Switching on outside lights with alarm system

[Fuenkli 159]

i would like the alarm system to switch on the outside lights if an alarm is triggered. The alarm system (Paradox) has programmable PGM outputs (12V 700mA) i could use to generate the required "on" signal. How do i use this signal to switch on the lights? The system would have to operate wireless. 

[Jeanrooy 0]

You can use the PGM signal to trigger a relay such as the 12V HDS Pole Relay from Alarmtec.

The relay can handle 10amp 220v cercuit.

Its not wireless but simple to install.

[Fuenkli 159]

13 hours ago, Jeanrooy said:

Its not wireless but simple to install

thanks for the info. If i can not find a wireless solution i will consider this. 

[Thunderdolt 8]

You could be creative with these products. Connect a latching relay to this;

https://qwikswitch.co.za/collections/products/products/qwik-switch-5-switch-input-module

which will wirelessly switch on your lights that are connected to this;

https://qwikswitch.co.za/collections/products/products/s5-relay

And if your lights are on separate circuits it looks like an easy way of achieving your objective.

I have used the standard kit and it worked well for me.

[Fuenkli 159]

On 2020/07/15 at 2:14 PM, Thunderdolt said:

You could be creative with these products

thanks for the info. Do you think the QuickSwitch transmitter will accept the signal from the alarm PGM output? 

[Fuenkli 159]

On 2020/07/15 at 2:14 PM, Thunderdolt said:

You could be creative with these products

thanks for the info. Do you think the QuickSwitch transmitter will accept the signal from the alarm PGM output? 

[introverter 78]

On 2020/07/14 at 3:03 PM, Fuenkli said:

i would like the alarm system to switch on the outside lights if an alarm is triggered. The alarm system (Paradox) has programmable PGM outputs (12V 700mA) i could use to generate the required "on" signal. How do i use this signal to switch on the lights? The system would have to operate wireless. 

If you are still looking into this 

I am pretty sure there are likely neat out of the box options  or much more elegant ways from the more electronically gifted but if wanting to MaCgyver/Frankenstein it I would have tried the following (you will need to have 12V close to you light though and/or 230V close to the alarm output and solder a wire or two).

one option would be WiFi switches like the sonoffs and such, but without going full tilt and adding home assistant (running on a RPi etc). I do not see it working without more parts. I do think it will trigger the light more reliably than option 2. In short, get a remote receiver like a Centurion Nova receiver, wire the alarm output as 12V power source to the receiver, adapt a basic sonoff so that you have wires from the sonoff's physical button to the Nova Receiver relay wired as Normally Closed - when the alarm output triggers, it powers up the Nova Receiver and with the relay wired a NC it "presses" the button on the sonoff... a second sonoff acting as your light switch receives input, via home assistant that a button was pressed which requires sonoff2 to switch on... and stay on...or switch off until X or Z... etc.). Stepping down the alarm's 12v to 3.3V and bypassing the Nova receiver completely could also be an option.

Option 2:

wire an actual button remote (like a nova, 1/2/4 button remote) again on the alarm output (those tiny remote batteries are 12v so I think 12V from the alarm should not kill the remote (like it will if you wire it directly to a sonoff which runs 3.3V). Have a Nova receiver paired with the "alarm light remote" at/near your light. The Nova receiver has a 10A 220V AC rated relay which you wire NO as the light switch (but for this you obviously need a separate permanently connected 12V supply for the receiver at the light). When the alarm output triggers, it "presses" the button on the remote and the receiver at the light closes the relay which switches on the light. I have previously used a receiver (but actual physical button pressing, not a remote wired to any outputs) like this to switch on a light in a separate building... problem is that interference etc. sometimes required multiple presses to work (like when you arrive at the gate and have to press your remote button more than once even though the battery is new). The connectors on the NOVA receiver are not exactly a good fit for anything over 1.5mm2  wire, and thick wire ("normal AC" as opposed to 6/8 core alarm wire) does not route easily if keeping the receiver's cover on.

Try at your own peril... 

[Fuenkli 159]

10 minutes ago, introverter said:

Try at your own peril

thanks for the information. I ended up using Home Assistant with Sonoff mini's. 

[introverter 78]

Just now, Fuenkli said:

I ended up using Home Assistant with Sonoff mini's. 

like I said... much more elegant options out there 

Out of interest how did you wire the alarm output  -  one wire to each side of the switch on the mini?

[PaulF007 391]

One more idea , should any one look at this. 
Most alarms have an audio output , 12v , to drive siren. So 
1) Dead simple method - 12v - 220v contact to the lights. They will then come one if the siren is activated and switch off if the siren is off.
 2) 12v interval timer. - If triggered run for 10,20, 30 min and then reset.
Wire the light in parallel with the relay so that you still have control to manually switch in the lights.   

There is a ton of other ways to do it but this is , in my mind , the dead simple method if you want to drive it from an existing alarm system. 

Edited Sunday at 12:35 by PaulF007

[Fuenkli 159]

4 hours ago, introverter said:

Out of interest how did you wire the alarm output  -  one wire to each side of the switch on the mini?

No. I connected the Alarm PGM output (dry contact) to the Raspberry and used it as a binary sensor in HA to control the Sonoff mini's.

[Fuenkli 159]

2 hours ago, PaulF007 said:

Dead simple method - 12v - 220v contact to the lights

I agree. If the system can be hardwired this is the way to go. In my case it was not possible. I needed a wireless solution.

[JpPaulKruger 1]

I’m a Paradox tech.

 

What I do is simple.

 

From ACDC you get a relay base (din rail mount)

You can add different types of relay boards to it.  I use the 12v DC Coil 220VAC switch relay board.

 

I Then have all my my external lights on separate circuits inside my DB. 4 circuits in total.  I then have a PGM4 module from Paradox also inside the DB.

SonI can manually turn them on and off via my insight gold app.  I also have it defined to turn on in an alarm condition.

 

but there are new products on the market called Sonoff.  Does exactly the same . Via WiFi, sends push notifications on On/Off activity and it has a schedule build in.