Cheap way to add wireless status LED to backdoors?

The other night my wife opened the back french doors and set the alarm off. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how I could add some kind of status light to my two back french doors. It would need to be wireless. I'm not sure how it could be done but I would like to maybe have a LED next to door to show the state of the alarm. I have an ELK connected to my HA computer that runs Girder. I also have a WG800 and Ocelot if that helps.

Wireless data or completely wireless, aka battery powered.

Guess I could get power to doors so just data

cast0077 said:

Guess I could get power to doors so just data

Click to expand...

Arduinos with XBee shields would be my solution. Simply have the Elk spit out an ASCII trigger and when it's received on the other side at the door, toggle a digital output. Power it from a wall wart at a nearby receptacle.

Cool now I have a reason to get an Arduino but still open to other options if anyone has another option

cast0077 said:

Cool now I have a reason to get an Arduino but still open to other options if anyone has another option

Click to expand...

I'll tell you what, you buy the Arduinos, shields and I'll send you two XBee radios. PM me. For ease, I'd recommend an intermediary serial interface (a la http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoSoftwareRS232 )as opposed to USB to connect to the Elk. I've done similar with Arduino>XBee>Wireless>Xbee>Arduino>HAI and it was a ton of fun.

If you are going to run power to the location anyway, you can use a cheap Leviton X-10 button controller and use the LEDs as status indicators. Sending X-10 only to turn the LEDs on and off, not control anything.

I set off the alarm at the last place that same way - not paying attention, and going out the back french doors to check on the pool or whatever.

What about controlling a wall-wart via X10 that's hooked to an LED? When the alarm is armed, turn on the x10 module which has a 12V wall-wart plugged in controlling a 12V LED Red LED?

Personally I had always wanted to go back and put a KPAS there but never got around to it.

This is a bit over the top for a simple indicator lamp but...

I use the ISY-99 linked to the Elk via the network. I have Insteon Keypadlincs at each entry point to the house. Sub buttons on the KPL's indicate the open/closed and lock status of the door as well as the arm status of the ELK.

As a side note, even though I have the ARM button on the KPL GLOWING RED when armed, my family will not even hesitate to open the door and set off the system. My family members have informed me that I have implemented a "stupid" system - It should be able to detect whether the door/slider is opened from the inside vs outside. While I would love to implement a system that could detect and monitor internal occupants, I'm not in that tax bracket. I wish you better luck with your family.

Indy Mike:

While I don't have this hooked up to an alarm I do have the ability to know what side of a door a person is on...approximately. I have motions in the house that I can see from my automation system and each one is basically considered a zone that times out after 20 minutes. If the room where the door is has recent motion and is opened the outside lights are turned on. If there was no motion then I turn on the inside lights. They all work a bit differently and take time of day into consideration. It actually works pretty well, not perfect but about as well as you can given the sensors I have.

indymike - it's pretty doable if they want to be stubborn about it - I think your best bet would be a Request To Exit sensor - these are very limited range motion detectors that you basically point right in front of the door, and nowhere else... that way if someone is in that tiny zone and the door opens, you could make rules to detect and disarm.
http://www.iautomate.com/products/Dual-Technology-Request%252dTo%252dExit-Motion-Sensor.html


There is one scenario where that'd be bad... someone rings your doorbell, so you're looking through the viewfinder to see who it is when they kick down the door - now they're in just fine. Of course, that's a small risk.

Of course, you could just mount a GE Screamer above the door so they REALLY regret opening the door without disarming first - a couple times of having your ears bleed like that should train them as well.