Got my shipping notification this AM!
Hey Nate.
I am somewhat of a newbie to this subject, I was looking for just this type of solution for my hard-wired First Alert system.
However, the fact that the Smartthings hub is totally dependent on a WIFI connection leaves a minimal exposure in case of network issues. My hard-wired system has a limited number sensors and a backup battery and I would like to leverage the existing sensors and use your product to supplement my sensor coverage with Smarthings-enabled sensors.
I understand that your solution replaces my existing alarm controller, but is there a reason I can’t use both? In other words, is there a way to ‘jumper’ my sensor wires to both the First Alert system and your Smartthings Intergration Module? That way, I can use Smartthings to monitor all sensors while my First Alert system can be there as an un-monitored backup (with local house siren). In case of a break-in, Smartthings will send me alerts and First Alert will hit the siren. The First Alert system also has an internal bell that rings whenever we are home and a door or window (downstairs) is opened.
If so, I could use Smartthings as the main monitor/controller of the system and the First Alert system as a redundant backup.
Is that possible?
Hey James,
It is possible to run both your existing alarm controller and SmartThings Smart Home Monitor via my solution, but we don’t recommend it. The simple way to do this is with a “relay module” that’s compatible with your alarm panel. You’ll have to do some research to determine if your alarm manufacturer has such a device. Basically a relay module is a way for your existing alarm controller to also switch on/off an external device, in this case that would be the Konnected SmartThings integration.
The problem with this though, is that your existing alarm panel still controls all the logic of arming/disarming the system internally, and SmartThings now only monitors the status of the doors/windows/motion-sensors. It creates a duplicity in control that can be confusing and suboptimal, because it limits what you can do with SmartThings, and you still have to type in a code on your alarm panel every time you come and go.
If the only thing you’re concerned about is backup power and Wifi, there are other solutions for that. For backup power, you can tap into the AUX Power Out of your alarm panel to power the Konnected device, and in case of a power failure it’ll piggyback on your alarm system’s backup battery. You’ll also need to get a UPS device for your WiFi router and/or modem as well, so those will remain up during a power outage. For backup internet, you can invest in a Multi-WAN capable router if your ISP often has outages and subscribe to a cheap backup ISP. We’re also looking into ways to configure multiple WiFi access points in the Konnected device in a future enhancement.
I hope this helps! Please also see the latest release announcement for this project and our new online store where we’ve begun selling plug-and-play kits bundled with one-on-one support to get you up and running quickly and easily.
Nate,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
You’re right. One system has to be the master and the other a slave and it doesn’t make sense for your Konnected STI module and Smartthings to be subservient to an obsolete security system.
Thanks for letting me know about the latest release announcement. I’m definitely in ordering one to try it out. I have 15 sensors, a smoke alarm, and siren. That’s seventeen total objects that I am hoping your system can handle.
I see that one unit can handle up to 6 objects, so I guess I would need 3 total.
The new board looks great but I might have an issue with squeezing all three boards into a small space.
Do you have higher capacity boards that can handle 2x, 3x or more than the base Konnected STI module?
Hi James,
Our 17-zone kit will meet your needs.
Unfortunately, the 6-zones per board is a limitation in the hardware itself. We’re exploring a few ideas to get around this, but for now the only way to get more capacity is to add more boards. The good thing is that you can theoretically have as many boards as you want for virtually unlimited expandability. And, they’re inexpensive enough that we can offer kits like the one linked above for a reasonable price when purchased together.
They’re actually pretty small devices. The footprint of the base is only 6cm x 6cm. They don’t need to be mounted inside your alarm system panel. In fact, in many cases I’d recommend mounting them just outside the alarm panel to improve wifi signal. The devices connect to your home wifi, and when enclosed in the metal enclosure that most alarm systems are mounted in, they tend to lose a bit of wifi signal strength.
I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out directly to help@konnected.io if you have more specific questions about your setup.
Nate,
I totally did not see that kit. It’s perfect!
Okay, I’m in for the 17 Zone kit. I cannot wait to get it set up.
Thanks for your help on this. This saves me a lot of time and money not having to replace all the sensors and batteries (17x over) – not to mention not having to do the research and write the code.
It seems like it will be a simple solution and I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again.
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How fast is the response time when a contact/motion changes state? An intrusion alarm should be instant so if this takes 3-5 seconds, that would not be fast enough.
I’m having trouble with getting any of the three baseboard controller connected to Wi-Fi every time I restart or power cycle the board it loses all of the Wi-Fi settings and I would need to reenter it. I don’t think that’s normal.
It’s on software 2.0.1
It’s nearly instantaneous.
Typical response time is less than one second.
Internally the software polls each sensor every 200 milliseconds. The API request to SmartThings whenever a door opens takes 300 to 500 milliseconds normally. Anecdotally it feels pretty instant.
It should save the WiFi settings as long as the connection is successful. I’d double check the wifi password and make sure you’ve entered it correctly.
Are you able to still arm and disarm from the keypads? I know you can from the app, but I’d like to have the flexibility to do both.
No, your existing keypads will just be wall art.
I’ve thought about removing mine and tapping into the power from the wires there to power a tablet, but never got around to it.
So, in theory I could remove my two keypads and put in something like this (super cheap tablet touchscreen) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01MDUI182/ref=psdc_1232597011_t4_B00QY1H5E8 and run the SmartThings app and just keep the unit unlocked and you can “arm/disarm” from the touch screen.
Can you create something in the app or dev kits to annunciate the status? For instance, when it get armed it says “System armed” or disarmed or front window open… etc.?
Your responses are very much appreciated here.
In theory, yes. You will need to step down the voltage to ~5v and make sure the amperage is sufficient to charge your tablet too. usually anything above 500mA would suffice, depending on your tablet of course.
For best aesthetics, you may want to consider tablets like Nexus 7 that comes with wireless charging. Stick a Qi charger in replacement of your keypad and mount your tablet there so you don’t have USB wires sticking out to charge your tablet
That is a great idea on the Qi wireless charger. I can make that happen.
I’d like to do something similar to replace the old alarm pads, but I just wish there was a dedicated solution that’s both slick and affordable. I’ve seen plent of Solutions on the forums here, but they’re always using some form of a 3D printed wall-mounted frame/case and they never look 100% aesthetically pleasing… at least in my humble opinion anyway.
I wish there was a dedicated product specifically geared towards replacing these old alarm keypads.
I like the idea of a tablet here for status display and light controls, but I wouldn’t use it to manually arm/disarm. Smart Home Monitor doesn’t have a delay function, so if you armed the system from inside, you’d trigger an intrusion as soon as you leave.
Similarly with disarming, you would trigger an intrusion before you can get inside. Also it wouldn’t be very secure (I guess you could set a passcode on your tablet).
Yeah I agree – i was just thinking a display to run Smart/Action tiles to replace the alarm keypads in my house… not for an alarm enable/disable function.
I just don’t feel like kludging a Nexus 7 on the wall with a makeshift mount and charger-- I wish there was a cleaner more professionally looking device and mounting solution. It sounds niche, but everyone replacing their traditional alarm system with a IoT compatible system like Konnected, would be a potential customer. I have 2 alarm keypads in my house I’d like to replace.
I went to a frame store and had them make a custom frame for my tablet. I suspect you could do the same for smaller devices like a phone.