Read Ademco alarm system Topic is solved

[skippy711]

Don't know if this is the right section. If not please move it it there.

In my house I have a professional alarmsystem (so no need to 'rebuild' that). I checked with the installer if there is a way to read the status (and possibly a bit more) in Domoticz. This should be possible: they can provide a relay board with 4 relays (all simple on/off outputs) e.g. relay 1: status (on/off) relay 2: burglary (on/off) relay 3: low power of a switch (on/off) relay 4: low power of the system battery (on/off).

For the domoticz applications I use z-wave switches (and P1 meter over wifi with an ESP8266).

What kind of hardware would I need to 'feed' the abovementioned relay status into domoticz?

All answers or tips are welcome!
Thx

[emme]

Your alarm system will provide DO (Digital Output) that are almot dry contact

if your Domoticz is running ona aspberryPI you can use the onboard GPIO to get the signals to wire phisiscally the outpus

you can use zWave either but it would be quite expensive and almost useless

If the PI is not near the alarm system (or the place where the DO are provided) you can use other solutions like a MySensor LAN gateway that can connect the DO and send a notification to the domoticz server

[stlsparky]

you should look into devices like eyezon envisalink evl3. there is another one call ad2usb or something like that. there is a forum discussion buried in here about setting them up the EVL with a python script. they simply need a connection to the alarm panel keypad screw terminal strip, and then report digital status of your panel: armed, zone #, fire, burg, etc. you need the installer password of your panel to addd a keypad ID to the system. these are on ebay and amazon ~$80 or so new.

Ademco panels are discontinued and have been replaced by honeywell panels. But most all honeywell commands and programmiing hasn't changed since the Ademco days of the 80s. Based on that, I assume your old ademco panel will be compatible with honeywell bus code the replacement keypads use today.

some people use these to avoid costly zwave motion sensors in each room if their alarm system already has a motion sensor there. And make no mistake: any brand alarm equipment is light years ahead of novelty motion detectors for home automation. the liability and UL listings alarm equipment must meet are not cheap or easy to obtain. Given the choice, always prefer alarm equipment meant for life/safety to novelty DIY "tinkerer" grade devices.

[Lebo2d9]

If your esp is not far from your alarm system you can use 4 unused inputs of your esp

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[skippy711]

Your alarm system will provide DO (Digital Output) that are almot dry contact

if your Domoticz is running ona aspberryPI you can use the onboard GPIO to get the signals to wire phisiscally the outpus

you can use zWave either but it would be quite expensive and almost useless

If the PI is not near the alarm system (or the place where the DO are provided) you can use other solutions like a MySensor LAN gateway that can connect the DO and send a notification to the domoticz server

Thanx Emme,

Domoticz is not on a RPi but the P1 is near the alarm.
I will look into Mysensors and/or do you have a tip using the ESP?

BR

[skippy711]

you should look into devices like eyezon envisalink evl3. there is another one call ad2usb or something like that. there is a forum discussion buried in here about setting them up the EVL with a python script. they simply need a connection to the alarm panel keypad screw terminal strip, and then report digital status of your panel: armed, zone #, fire, burg, etc. you need the installer password of your panel to addd a keypad ID to the system. these are on ebay and amazon ~$80 or so new.

Ademco panels are discontinued and have been replaced by honeywell panels. But most all honeywell commands and programmiing hasn't changed since the Ademco days of the 80s. Based on that, I assume your old ademco panel will be compatible with honeywell bus code the replacement keypads use today.

some people use these to avoid costly zwave motion sensors in each room if their alarm system already has a motion sensor there. And make no mistake: any brand alarm equipment is light years ahead of novelty motion detectors for home automation. the liability and UL listings alarm equipment must meet are not cheap or easy to obtain. Given the choice, always prefer alarm equipment meant for life/safety to novelty DIY "tinkerer" grade devices.

Thanx for your help sofar!
You are right with your description on alarmsystems. By my description of 'professional alarm system' I mean that it was installed and certified by an installer and meets all the criteria for police warning etc. That means that I cannot open up the control panel or whatever sensor/unit without breaking warranty/liability. As described my installer can provide a relay unit (also about $ 80,-) so I think I would like to go that route.
I will look into this eyezon/ad2usb direction you pointed, but any other ideas remain welcome!

BR

[skippy711]

If your esp is not far from your alarm system you can use 4 unused inputs of your esp

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Thanx for your reply!
ESP is near the alarm system, but it is shrinkwrapped with a RJ11 module for the P1, so I like to keep that intact. If you can point me in a direction with an ESP8266 I'm interested, because these can be bought for $ 3,- in China.
BR

[emme]

Domoticz is not on a RPi but the P1 is near the alarm.
I will look into Mysensors and/or do you have a tip using the ESP?

BR

If you have GPIO available, my personal opinion is that is is bettter to use physical wiring and not ESP8266 (my phylosophy is: as simple as it gets)
You will need your installer to provide the 8 DO, then you can connect them without voiding the certification/warranty

ciao
M

[skippy711]

Domoticz is not on a RPi but the P1 is near the alarm.
I will look into Mysensors and/or do you have a tip using the ESP?

BR

If you have GPIO available, my personal opinion is that is is bettter to use physical wiring and not ESP8266 (my phylosophy is: as simple as it gets)
You will need your installer to provide the 8 DO, then you can connect them without voiding the certification/warranty

ciao
M

Grazie,
I was in Milan last week for holidays: beautiful city!
Unfortunately I don't have an RPi and therefor I don't have GPIO. Is there another way to connect physical wiring to any gateway to connect to Domoticz?

Ciao
S

[emme]

uh... on which platform is running domoticz?

yiu can use esp8266... but I'm approaching now that world


...are you italian?

[skippy711]

Domoticz under Linux on a Wintel mini pc (Intel 3735F). Nope I'm not Italian, but enjoy being there: I'm dutch
Looking forward to more ideas on using esp (when available)
Grtz

[Lebo2d9]

I use a ESP8266 Thing with easy esp firmware. There is only on relay connected to it witch one is controlled by domoticz. I never have used any inputs. The only thing is that the ESP is running on 3V3

[Martin]

Skippy,

I would use a Sonoff 4CH and flash espeasy on it. Then modify the unit a bit to adjust to your needs.
1) modify the 4 switches to be used as inputs to read the Alarm status.
2) As the relays are connected to the mains power. Disconnect the relay contact from main power L and modify them as open contacts i.e. to control your alarm

Regards,

Martin

PS: I also interface with a Ademco alarm system, but i used a raspberry with piface

[skippy711]

Hi Martin,

Thx for the reply.
I don't know if I explained my wishes clear enough: the installer can provide a relay board with 4 relays that will open or close (on or off). These can be programmed: eg: 1 = status, 2 is burglary, 3 is etc.
If the alarm is set to armed Ademco will send a signal to relay 1 which closes.
Then Domoticz comes into place: some sort of interface will detect that the relay is closed and will send that info to Domoticz. In Domoticz there should be a 'device' called "Alarm status" which will show 'armed'
If someone breaks into the house an Ademco sensor will detect that and Ademco will send a signal tot relay 2, which closes and a Domoticz 'device' called "Burglary" will show "yes'.
It sounds so simple, but apparently it is not, or I am too stupid...

BR
Skippy

[Martin]

This is exacly what I understand.
The sonoff 4ch can be used as an interface to monitor the alarm status
Alarm relay --> Sonoff switches 1,2,3 and 4 --> Wifi --> Domoticz

[skippy711]

OK, apparently this should be able to work. The next challenge is performing the operation you describe:
1) modify the 4 switches to be used as inputs to read the Alarm status.
2) As the relays are connected to the mains power. Disconnect the relay contact from main power L and modify them as open contacts i.e. to control your alarm

for a total noob (who uses Google as a friend)..
Are you willing to share a little more on how to do such things?
Thx beforehand

[Martin]

Skippy,

First start to flash the unit with espeasy and try to get status of switches to domoticz dummy sensors (my dummy device IDX 214 -217)
Here you can find more info;

https://www.domoticz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9670

https://www.letscontrolit.com/forum/vie ... a&start=30

If that works, you can solder the connections at the PCB to connect to youre alarm relay contacts

RG

Martin

[skippy711]

Hello Martin,

Wow great! Many thanks sofar. I'm not an electronics specialist but this looks doable. I'll have a go at it. First I need to convince the Board (wife ) that this a nice investment (relay board + installation by installer will be EUR 200,=)

Thx again

[emme]

First I need to convince the Board (wife )

uhm... I know what you mean!

[Lebo2d9]

We have all the same problem

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