Alarm system upgrade recommendation (Ideally with HA integration)

[Ghost02]

This is a duplicate thread but the other didn't get traction and this is probably a better place for it.

The current alarm in my house is quite old and only supports 8 channels. It's a Cadax MX-6.

A security company has quoted me on upgrading to a Paradox MG5050 with an IP180 internet module. I would like to do some HA integration and it looks like the IP180 module isn't compatible with HomeAssistant and only the IP150 module is.

Should I ask for the MG5050 system with an IP150 module instead or are there other brands I should look at? I would like to keep my current wired beams and passives if possible. He said it would be with the MG5050 system.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Get the MG5050+ as it has an extra serial connection on board, always nice having the expansion option.

If you can't get the IP150 then you can just build your own ESP32-based solution. I've done this and it works flawlessly.

 

[Segg]

I don't think you can get the IP150 any more, alarm got drilled by lightning earlier in the year and the IP180 is all I could find, so just running Paradox's blue eye for now.

 

[Ghost02]

Get the MG5050+ as it has an extra serial connection on board, always nice having the expansion option.

If you can't get the IP150 then you can just build your own ESP32-based solution. I've done this and it works flawlessly.

Do you know if I could do the IP180 and EPS32 based solution at the same time with the extra serial connection?

 

[Ghost02]

I don't think you can get the IP150 any more, alarm got drilled by lightning earlier in the year and the IP180 is all I could find, so just Paradox's running blue eye for now.

How is blue eye?

 

[Segg]

How is blue eye?

Can't complain, can arm & disarm remotely, view zones that are open, receive alarm activations etc

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Do you know if I could do the IP180 and EPS32 based solution at the same time with the extra serial connection?

I'm not sure, I've never used the IP180 (or IP150). I have an Olarm connected to mine on serial 1 and the ESP32 on serial 2 and those seem to work just fine on the same panel.

 

[Ghost02]

I'm not sure, I've never used the IP180 (or IP150). I have an Olarm connected to mine on serial 1 and the ESP32 on serial 2 and those seem to work just fine on the same panel.

Thanks, can you remember which EPS32 device you bought?

 

[3Gee]

I'm not sure, I've never used the IP180 (or IP150). I have an Olarm connected to mine on serial 1 and the ESP32 on serial 2 and those seem to work just fine on the same panel.

What added advantages does the ESP32 provide over the Olarm ?

 

[Steamy Tom]

What added advantages does the ESP32 provide over the Olarm ?

cost and flexibility would be my guess

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Thanks, can you remember which EPS32 device you bought?

Heh, no. I've got a few different types. This page has some info on two different versions the person tested with: https://github.com/ParadoxAlarmInterface/pai/wiki/Connection-methods#serial-over-ip-esp32

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

What added advantages does the ESP32 provide over the Olarm ?

The ability to integrate with Home Assistant and by extension Apple Home Kit.

There is a Olarm integration, but not and official one and you must use their cloud service API which is really slow and unreliable. The ESP32 is all local and everything works instantly in Home Assistant and HomeKit. The convenience of just being able to set the alarm from the iOS control center is awesome.

 

[vic777]

What added advantages does the ESP32 provide over the Olarm ?

Local, no cloud, super cheap, no monthly subscription?

The Paradox MG5050+ works well with HA + PAI + some device to connect the alarm to the HA instance. Going the ESP32 is cheap and easy

I described my current setup here, if it helps:

Paradox - using Babyware and a USB-TTL

Hey all Lots of posts on this but a lot of these posts relate to integrating the alarm system into HA and PAI. I am struggling using the keypad to do what I need to do, and it feels overly complex to program the system this way. I managed to download a copy of Babyware and want to use some of...

mybroadband.co.za

 

[vic777]

Thanks, can you remember which EPS32 device you bought?

You can use any ESP32. You can also use a ESP8266, but I prefer the ESP32 as it has more than one hardware serial interface, so you don't need to use SoftwareSerial