Paradox alarm install - integrate with HA

[furpile]

Hi. I need to install an alarm system, and eventually want it to integrate with HA. I am looking at the Paradox MG5050 control panel as the base of the system.

The system has to operate as a basic offline alarm system initially, thus a basic keypad and remotes to arm/disarm. Can you add a standard remote control to a Paradox alarm or only their very expensive remotes?

List of parts to follow for comments or suggestions.

Thanks

 

[MattRoy]

Hi. I need to install an alarm system, and eventually want it to integrate with HA. I am looking at the Paradox MG5050 control panel as the base of the system.

The system has to operate as a basic offline alarm system initially, thus a basic keypad and remotes to arm/disarm. Can you add a standard remote control to a Paradox alarm or only their very expensive remotes?

List of parts to follow for comments or suggestions.

Thanks

You can add a standard remote, such as an ET Blu, provided a compatible receiver is present. The receiver is just a relay that can be wired into the MG5050.

Our system at home works like this and has a dual relay receiver that allows for arm/disarm and panic. If I get a chance I will take some pictures of the wiring to give you an idea of what goes where.

 

[furpile]

You can add a standard remote, such as an ET Blu, provided a compatible receiver is present. The receiver is just a relay that can be wired into the MG5050.

Our system at home works like this and has a dual relay receiver that allows for arm/disarm and panic. If I get a chance I will take some pictures of the wiring to give you an idea of what goes where.

Thanks, so remote and receiver, and then just wire receiver into the correct terminals on the control panel?

 

[MattRoy]

Thanks, so remote and receiver, and then just wire receiver into the correct terminals on the control panel?

Correct!

 

[deweyzeph]

I have an ET receiver wired into my Paradox MG5050 and it works like a charm. You just need to wire it into one of the hardwired zone inputs, and then configure it as a "Keyswitch". Personally I use Babyware to program my Paradox, but if you want to do it the hard way you can also program the system through the keypad.

 

[furpile]

I have an ET receiver wired into my Paradox MG5050 and it works like a charm. You just need to wire it into one of the hardwired zone inputs, and then configure it as a "Keyswitch". Personally I use Babyware to program my Paradox, but if you want to do it the hard way you can also program the system through the keypad.

Awesome thanks.

 

[MidnightZA]

Thanks, so remote and receiver, and then just wire receiver into the correct terminals on the control panel?

I got a paradox alarm installed last year. The remote and receiver will be a waste. Once you get it HA running and set up to your liking you will almost never use it. Unless you have extra buttons on an existing remote, you will be carrying around a remote for no reason. Unless you keep it in the car for times HA goes crazy (Its rare but it does happen),

Last year some time PAI stopped working for a few days because of an update on HA side, I had to use the keypad a few times, else the keypad is not used at all. Once in more than a year isn't worth it for me to install a receiver

 

[furpile]

I got a paradox alarm installed last year. The remote and receiver will be a waste. Once you get it HA running and set up to your liking you will almost never use it. Unless you have extra buttons on an existing remote, you will be carrying around a remote for no reason. Unless you keep it in the car for times HA goes crazy (Its rare but it does happen),

Last year some time PAI stopped working for a few days because of an update on HA side, I had to use the keypad a few times, else the keypad is not used at all. Once in more than a year isn't worth it for me to install a receiver

Thanks. Will need a remote anyway for the gate and garage (although I do have them in HA as well), and need a physical remote for my wife. So not an issue to program it as an extra button. It will also take some time until I have it set up in HA so will need the remotes for the first few months.

 

[deweyzeph]

I got a paradox alarm installed last year. The remote and receiver will be a waste. Once you get it HA running and set up to your liking you will almost never use it. Unless you have extra buttons on an existing remote, you will be carrying around a remote for no reason. Unless you keep it in the car for times HA goes crazy (Its rare but it does happen),

Last year some time PAI stopped working for a few days because of an update on HA side, I had to use the keypad a few times, else the keypad is not used at all. Once in more than a year isn't worth it for me to install a receiver

I don't have HA setup, but I do have the Insight Gold app on my phone to control my Paradox remotely, but I find it much easier when I arrive home to just use the ET remote, because then I don't have to fiddle around with my phone while I'm waiting in the street to turn into my driveway. Also, I use the same remote for my automatic garage door, so it's just a matter of pressing one button to disarm the alarm system, and then pressing the next button to open the garage door.

 

[n00bster]

I use Paradox Sp6000 with HA, works well. I do have 2 Sherlo remotes programed for panic and 2 zones. Make sure to disable updates and Connection to insite on the IP150 module so you don't get surprise broken updates from paradox.

Integration is EZ looking back after some research. Works local and external connections.

Just make sure everything has backup power for the loadshedingg days.

 

[furpile]

I use Paradox Sp6000 with HA, works well. I do have 2 Sherlo remotes programed for panic and 2 zones. Make sure to disable updates and Connection to insite on the IP150 module so you don't get surprise broken updates from paradox.

Integration is EZ looking back after some research. Works local and external connections.

Just make sure everything has backup power for the loadshedingg days.

Thanks, will look at the Spectra as well. The MG5050 seems to be the same but with wireless built in? I don't think I will use wireless sensors.

 

[Supine]

I got a paradox alarm installed last year. The remote and receiver will be a waste. Once you get it HA running and set up to your liking you will almost never use it. Unless you have extra buttons on an existing remote, you will be carrying around a remote for no reason. Unless you keep it in the car for times HA goes crazy (Its rare but it does happen),

Last year some time PAI stopped working for a few days because of an update on HA side, I had to use the keypad a few times, else the keypad is not used at all. Once in more than a year isn't worth it for me to install a receiver

How do you use HA with your Paradox system? Do you just use your phone app to manually arm and disarm instead of using the remote, or is it set to do this automatically (like based on the location of the phone).

I am looking to set up a HA system for my Paradox alarm and would be interested to hear how other people use it.

 

[MidnightZA]

How do you use HA with your Paradox system? Do you just use your phone app to manually arm and disarm instead of using the remote, or is it set to do this automatically (like based on the location of the phone).

I am looking to set up a HA system for my Paradox alarm and would be interested to hear how other people use it.

I do a mix of both.

I have a few automations that arm the house for various times. For example if we are at home and no doors have been opened for 30min, then the exterior beams will arm. If no motion is detected around the house for 1 hour after 9pm, then the interior will arm in stay mode etc.

I have a few Zigbee wireless buttons around the house, so I use those to arm only,

I use telegram to arm and disarm also. Its much faster than opening the HA app. Also, in the case that I lose remote access, telegram messages go through.

I used to be able to use telegram via my Samsung fitness tracker but that broke.

 

[n00bster]

How do you use HA with your Paradox system? Do you just use your phone app to manually arm and disarm instead of using the remote, or is it set to do this automatically (like based on the location of the phone).

I am looking to set up a HA system for my Paradox alarm and would be interested to hear how other people use it.

you can do a lot of stuff with it, like Midnight said. You set it up as per your needs basically endless possibilities.

you can use a combination of location and devices connected to your wifi and even Bluetooth to setup automations for the alarm.

At the moment I only use HA app and Remotes when I do not have phone on me. I launch the app quickly with double press of my power button on my Samsung. Sometimes I even arm it using my Galaxy watch using Scripts when I don't have my phone or remote at hand.

Next Automation I want to do is if I pick up my phone off the wireless charging pad in the morning when I wake up I want the house alarm turned off in case I pick it up in the middle of the night I will try and add a extra rule to only disarm if it is after 06:00 when I lift it off the charging pad.

I have notifications to tell me which device triggered the alarm as well. Later when I have all my flood lights installed with Sonoff switches I will add a time delay for the lights to turn on after alarm is triggered to simulate someone turning on the lights for when no one is home.

1 last bonus automation I saw on Youtube, guy has cat problems. He used his camera integrated with HA to verify that it was a cat then it activated sprinklers to spray them. I might even use this as the cat do sometimes set off one of my beams on the patio.

 

[Neuk_]

I did have our Paradox MG5050 integrated with our HA but the RPi SD card committed seppuku and I haven't been able to get the RPi up and running reliably Frustrating as I am using Insite Gold again and it isn't as great as using HA but I am glad that we have backup options.

 

[MattRoy]

you can do a lot of stuff with it, like Midnight said. You set it up as per your needs basically endless possibilities.

you can use a combination of location and devices connected to your wifi and even Bluetooth to setup automations for the alarm.

At the moment I only use HA app and Remotes when I do not have phone on me. I launch the app quickly with double press of my power button on my Samsung. Sometimes I even arm it using my Galaxy watch using Scripts when I don't have my phone or remote at hand.

Next Automation I want to do is if I pick up my phone off the wireless charging pad in the morning when I wake up I want the house alarm turned off in case I pick it up in the middle of the night I will try and add a extra rule to only disarm if it is after 06:00 when I lift it off the charging pad.

I have notifications to tell me which device triggered the alarm as well. Later when I have all my flood lights installed with Sonoff switches I will add a time delay for the lights to turn on after alarm is triggered to simulate someone turning on the lights for when no one is home.

1 last bonus automation I saw on Youtube, guy has cat problems. He used his camera integrated with HA to verify that it was a cat then it activated sprinklers to spray them. I might even use this as the cat do sometimes set off one of my beams on the patio.

For your disarm when picking phone up off of the wireless charging pad case, you could also look at your phone's next alarm to determine whether you should disarm or not.

 

[furpile]

For the actual Paradox hardware, the control board will be either the MG5050 or the SP6000. From what I can see they have the same features, with the MG5050 having wireless built in and a few other features I am not sure I will need. I don't plan on having any wireless sensors on the alarm, is there any other reason to choose this over the SP6000? Both take the IP150 module needed for HA integration. I don't want the Insight Gold app either.

I will need at least 16 zones for the main house, and another 8/16 zone extension for the flat. Will all the sensors in the flat connect to the expansion module in the flat, and then wired to the main control board? Can you arm/disarm the flat independently of the main house or will it need a separate control panel as well?

For the keypad I think the basic 32 zone keypad will be fine, since I will be integrating into HA.

Something like this kit looks like a good starting point, although I would probably want other passives and some extra door contacts. An expansion module will also be required since the board only takes 8 zones. This should cover the house, the flat will need some more parts.

 

[n00bster]

If you are renting out the flat then I would suggest getting a separate alarm for it. Connecting the flat to the same alarm is possible but they won't have much control over how they arm it or disarm it I think unless it connected to a seperate board and have their own keypad for it.

I think it's called partitions. You will for example have outside beams in Partition 1. House PIR's in partition 2 and then the Flat in Partition 3 that can be controlled from main panel or its own panel.

Paradox expert will have to confirm if that is possible. If not you will need completely separate system for the flat.

 

[MattRoy]

For the actual Paradox hardware, the control board will be either the MG5050 or the SP6000. From what I can see they have the same features, with the MG5050 having wireless built in and a few other features I am not sure I will need. I don't plan on having any wireless sensors on the alarm, is there any other reason to choose this over the SP6000? Both take the IP150 module needed for HA integration. I don't want the Insight Gold app either.

I will need at least 16 zones for the main house, and another 8/16 zone extension for the flat. Will all the sensors in the flat connect to the expansion module in the flat, and then wired to the main control board? Can you arm/disarm the flat independently of the main house or will it need a separate control panel as well?

For the keypad I think the basic 32 zone keypad will be fine, since I will be integrating into HA.

Something like this kit looks like a good starting point, although I would probably want other passives and some extra door contacts. An expansion module will also be required since the board only takes 8 zones. This should cover the house, the flat will need some more parts.

Both boards support two partitions, and from what I can tell, multiple keypads. Keypads can be set to control a partition(s).

If you are renting out the flat then I would suggest getting a separate alarm for it. Connecting the flat to the same alarm is possible but they won't have much control over how they arm it or disarm it I think unless it connected to a seperate board and have their own keypad for it.

I think it's called partitions. You will for example have outside beams in Partition 1. House PIR's in partition 2 and then the Flat in Partition 3 that can be controlled from main panel or its own panel.

Paradox expert will have to confirm if that is possible. If not you will need completely separate system for the flat.

Why would you use two partitions for outside and inside beams when you can just use the different arm modes (away, home and sleep)?

 

[n00bster]

There is no point in the beams having different arm states well for me that is. They only need 1 setting arm to arm all. The house can have away sleep and home.

I wanted to be able to arm Beams separately from the house. Because if you link them together with example house home and beams outside and I open a door for some fresh air the alarm will go off.

So I arm the beams separately on HA or remote. House is then separated with Home, Sleep or away.