215. I guess the simplest (if possible) would be to just replace this FA215 panel with something that is z wave compatible. Is this possible? Or does the whole main panel in the basement need to be switched out, only salvaging the door/window sensors?
Another forum member had replied to an earlier post of mine saying he thought a DSC panel could rather easily replace my current FA215 and be monitored still and controlled by my MiCasa Verde Veralite as well. But when I reached out to DCS they didn’t think would work, but didn’t seem certain or knowledgable on the topic at all.
Your description is a little unclear: you talk about a “main panel” and a “control panel”. Am I right in saying you mean an “alarm panel” with all the electronics and where all the sensors are wired too and a keypad that just acts to arm/control the system?
In any case I would not recommend a z-wave panel - IMHO reliability problems may be an issue.
I would definitely go for a DSC panel and EnvisaLink 3 that allows the alarm system to be linked into you LAN (assuming you have one). So effectively you replace everything except the sensors. The sensors in the majority of cases will be compatible with the DSC set up. Also the DSC stuff is reasonably priced and works well.
A DSC 1832 or 1864 (depends on the number of zones you want) will allow you to integrate all of your wired zones into the DSC panel.
If you have a 4(or more) wire conductor going from the Alarm Box to the Keypads then you can install a DSC wired keypads … their are many options here.
If you do not have 4 wires to the location of the keypads than you will need wireless keypads and a TR5164 to talk to them.
The TR5164 will also allow you to easily add other wireless sensors to your DSC (Smoke Detectors, Water detectors, …)
Now you will need and EVL-3 that connects/interfaces your LAN/Internet to the DSC panel. Once on your LAN the DSC plugin (in the Vera App Store) can be used to connect to your DSC Alarm panel. Every Zone in your DSC panel will be available in your Vera for Automation purposes. (All of the door, window, etc sensors). They behave the same as any Z-Wave sensor … they are just remotely accessed from your DSC alarm system. You can also arm/disarm your alarm system from Vera (or many of the 3rd party Remote Access Programs). You can also have scenes run as a result of Arming/Disarming or Alarms triggered. Basically you have full access to your Alarm system from Vera.
It can also be monitored. There are also options for cellular/GSM backup monitoring if you are worried about loss of internet.
Correct…sorry for the confusion. In the basement is the main panel for the alarm and by the door is simply a keypad that is used to arm/disarm the alarm.
[quote=“RichardTSchaefer, post:3, topic:179002”]A DSC 1832 or 1864 (depends on the number of zones you want) will allow you to integrate all of your wired zones into the DSC panel.
If you have a 4(or more) wire conductor going from the Alarm Box to the Keypads then you can install a DSC wired keypads … their are many options here.
If you do not have 4 wires to the location of the keypads than you will need wireless keypads and a TR5164 to talk to them.
The TR5164 will also allow you to easily add other wireless sensors to your DSC (Smoke Detectors, Water detectors, …)
Now you will need and EVL-3 that connects/interfaces your LAN/Internet to the DSC panel. Once on your LAN the DSC plugin (in the Vera App Store) can be used to connect to your DSC Alarm panel. Every Zone in your DSC panel will be available in your Vera for Automation purposes. (All of the door, window, etc sensors). They behave the same as any Z-Wave sensor … they are just remotely accessed from your DSC alarm system. You can also arm/disarm your alarm system from Vera (or many of the 3rd party Remote Access Programs). You can also have scenes run as a result of Arming/Disarming or Alarms triggered. Basically you have full access to your Alarm system from Vera.
It can also be monitored. There are also options for cellular/GSM backup monitoring if you are worried about loss of internet.[/quote]
Wow, this is great! So just to be clear…
-I need the DSC 1832 or 1864 to replace the main panel in the basement
-I need either a wired or wireless DSC keypad to replace the FA215 by the door (also need to add TR5164 if using wireless keypad)
-I need an Envisalink 3 to connect the system to my LAN…and this goes along with the main panel in the basement???
-Finally I just download the DSC Plug-In from the Vera App Store to give myself control while away
Basically, I just want to be able to arm and disarm the system using my iPhone/iPad while traveling. Beats giving the codes to the housekeepers, neighbors, etc…!
With automation … you can turn on appropriate lights when you open the door at night … no more trying to turn the lights on when you entry the house with your hands full of groceries!
Many folks use the Security Store (google them) … they are quite helpful with the DSC side of things.
So I just went down and looked at my current (17 year old) panel. It has 6 hard wired zones. It also has the keypad connected to it via the typical 4 lead wire. I also see the phone line is attached via 4 similar wires. From what I’ve read and the replies here this all seems pretty typical and straightforward, no?
Before you make a purchase, you may want to post first too see if you your shopping list is OK.
The tricky part is deciding on the Keypad since there are a few models, and future decisions such as whether or not you want to use two-way radio devices such wireless keypads etc will decide on whether you want to buy a keypad with an integrated radio (RFK series) or not , or if you want the keypad to display full alpha numeric information about zones etc that may be open etc.
Does it go down in the basement with the alarm panel? Or does it go near my PC/Modem/router?
I see it appears to have a connection for an Ethernet cable. Does this mean it needs to be connected to my modem/router with a hard Ethernet cable and not wirelessly.
I see they offer quite a few bundles utilizing the 1832 panel. But most of those bundles include the battery back up, transformer, and phone jack. But I assume I can just use all of those from my current system? If so, I can save some money by just purchasing the basic PC1832NK, EVL-3, and PK5500.
From there it appears I can just swap out my old panel for the 1832 and EVL-3. And then swap out my old FA215 for the PK5550.
The Transformer for the DSC should be 16.5 V, and rated for 40VA.
You should be able to re-use your existing 12V battery if it’s not too old … they should be replaced every 5 YRs or so.
Note … you will need to get a LAN cable attached to the EVL-3.
You can put the EVL-3 in the box (the board is only about 2" x 4") if you can get the LAN cable to it, otherwise you need to place the EVL-3 where ever you can get a LAN … and run 4 wires to the Alarm Box or the Keypad (it’s the same 4 wires that connects the Alarm Box and the KeyPad, it’s just daisy chained onto it.).
If you think you will ever want to add some wireless sensors (they are cheaper than Z-Wave sensors) you should get the RK5550 variant with the Wireless adapter in it.
Your battery backup at 17 years old is probably well past its use by date. The existing transformer would only be suitable if it’s 16 VAC at the appropriate current rating. The bundle probably represents the least expense overall?
The EVL-3 can pretty much go anywhere, as it just taps into the four wire keypad bus. I think some people connect to it by wireless (with a wireless adapter) but personally I would prefer a hardwired cable to my router.
The biggest advantage that comes of all this is that you can use all the attached sensors to trigger whatever scenes you want. Plus when you move or you chuck your Vera in the bin (out of frustration), the house still has a working alarm system!
Okay, I think I may be ready to go here! Below is the list of parts I think I need given that I just want to be able to arm/disarm/monitor my alarm when away traveling. I don’t really need any wireless capabilities at this time. I guess I could always add that later if so desired.
Please let me know if you think I am all set here…
(1) Power1832 alarm control panel - Cabinet 11 x 11.5 x 3
(1) PK5500 custom English LCD keypad
(1) 16V40VA plug-in transformer
(1) BD4-12 12V, 4Ah backup battery
(1) SD-15 15-watt interior surface mount siren
(1) RJ31X telephone jack and cord
(1) EVL-3 Module
Finally, comes the install! I’m not sure I want to attempt this myself, even though it seems like a pretty easy, straightforward swap out. Any suggestions or advice? Would it be worth having a local alarm installer do this for me? Any idea of price range for that labor?
For the PK5500 keypad, if you want the capability to add wireless sensors (wireless zones), then you should think about the RFK5500 instead, or go with the PK5500 and add the TR5164 to the list either now or later.
If you see yourself adding wireless zones, or wanting either keyfobs, then I would say go with the TR5164 since it will also support wireless keypads too (something the built in wireless receiver in RFK5500 cant do)
Installation is quite easy so long as you understand some basic electrical principals since you may have to fit some resistors to each of the wired zones if you want them to be supervised better.
Programming is the trickier part, but the there is some good help around (especially if you buy from Homesecuritystore).
There are some good resources for programming etc here:
[quote=“shaneyb72, post:10, topic:179002”]I am on homesecuritystore.com and it is great!
I see they offer quite a few bundles utilizing the 1832 panel. But most of those bundles include the battery back up, transformer, and phone jack. But I assume I can just use all of those from my current system? If so, I can save some money by just purchasing the basic PC1832NK, EVL-3, and PK5500.
From there it appears I can just swap out my old panel for the 1832 and EVL-3. And then swap out my old FA215 for the PK5550.[/quote]
Just FYI, I got my DSC 1832 kit from homesecuritystore and it bundled just about everything I need to replace.com old alarm; 1832, Keypad, Wireless module, battery, etc. Service was great and the price made sense.
I’m not sure this is a job I should tackle myself. I think I could MAYBE handle the swapping of the panel and keypad…maybe! But the programming has me worried. And I don’t want to screw this up. I called my alarm monitoring company and asked if they would like to install the parts if I buy them. They said maybe but probably not. I asked if they sell what I want and they of course just stopped carrying DSC. They sell GE and Honeywell. They are sending a guy over Monday to look at what I have and what I want to do to see if they can do it.
I guess my other option is to try to find someone in the Buffalo, NY area with some experience who is willing to help me out with the install/programming. I looked on Craigslist but didn’t see much.
So I just had a rep from General Security here. That is who monitors my current alarm. I had called them last week to see if they would be interested in installing my DSC 1832, PK5500, and EVL-3 for me. They of course are not!
Instead he presented their solution, which is GE alarm components monitored, connected, and controlled through Alarm.com. Anyone out there have any experience with this? He said it is z-wave technology so all of my current devices (2 light switches, front door lock, and thermostat) should all work with it. I have my doubts though! The biggest downside is it adds another $12/month to my contract. The upside is it doesn’t utilize any phone line. So if we wanted to get rid of our landline we could.
I am still leaning toward my original solution, but need to find someone willing to install and program that for me. It seems to be the simplest and most economical, especially since I really just want to be able to arm and disarm the alarm remotely while traveling.
Since General Security sells/installs GE and Honeywell products, I thought maybe I could make that work. It appears that the EVL-3 is compatible with Honeywell Vista Panels (Vista20P, 21P, 15P, and 10P). So, my thought is this… I just have them come swap out my old stuff for a compatible Honeywell panel and keypad. Once that is done I just pick up an EVL-3 and connect that myself. Is that possible? Would that mess up any installation/programming they did? Once the EVL-3 is connected to my LAN then I should be good to go with Vera right?
