We have home with a 15-year old wired, unmonitored ADT Safewatch Pro 2000
Two keypads - laundry room and master bedroom
Four door sensors - laundry/garage entry door, front door, deck door and walkout basement door
Four glass breaks - dining room, study, family room, and basement exercise room
One motion detector - basement workshop
Two smoke alarms - first floor foyer and second floor hall
We would like to update the system and fix/add:
fix front door sensor that does not work
add water leak sensor in basement
add motion sensor to safe in basement
add smoke detector to basement hall
replace broken glass break in study
add garage door open/close sensor
add Skybell HD video doorbell
add motion/image sensors to family room and kitchen
Local source has recommended a Concord 4 system. Would like some advice on DIY as well as professional installation. I like your monitoring options.
Would like some advice on DIY as well as professional installation.
suretyDIY is a DIY Alarm.com and Professional Monitoring provider, so we do not perform installation.
In determining what you might need for a Concord (or any other panel) installation, you’ll want to determine how many zones you have rather than individual sensors.
Multiple sensors may be wired to the same zone (and often are) Check how many wired zones are in your panel box (the big metal can, typically in basement). If you have any questions about the wiring, please post a photo or two of the inside of the box and we would be happy to assist with it!
The Concord supports 8 hardwired zones, including Smoke. You can get expander modules though to support more which are easy to install if needed.
If you plan on going with some automation in the future, the Concord is not as user friendly in this respect, but it is a solid system which is more like the traditional panels like the Safewatch, if that is what you prefer.
As far as fixing or adding sensors, wireless sensor zones can easily be added to the Concord, and are easy to install.
We sell a number of GE compatible sensors directly, (most of your list) however we do not directly sell Concord image sensors, systems, or modules. You do not need to buy equipment through us to use our monitoring. We monitor any Alarm.com compatible panel.
The Skybell HD will be independent of the panel, using Alarm.com cloud video.
Yes, I am planning some automation in the future - lights, LiftMaster MyQ Retrofit garage door, Skybell HD video doorbell and a few cameras… And I am open to DIY solution. Concord 4 and Vista 21 iP upgrade panels have been recommended. What is best option given the photos below on zones?
It looks like you have 8 zones if there are no other boards/modules near the panel.
You would be able to hook them up one for one with the Concord 4.
Wireless GE sensors could be used for all the rest.
Lights would be learned in through the Alarm.com module (Z-wave module is on board it) or you could use Lutron RadioRa2 or Caseta. The Lutron options would simply communicate with ADC via internet, not the panel.
The Liftmaster, Skybell, and ADC IP Video Cameras would likewise just use internet and not directly connect to panel.
How difficult is it to change out the control panel to Concord 4? How difficult is it to set up? Are there install videos I can review on the Concord 4? The wires are poorly marked and can’t be read in many cases.
Installation would largely be one for one. However, you would want to use the existing system to test and determine which sensors are which and label accordingly before hand.
We do not sell that panel and do not currently have an install video, but we’d be happy to answer any questions. There are other videos online however.
Installation is a bit more involved than an all in one panel like 2GIG or Qolsys, but difficulty will come from the quality of the prior installation more so than anything.
If you can test and confirm all zones before hand and label the wires, it’s a pretty easy install.
Would a 2GIG or Qolsys be a better panel than Concord 4? Why would it be better? I am after the best system replacement. I really like your alarm.com monitoring.
Would a 2GIG or Qolsys be a better panel than Concord 4?
This is a bit subjective, depending on what you are looking for.
The Concord is a more traditional system with Keypads, a separate control panel (in a metal can) with separate communicator component and 8 hardwired zones, with low voltage smoke detector support for 2-wire or 4-wire smokes.
2GIG and Qolsys are all-in-one touchscreens. Communicator in panel (in the case of Qolsys, built in and cannot be replaced). They are wireless sensor systems. To reuse existing sensors, you would use a TAKE-345 or Hardwire 16. They convert wired sensors to wireless signals.
Finally the GC3 is the 2GIG “Premium” version. Brand new panel, really nice capacitive touchscreen, probably the best UI, but being brand new there are limitations to compatibility and some bugs which need addressed by firmware.
Of the touchscreens we sell, the 2GIG Go!Control has been out the longest, with the most active users.
I am after the best system replacement.
I know it doesn’t sound very salesy, but there really isn’t a “best” panel. There is a best fit, I’m sure, to each situation.
One more thing to think about are peripherals. 2GIG and GC3 use Honeywell 5800 series protocol sensors.
Qolsys uses GE wireless sensors. GE sensors are a bit more secure in transmission, but there are more options with Honeywell.
