This is really more about “interface” than true “integration”.
I have a DMP XT30 alarm panel in my house. The alarm is not all that spectacular in the HA world, but it’s very good at being a “dumb” alarm system. It is hard-wired, reliable and does it’s job. The downside is it is a proprietary system and does not integrate well with others. It does have an optional Z-wave controller, but I cannot interface it with ST so not of any use for this project.
Now I have scoured these forums for a few months now looking at different options to integrate security with my SmartThings but the reliability just is not there. The Konnected route had the most potential and was my Option A, but requires me to use ST for monitoring (which options exclude fire) and ST is not reliable enough for this application. Great product, great concept, great man behind the vision…but Samsung fails this approach.
Changing the board to a Honeywell or DCS was Option B but this requires more money upfront, an intermediate protocol server (which I could do) and also requires me to leave my local alarm company. The convenience just does not hold the same value as a local alarm company with 7 years of great service.
Let’s add on that cracking wifi just gets easier and a SmartThings account is just one more thing to get hacked. We recently had a house broken into around here where someone cracked the wifi password, got into the alarm interface and shutoff all the sensors and walked into the house without ever disarming the system. Add the common ST outages and uncertainty of software direction and I am even less interested in a full integration. Nothing worse than coming home after a long day of work with a beaten down wife (work, not me) and 4 riled up kids from school and I can’t turn off the alarm.
So I am now looking at my Option C: Build up a Z-wave interface for the existing DMP panel using programable output relays and onboard arming zones.
The DMP panel has an option to add four output relays that can be programmed based on various events. I was looking to set to four relays; one for “disarmed”, an “armed home or sleep”, “armed away” and one for all “alarm” events (fire, burglar, panic, ambush, etc). These output relays would then be wired to a z-wave contact for ST monitoring.
The DMP panel also allows for arming zones. So I will have the installer install 2 arming zones, one for “Armed Home” and one for “Armed Away”. I don’t use the “Armed Sleep” mode. The modes would be controlled by a z-wave contact for ST control. I will also add a zone for “Panic”. I may also add a “Supervisory” zone where I can have non-burglar zones trigger the alarm to contact the monitoring company so they can track me down - good application for water sensors.
With this approach, I keep my separate and independent operating alarm system. I can monitor the system operation via SmartThings and I can arm the system via SmartThings (and automatically via WebCore). The system can NOT be disarmed via SmartThings and in my mind that is a good thing (You have to have a code).
I am still waiting to hear back from the alarm company that the add-on parts I need are available and compatible with my specific board. I also need the electrical details for interfacing the monitoring and control relays. My plan is to use two MIMO2+, which gives me four inputs (from arm/alarm relays) and four relays (for 2 arming, a panic and a supervisory zone).
Hopefully I will have an update on this as it develops.