Alarm

GoControl GC2E Alarm

If you don't want to pay a monthly monitoring fee, I could not find an easy way to monitor a GC2E alarm panel.

So I made this project to connect to the alarm output from a GC2E through an optocoupler to an ESP32 to send an email or text if the alarm is active

GC2E Installation Guide

Alarm output diagram

Run wires to pins 4/5, 14VDC, 500 mA output alarm output

Based on a 14VDC level, I picked a 1.2k resistor for the opto circuit.

14V/1.2k = 11.7 mA

2.21v/1.2k=1.84 mA

Optocoupler

Circuit

4n26 optocoupler vishay datasheet

1/2 input

4/5 output

For high going Alarm out

Alarm out + (alarm pin 4) to 1.2k resistor to pin 1 opto

Alarm out - (alarm pin 5) to pin 2 opto

3.3V to 10k to pin 5 to gpio32

ground to pin 4

Added diode across pins 1 and 2, pointing at 1, for protection.

If you apply 12-18 VDC to 1.2k resistor (other resistor end to pin 1), pin 5 will go low. Otherwise pin 5 is high so opto is inverting the signal.

Actual Measurements

Alarm output:
2.21V = off
13.8V = on

I think the 2.21 is caused by leakage voltage. The alarm disconnects the ground side when off.

With 1.2k resistor, 2.21 V is enough to make pin 5 low, so can't use a GPIO to read the opto.

Connnected opto output to a ESP32 ADC input. Reading as an analog voltage to determine state.

ESP32 Analog Input

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-adc-analog-read-arduino-ide/

ADC Pins

pin: 32, 33, 34, 35 From a previous project, only these four ADCs work on a mini D1 ESP32 board. Others have conflicts with Wi-Fi radio.

Connected GPIO32 to output from opto (pin 5)

Measurements/trigger

ADC reading from ESP32 is around 130 when alarm is not tripped, and goes to 0 or very close to 0 when alarm is on/active.

Used 60 as limit in code to decide if alarm was active.

Note: Based on graph in random nerd tutorial link above, 130 is a low voltage, but it still provides enough of a difference between to get a reliable trigger point.

Software

Pinout for reference

// Opto output (reading alarm output is connected to GPIO 34 (Analog ADC1_CH6)

const int AnalogPin = 32;

const int AlarmLimit = 60;

// variable for storing the alarm output value

int AlarmValue = 0;

void loop() {

// Reading potentiometer value

AlarmValue = analogRead(AlarmPin);

Serial.println(AlarmValue);

if (AlarmValue < AlarmLimit) { //send alarm text. }

https://jsfiddle.net/

Adding other stuff

zwave siren https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-use-a-qolsys-iq-siren-with-a-2gig-gc2-system

https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-program-a-key-fob-into-a-2gig-gc2e

1. Access key fob programming. Start from the main screen of the 2GIG GC2e. Click the 2GIG logo in the bottom-right. Enter the system's Installer Code (1561 by default). Choose System Configuration. Choose the Skip option, followed by the Skip option again. This will take you to the key fob programming section. The top of the screen will read Q3: Select Fob # (1 to 8).

2. Choose the fob slot. Use the left and right arrows to scroll between key fob slots. The key fob slots range from 1 to 8. Once you have the desired key fob slot selected, press the down arrow to continue.

3. Configure key fob zone. From here, you will use the left and right arrows to scroll between different options for the current field. Once you have the proper option displayed, you can press the down arrow to proceed to the next selection. If you make a mistake, you can press the up arrow to return to the previous selection. Once you finish making all the selections, pressing the down arrow a final time will take you to a summary screen.

The following selections are made:

Select Fob Used: Set to (1) Enabled, unless you want the key fob zone to be disabled and not use the key fob with the system. This is how you would remove a key fob that was already programmed.

Select Fob Equipment Code: Scroll until you find the model of the key fob you are using. If the corresponding model is unavailable, just select 0577 Existing Key Fob Remote. The 2GIG KEY2e uses Equipment Code 2866. This information is not included in the current version of the Installation and Programming manual.

Enter Fob Serial Number: This assigns the unique Serial Number for the key fob device to the panel. Click the Shift button, followed by the Learn button. The GC2e will begin searching for an incoming key fob signal. Press and hold one of the buttons for the key fob. Once the Serial Number (ID #) is displayed, choose OK. Then press the down arrow to continue to the next programming field.

Select Fob Equipment Age: This does not affect key fob performance choose either (0) New or (1) Existing.

Select Fob Emergency Key: This is for 2GIG Key Fob devices only. Honeywell Key Fob devices cannot use an emergency key function on a 2GIG Panel. Please see this FAQ for more information on using a Honeywell Key Fob with a 2GIG Security System. If you are using a 2GIG Key Fob, then the emergency key input is activated by pressing and holding the top two (2) buttons simultaneously. These are the Arm Away and Disarm buttons. Choose Disabled (0) if you want to turn off this function. Choose Auxiliary Alarm (1) for an auxiliary medical alert (remember to notify the central station regarding the function of this input). Choose Audible Alarm (2) for an audible intrusion alarm. Choose Silent Panic (3) for a silent intrusion alarm. Choose Fire (4) for a fire alarm.

Select Fob Can Disarm: Choose (1) Enabled, unless you don't want the key fob to be capable of Disarming the panel.

Construct Fob Voice Descriptor: This is what the panel will speak out when the key fob is activated. It also serves as a name for the key fob zone. Adding a Voice Descriptor is optional, but it can certainly be done if you want. A new word is added by pressing the Insert key. You can use the left and right arrows to choose between available words. You can also enter the 3-digit code associated with the word you want to use (see Pages 35 - 36 of the 2GIG GC2e Programming Guide). To scroll between added words, press the FWD and BACK keys. To delete a highlighted word, press the box with the X inside of it.

Select Fob Arm No Delay: This is typically set to (0) Disabled. If you set it to (1) Enabled, then arming the system with the key fob will cause the system to ignore the Entry Delay when an Entry/Exit Zone is faulted. In other words, faulting an Entry/Exit Zone after the system has been armed using the key fob will cause an immediate alarm. The reasoning is that you may want the system to only be disarmed by using a key fob or remotely using Alarm.com, and to trigger an alarm if a user opens an Entry/Exit door to disarm at the panel. This is a helpful option to use when leaving for an extended period, such as when you go on vacation and no one should be entering the house while you are away.

4. Save the changes. Once you reach the end of the configurable settings, you will reach the Summary Screen. Choose Edit Next if you want to add an additional key fob, or press Skip if you want to finish. Assuming you are done, press End in the bottom-right corner. You will be taken to the Summary of System Configuration screen. Make sure that the Save Changes box is marked. Then press Exit in the bottom-right. The system will reboot as part of the process. Any changes you made will be applied once the system reboots.

Read more: https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-program-a-key-fob-into-a-2gig-gc2e

https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/how-do-i-use-a-qolsys-iq-siren-with-a-2gig-gc2-system

1. Enroll the siren. The first step is to enroll the siren. Whenever you are adding a Z-Wave device, you must first clear it from the network. This will remove any existing network information from the device and ensure that it can enroll successfully. Start by plugging the Qolsys IQ Siren into a wall outlet located nearby the GC2 System. This will ensure that the device is receiving power.

Now turn your attention to the GC2 System. On the main screen, choose Services. Then choose Z-Wave. Then click on the Wrench icon in the bottom-right corner. You will then need to provide the system's Installer Code. This code is 1561 by default, but it may have been changed. Then click on Remove Devices. The system will begin looking for devices to clear from the network. Then press the button on the top of the IQ Siren. The GC2 System should display that a device has been removed from the network. Press OK in the bottom-right corner. Then press the Back button in the bottom-left corner.

You will now enroll the IQ Siren with the system. On the GC2 System, click on Add Devices in the same sub-menu. Press the button on the top of the IQ Siren. The GC2 System should show that a device has been added. It will be listed as a Binary Switch from AEON Labs. You can then click the Back button in the bottom-left corner. The IQ Siren is now enrolled with the GC2 System. You can then press the Back button in the bottom-left corner to exit the Z-Wave Toolbox Menu and return to the main Z-Wave Menu.

2. Create siren scenes. Now that you have returned to the main Z-Wave Menu, you can create the two (2) scenes needed for the siren to operate properly. One scene will tell the siren to activate, and the other scene will tell the siren to stop sounding. Start by clicking on Scenes. Then choose Add Scene in the bottom-right corner.

We will first create the scene that will tell the siren to activate. For our purposes, we are calling this scene "Trigger Siren". Click the OK button in the bottom-right corner after you have entered the desired name. After naming the scene, click Add Action in the bottom-right corner. You will then be presented with various device types. Since the 2GIG GC2 sees the IQ Siren as a Z-Wave Switch, choose Z-Wave Switch. You should see the Binary Switch by AEON Labs. Set it to ON. Then press OK in the bottom-right corner. Then press back in the bottom-left corner to return to the Z-Wave Scenes Menu.

Now you must create the scene that will tell the siren to stop sounding. For our demonstration, we are calling this scene "Stop Siren". Click the OK button in the bottom-right corner after entering the name you want. After providing a name, click the Add Action button in the bottom-right corner. Just like when creating the first scene, you will select Z-Wave Switch. The Binary Switch by AEON Labs should be displayed. Make sure that it is set to OFF. Then press the OK button in the bottom-right. Lastly, click the back button in the bottom-left corner to return to the Z-Wave Scenes Menu.

You should now see the two (2) scenes you created. You can press the back button in the bottom-left corner to return to the main Z-Wave menu.

3. Create siren rules. You now have a scene to activate the siren and a scene to stop the siren. However, the system doesn't know when to trigger these scenes. You need to create two (2) rules associated with these scenes. One rule will tell the system to trigger the first scene so that the siren activates during alarm events. Remember, we named this scene "Trigger Siren". The other rule will tell the system to trigger the second scene so that the siren stops sounding when the system is disarmed and an alarm is cleared. We named that scene "Stop Siren".

To get started, click on the Rules option in the upper-right corner of the Z-Wave Menu. Choose Add Rule in the bottom-right corner. You will have two fields that you can scroll through. The top field is called "When this Event Occurs". For that top field, choose the option "Audible Alarm". The bottom field is called "Run this Scene". For the bottom field, choose the scene that you made to activate the siren. In our example, this scene is called "Trigger Siren". Then press OK in the bottom-right corner to finish creating the rule.

You will now create the rule that tells the other scene to activate so that the siren stops sounding when the system is disarmed and an alarm is cleared. Click the Add Rule button in the bottom-right corner. You will see the same two (2) fields that you had before when creating the other rule. This time, choose the option "System Disarmed" for the top field. For the bottom field, choose the scene you made to stop the siren. Remember, we named that scene "Stop Siren". Press the OK button in the bottom-right corner after making the appropriate selections.

You should then see the two (2) rules that you created. You can then press the green picture of the house on the panel itself to return to the system home screen.

4. Test the siren. It is important to test the siren to make sure that it activates when an alarm occurs and that it stops when an alarm is cleared. Make sure to put your system on test mode before performing this test. The easiest way to put your system into alarm is to first press the panic button on the front of the panel. This is the blue button with a cross (+). Then press and hold the Fire button for two (2) seconds. The system should go into alarm, and the Qolsys IQ Siren should activate. You can then clear the alarm by providing the Master Code for your system (default 1111, but usually changed). If everything was set up correctly, the siren should stop sounding once the alarm is cleared.

Note: The IQ Siren will not produce a Temporal 3 sound for fire alarms or a Temporal 4 sound for CO alarms. It produces the same constant alarm tone regardless of the alarm type that has occurred.

Reference information

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-cam-send-photos-email/

Need to create app password for gmail to work.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/gmail-app-passwords-what-they-are-how-to-create-one-and-why-to-use-them/

Point your web browser to https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords. Even though you just logged in to your account, you'll most likely be prompted to type your account password again.

https://github.com/Dilbert66/esphome-vistaECP