Products reviews

Hello to all,

My first project is to secure the apartment I just bought (detector opening door / window, motion detector, siren, keyboard / remote / reader to activate / deactivate the alarm) and then in a second step, I think of home automation (opening / closing shutter, start heating depending on temperature, …) so can you help me make the right choice.

After a few weeks of research, I would like your opinion on the choice of devices that I found.

My wish is to have the most reliable system, battery powered but without having to change the batteries every month.

Controller : Micasaverde Vera Lite

Siren : Fortrezz SSA-03
→ I liked the three modes: siren only, seeing one or siren and light

Motion Detector : Express Controls EZMotion
→ I liked the 3 functions: temperature sensor, light sensor and motion sensor but I’m afraid in terms of battery consumption so all I looking for a good motion sensor (Is it possible to completely disable the device when I am present in the apartment to save battery ?)

Enable / Disable alarm :
→ Mobile phone : first means but I want one or emergency means if I lose the phone, no battery, no connection …
→ Keypad : I saw the Poly-Control Poly-Pad but is it compatible with Vera Lite ?
→ Remote : ?
→ Reader : ?

Detector opening door / window : Fibaro FGK-101
→ I like the variation in several colors and small size

What do you think of these devices and the configuration in terms of performance, reliability, battery consumption … ?

I hope to finalize the purchase by the end of November so I am at your disposal for any comments or advice you could give me.

I’m too optimistic to want to do security with Vera Lite Z-Wave and without power supply but cell ?

Thank you in advance

Just my noob opinion. I initially looked at Z-Wave automation/security system. But if you crunch the numbers, as you expand your system the additional devices are going to be significantly cheaper with a dedicated alarm system.

Also, I would image the alarm system would be more reliable in terms of security anyway. I went with a DSC alarm kit and added automation integration through Vera3 DSC plugin.

To give you an example, this was the ~ pricing from eBay/sales:

You can piecemeal a 1832/1864 for $100-150
DSC wireless slim window/door contacts $10/each
DSC wireless Motion sensors $30/each
Vera $279

At the time (a few months ago). The z-wave door contacts would’ve ran me $50/each and $100 for the motion sensors.