This morning I pulled out the basic thermostat on the second floor and started installing the Aprilaire 8870 communicating thermostat. I found the Cat-5 wires behind the existing thermostat wires, figured out where they're connected in the patch panel, and hooked them all up to the 8870 base. It was about then, that I remembered I still need to purchase an Aprilaire 8027 transformer for the Aprilaire 8818 Distribution Panel to supply power to the thermostats. Ugh.

So I patched the old thermostat back on top of the 8870 base as a temporary solution until I get an 8027. Then I went online and ordered an 8027 (along with a few more Simply Automated switches) from StartHomeUSA.com.

Tonight I finished creating the templates for the home security screens. These CQC overlays will be used as part of the home automation system to monitor all the doors, windows, and motion detectors via the Elk controller.

I emailed Dean Roddey, the owner of Charmed Quark, and received my license file for CQC. I installed it on my server and now I can start creating the templates for the home automation controller.

This afternoon, I started configuring the server that I will use for the CQC controller. I installed the ELK-RP software and successfully hooked it up to the ELK-M1G. I was able to communicate with the Elk controller and configure it.

This morning I installed a siren/speaker in the second floor hallway. It involved drilling a big hole in the wall and fishing out the wire. Now when the alarm is set, the Elk controller provides vocal feedback as well as an interior siren.Publish Post

Today I hooked up the motion detectors to the Elk controller. Earlier, I had purchased a component from Fry's to act as a bus bar so that I could wire up the motion detectors to the 12V output on the Elk controller.

I also had to add a 2.2K Ohm resistors in each of the motion detectors between the Normally Closed signal and the Common.

The Elk controller expects to see 2.2K Ohms on each of it's inputs in order to prevent someone from just shorting out the wires and circumventing the security system.

I checked continuity on the wire to the external horn this morning and installed the horn. Then I checked the wire to the keypad by the garage entrance and I installed the keypad with the flush mount kit. It was all very straightforward.

I programmed the names of some of the zones and set them all to DISABLED for now.

In the next couple of days I'll enable the motion detectors and then we should be able to set the alarm (and it will actually do something).

I drove down to HomeTech Solutions in Cupertino today and picked up an ELK-45 horn for the house. I also picked up an ELK-M1KP2 key pad and the flush mounting kit for it.

Today I attached the Elk-M1XSP's to the structured wiring panel and plugged them into the Elk-M1DBH. I also built a Cat-5 wire for the Elk-M1XIN and plugged it into the Elk-M1DBH too.

I decided to locate the Aprilaire 8818 distribution panel on the wall, just below the wiring panel. I screwed it into the wall, leaving enough room for the Aprilaire 8811 protocol adapter which sits between the Elk-M1SXP and the 8818. While putting these components together, I realized that I need to purchase a power supply for the 8818 (why don't they ship the 8818 with a power supply!?!?). I connected the 8811 to the Elk-M1XSP with the DB-9 connector and cable supplied with the 8811.

When I had everything connected together, I powered on the Elk controller and asked it to search for devices on the RS-485 bus. It found all of the components I had hooked up. So far so good!

I picked up some cable fasteners from Fry's Electronics today. I used them to tidy up and secure the AC power cable for the Elk-M1Gold controller.

I also brought some 4-conductor wire, Cat-5 wire, RJ-45 plugs, and crimping tools with me and started connecting the various components together.

First, I connected the Elk-M1DBH to the Elk-M1Gold controller with the 4-conductor wire. The Elk-M1DBH sits on the RS-485 bus and acts like a hub.

Next, I built some Cat-5 cables to connect the Elk-M1DBH to the Elk-M1XSP's. I need to pick up some short #4 screws. I'll use them to attach the Elk-M1XSP circuit boards to their enclosures (without their covers) and then I'll use sticky tape to attach the enclosures to the structured wiring panel.

I configured one Elk-M1XSP to interface with the UPB lighting controls and set it to address #1 (device type 5). I configured the other Elk-M1XSP to interface with the Aprilaire thermostats and set it to address #2 (device type 5). I also configured the Elk-M1XIN to address #2 (device type 2 -- the Elk-M1Gold is address #1 by default).

From the M1G Installation and Programming manual:

Each data bus device is a specific "Device Type". Keypads are TYPE 1, Input (Zone) Expanders are TYPE 2, Output Expanders are TYPE 3, Serial Port Expanders are TYPE 5.... Every data bus device MUST have a unique "Address" setting within its type.

Today, I installed the Elk-M1DBH data bus hub into the structured wiring panel just below the controller. It gets screwed onto a mounting plate which snaps into the panel. I didn't have any 4-conductor wire, so I haven't hooked it up to the Elk controller yet. This component will connect -- via Cat-5 wire -- to Elk-M1XIN's (for additional security detectors) and Elk-M1XSP's (for lighting and thermostat control).

I also installed the Elk-M1XIN 16 zone input expander into the structured wiring panel. It gets installed vertically in the panel between a pair of plastic guides. I didn't have any Cat-5 wire with me either, so I couldn't connect it to the Elk-M1DBH.

I'll have to bring some wire with me next time!

I had lunch with a friend this afternoon and I told him about my plans for the home automation system I'm building. He suggested I start a new blog along the same lines as my other blog: http://building-the-new-house.blogspot.com. I thought that was a great idea, so here goes....

Here's a list of the features I'd like the system to handle:

• home security including door and window contacts, motion detectors, water detectors, heat and smoke detectors
• security cameras
• front door bell and camera
• IP phone system
• lighting control
  
• irrigation control
• thermostats
• A/V distribution and control
• other features?
  

After doing a bunch of research several months ago, I settled on a product called CQC from Charmed Quark Systems, and I purchased a license for the software back in December. It runs on a Windows PC and will serve as the control system for the house.

On the hardware side, I chose the M1Gold controller from Elk Products as the backbone of the home security and home automation system. For lighting control, I'm using UPB products from Simply Automated. And for thermostats, I chose Aprilaire. I purchased most of the hardware components several months ago on eBay and from various other online stores including SmartHomeUSA.com:

• Elk-M1G controller
• Elk-M1DBH - data bus hub
• Elk-M1XIN - 16 zone input expander
• Elk-M1XSP - lighting expander & serial/thermostat interface
• Aprilaire 8811 protocol adapter
• Aprilaire 8818 distribution panel
• Aprilaire 8870 communicating thermostat
• Simply Automated Advanced Starter Package

Well, yesterday I got started and installed and tested the first piece of the hardware -- the Elk-M1G controller. It powers up okay and talks to the keypad. That's one small step...