What smoke detectors?

Post by **stefxx** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:26 pm

It is time to upgrade my smoke detectors. I never want battery operated smoke detectors again, the battery alarm always goes off at night

So, I am looking for 230v smoke detectors with X10 signaling. Preferably the signaling uses the 230v line, not wireless.

What are my options? can someone give me some advice?

Thanks!

Post by **TANE** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:33 pm

I'm using Visonic smoke detectors they are with battery that will work for about 3 years.
When there is any problem...or the battery status is low I can see that in my HS.
All the detectors are also connected to my Visonic alarm system..that will also report problem or low battery.

Post by **Bwired** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:58 pm

I have the same detectors as Chak, the Visonic smoke detectors can also be received by the RFXCOM receiver for visonic so you can use them in your HA system as well.

Post by **stefxx** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:25 am

Thanks! Maybe that is a good idea as well. I guess you are using the MCT-425 or MCT-425L?
Do the Visonic detecters also have a audio alarm on low battery? And can that be disabled? If I can make an event in HS on low battery (like send an email) that would be more than enough!
As this would be my first RFXCOM equipment I need a RFXCOM receiver as well. What can you recommend?

Post by **Bwired** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:29 am

That right, I use like 10 MCT-425 Supervised Wireless Smoke Detector.
When the Battery gets low on power a battery low message is send. After a while, if you not replace the battery you will hear a beep every minute and a Led flash, This can not be turned off.
I would advise a RFXCOM receiver with a 433Mhz and 868Mhz receiver module. There are two versions USB or network, choice is up to you.

Post by **stefxx** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:00 pm

Thanks, learning all the time!

I looked all morning at the www.rfxcom.com site and the more I look at it, the less I understand. I think I need this:

LAN 2 COM 433.92MHz transmitter + X10/Oregon receiver set
Item Number 87005 247.52 EUR
868.95MHz Visonic slave receiver
Item Number 40079 58.31 EUR

I decided on the LAN interface and I think it makes sense to have the receiver AND transmitter for 433Mhz for future expansion, and it is only 25 euros extra. And off course the 868Mhz Visonic receiver for the smoke detectors. Right?

But there are two other options I am not sure about:

RS232 Serial Interface module
Item Number 77000 21.96 EUR

They recommend the serial interface for WLAN or WLAN/LAN. Not for LAN only. Would I miss something by not buying the serial interface?

433.92MHz Visonic slave receiver
Item Number 40077 58.31 EUR

And this got me confused, I don't think I need this because the Visonic operates (also) at 868Mhz, right? Why would anyone buy this receiver?

I also noticed that a 868Mhz transmitter does not exist, correct?

Last, I assume I don't need Xanura RFIX35 anymore.

Sorry for all the questions. But I can only spend my money once, so I like to do it right the first time.

Thanks!

Post by **Bwired** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:20 pm

Did you see this topic?
http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=411

It's possible to put 2 receivers and 1 transmitter in the LAN module.
With the 433 Mhz receiver you can receive a lot of other Home automation stuff like
X10, Oregon Scientific, KlikAan-KlikUit, ELRO, NEXA, Domia Lite, ATI Remote Wonder, HomeEasy, RFXSensor, RFXPower, RFXMeter.

With the RS232 Serial Interface module you can control a serial device over lan but it's replacing a extisting module

Post by **b_weijenberg** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:48 pm

If you make an error in the WLAN configuration setting the wrong encryption mode or key you don't have access anymore to the WLAN controller and you need the RS232 Serial interface module to be able to configure the WLAN controller. This is the reason that the RS232 module is advised for WLAN interfaces.

In NL all Visonic panels use now 868.95Mhz. A few years ago 433.92 was sold and this is still available in other European countries.

There is no 868.95MHz transmitter available because there is no use for it.

If you install Xanura modules you need a Xanura controller.

Post by **stefxx** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:24 pm

Thanks, I am starting to understand now.

I will buy the "LAN 2 COM 433.92MHz transmitter + X10/Oregon receiver set, Item Number 87005" with the "868.95MHz Visonic slave receiver Item Number 40079".

Post by **stefxx** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:23 pm

Ok, I connected the RFXCOM receiver and three Visonic smoke detectors. Everything seems fine, but where is the battery indicator in Homeseer?

Post by **b_weijenberg** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:44 pm

There is no battery indicator. When battery low occurs the sensor transmits a battery low signal. This will be displayed in the RFXCOM Alarm Panel Messages (security device 3).

Post by **stefxx** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:12 am

Ok, thanks. I just hope the sensor transmit the low battery signal a few days before the sensor itself will start beeping, so that gives me time to replace the battery and the warning signal doesn't wake me in the middle of the night again!

Post by **b_weijenberg** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:09 am

The battery empty signal will be transmitted when a battery low condition is detected by the sensor. As Pieter said before: you will hear a beep every minute and a Led flash, This can not be turned off.

Post by **Bwired** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:56 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sddroog
 Ok, thanks. I just hope the sensor transmit the low battery signal a few days before the sensor itself will start beeping, so that gives me time to replace the battery and the warning signal doesn't wake me in the middle of the night again!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I see you have your Visonic smokesensors, together with the sensors you got a manual, in the manual is written "When the Battery gets low on power a battery low message is send. After a while, if you not replace the battery you will hear a beep every minute and a Led flash" [V]

Post by **stefxx** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:43 am

Thanks everybody! Sorry if I kept asked for the same thing, I just wanted to be sure. I did read the manual, but real user experience is often different from expectations you get after reading a manual.

I am happy with the RFXCOM receiver, which I will use for weather sensors in the near future as well, and perhaps more. The smoke detectors work fine.

Thanks again for the help and good advice!