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Home Security / Automation Setup

853 Views | 7 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by Pinochet
AGeng25
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AG
My new home (new build) was set up with security and smart home considerations, but I'd like to explore my options.

Setup:

  • windows and doors are setup with pre-wired alarm sensors (i.e. if door or window opens, alarm would sound)
  • 2x Honeywell thermostats with Z-wave capability - model TH6320ZW2003
  • 2x z-wave capable light switches -- front porch light, back porch lights
  • Skybell video doorbell

BSG (https://bsgtexas.com/) set up the following as well:
  • motion sensor in living room
  • BSG touch-screen keypad to control system

What I used in my previous home:
  • Wyze door and motion sensors
  • Wyze video doorbell
  • Wyze outdoor & indoor cameras
  • Wyze leak detectors
  • Wyze hub to connect all
  • Wyze alarm monitoring service ($60/year)

What I'd like:
  • a touch-screen hub that would allow me to set alarms, check doorbell video, etc -- this should be able to connect to z-wave light switches and thermostats if possible, as well as video doorbell
  • continue to use Wyze home monitoring service since it's so cheap -- they have been very good. I can easily replace the motion sensor and door sensors with Wyze sensors to make this compatible if needed.

Considerations:
  • online info suggests I can connect the Skybell video doorbell to Amazon Echo Show
  • online info suggests I can connect Wyze cameras to Amazon Echo Show as well
  • quick check at BSG shows that their door sensors use 345Mhz frequency -- I assume I'd have to replace these with z-wave or different sensors (Wyze makes some)
  • online info suggests I can control the Wyze home security hub with the Amazon Echo Show

Questions:
  • Can I simply replace the BSG touch-screen keypad control panel with any other smart control panel? i.e. Amazon Echo Show or Nest
  • How do I connect the pre-wired window sensors? They all funnel into a panel box in my master closet. is there a specific motherboard I need? I only notice each window has 1 sensor on the wall and not one on the window itself. Do I still need the dual sensor for each window?
  • Am I going to need a different thermostat other than the Honeywells if I want to connect them through whatever main hub I use (like Amazon Echo Show)?
Pinochet
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Most hubs can connect through another web API, but zwave is a local technology. You need some sort of zwave hub/coordinator to connect that stuff. How much effort do you want to put into this? You could use something like Konnected to replace the alarm panel and access it through your home network. All of these things have some level of extra effort to get working together.
gabehcoud
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AGeng25 said:


  • Wyze leak detectors

  • code word for pee pee cam?
    htxag09
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    AG
    AGeng25 said:

    • Am I going to need a different thermostat other than the Honeywells if I want to connect them through whatever main hub I use (like Amazon Echo Show)?

    What type of AC systems did you get? Generally, the thermostats with the units will be better than 3rd party. Also, think with a different thermostat you can lose some functionality of your AC, for example if you got a variable unit.
    AGeng25
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    AG
    gabehcoud said:

    AGeng25 said:


  • Wyze leak detectors

  • code word for pee pee cam?
    Sensors that detect water. This has saved me from larger issues numerous times. Months ago the sensor I put in my attic in the A/C drip pan activated late one night and sent me an alarm. The drain line was clogged and it was backfilling into the pan. I was able to catch it quickly and clear the line before a larger problem happened.
    AGeng25
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    AG
    htxag09 said:

    AGeng25 said:

    • Am I going to need a different thermostat other than the Honeywells if I want to connect them through whatever main hub I use (like Amazon Echo Show)?

    What type of AC systems did you get? Generally, the thermostats with the units will be better than 3rd party. Also, think with a different thermostat you can lose some functionality of your AC, for example if you got a variable unit.
    Both are single phase, so I think it's just a preference of using the Residio App to control them vs getting a new thermostat controllable by common interface
    htxag09
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    AG
    Pinochet
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    AGeng25 said:

    htxag09 said:

    AGeng25 said:

    • Am I going to need a different thermostat other than the Honeywells if I want to connect them through whatever main hub I use (like Amazon Echo Show)?

    What type of AC systems did you get? Generally, the thermostats with the units will be better than 3rd party. Also, think with a different thermostat you can lose some functionality of your AC, for example if you got a variable unit.
    Both are single phase, so I think it's just a preference of using the Residio App to control them vs getting a new thermostat controllable by common interface

    The zwave standard allows you to use zwave thermostats with different coordinators (hubs), so you shouldn't need to get new thermostats. Honeywell's also open theirs with an API if you connect them to their servers. You don't need a new thermostat to use a different home automation solution.
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