M1 Gold Installation Quickstart

This weekend I will be powering up my Elk M1G. I have mounted the main board and most modules in 2 Leviton cans. Now it's time to power up this bad boy!

I'm wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions that will make this easier? While I have 4 keypads, I do know to start with connecting only one. Here are some questions that I have?

1) What is the easiest way to configure the M1G?

2) Should I connect the ethernet module at the start?

3) Should I connect any inputs (such as windows or doors) or wait until the main board works with 1 keypad?

Any suggestions would be appreciated?

1) See 2

2) Yes, and that is the easiest way. Except if memory serves me you have to enroll devices from the keypad.

3) Connect them at the start

Make sure you get the ELKRP software ASAP. You have to register on their website, and sometimes it can take a few days to get the account approved, especially once the weekend hits.

Thanks guys. I should have mentioned that I already registered with Elk and my credentials do work. I will download ElkRP this morning to be sure I can get it. I'm actually looking forward to working on this over the weekend. My M1G setup is pretty big....as in, I have 6 input expansion modules. B)

You'll probably spend most of your time laying out the components, and organizing the wires. Are you mounting the M1 on a backplate, or directly onto the back of the can?

Dan (electron) said:

You'll probably spend most of your time laying out the components, and organizing the wires. Are you mounting the M1 on a backplate, or directly onto the back of the can?

Click to expand...

Backplane? :unsure: I attached the plastic case for the M1G into a Leviton 42" can. Most of the components are now mounted in 2 Leviton 42" cans. I have a 3rd can that I will use for my networking, phones and video wires.

I have LOTS of wires to connect!!! But I can connect things a little at a time. My initial focus is to get the basic M1G up and running. I'll connect most things as time permits over the coming weeks/months. Here's a summary of what I get to connect...

Total Number of Alarm Keypads: 4
Total Number of Interior Door Sensors: 24
Total Number of Exterior Door Sensors: 5
Total Number of Furnace Monitor Sensors: 1
Total Number of Garage Door Openers: 2
Total Number of Garage Door Sensors: 2
Total Number of Glass Break Sensors: 10
Total Number of Heat Detector Sensors: 1
Total Number of Irrigation System Sensors: 1
Total Number of Temperature Sensors: 6
Total Number of Occupancy Sensors: 47
Total Number of Piezo Screamers: 2
Total Number of Sirens: 2
Total Number of Strobes: 1
Total Number of Water Leak Detectors: 23
Total Number of Window Sensors: 19

It doesn't take that long to plug the wires into the board. I would do all of that right off to get rid of the spaghetti of wires. You can spend time programming what the system does with each of those later.

I have a similar number of water detectors as you. But I did not use one zone for each one. I clustered them into a handful of groups. Similar to fire detectors, in residential setting you really don't need to pinpoint heat/water/smoke that specifically, it should be quite obvious finding the problem once the system alarms.

That is a lot of interior door sensors. What are you using them for?

That's a lot! Are you able to hook all these up everything without expanders?

Nope. I bought 6 expanders (for now) and will buy the remaining expanders as I purchase occupancy sensors.

I actually did not get started this past weekend due to unforeseen circumstances... i.e. - my daughter crashed her laptop so I spend lots of time diagnosing and rebuilding it. Fingers are crossed for this weekend!