Re: External Relay Control on GEM-P816

["Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms>]

Ken,

I have the Version 10 programming manual.  It makes no mention of the GEM-X10 or the relay board.  I also have the most current
version of Napco's "Quickloadr" programming software.  Under the P816 there is no screen for configuring a GEM-X10, an RB1000 or an
RB1008.

It is possible that something has changed and that I've missed it.  Like Jim who is also trying to assist you, I mainly used Napco's
larger panels.  However, I spoke to a Napco tech support rep and he said the panel won't support it.  One fellow here insists it
will and it is possible he's right.  However, I'd strongly advise you to confirm the panel will support it before you buy anything.

I sell Napco to DIYers but I would not offer you the board unless we first confirmed it was going to work.  I can confirm that Jim
is correct about relay control.  Napco's panels see the GEM-X10 as if it was an external relay board.  They won't dim or do "scenes"
but they will turn devices on or off at preset times or upon various conditions and events (alarms, arming, disarming, zone status
changes, trouble conditions, etc.).

I've used Napco's external relay boards to do all sorts of things, including fully automating alarm systems for use in Orthodox
Jewish synagogues, performing basic access control of door locks, etc.  You can do a lot with the larger panels.  Until we can get
Napco to confirm the P816 is compatible with the GEM-X10 module though, I suggest you hold off on buying one.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

>> > Does anyone know what system events I can use to control external
>> > relays on the GEM-P816? I can't find a list in any of the
>> > documentation I found.
>>
>> As far as I can determine, it isn't compatable with the relay module.
>> As I said in an early post, I'm pretty sure that the panel has to have
>> relay control to be compatable with the X10 module. Unless there's a
>> revision out on the P816 that I'm not aware of, it does not have relay
>> control capability. You'll have to upgrade to at least the P1632,
>> which only has minimal options. The 9600 is the preferred panel for
>> the best choices of relay/X10 control.
>
> Thanks Jim. I have confirmed that I have version 10 of the firmware
> which definitely supports the GEM-X10 module, and thus provides
> external relay control. I guess nobody really knows exactly how
> granular the external relay control is on the GEM-P816 provides since
> support for external relay control (or at least GEM-X10 support) is
> relatively new for the GEM-P816 (2004). This is probably because most
> people doing what I'm trying to accomplish are using higher-end alarm
> panels.
>
> In order for me not to have to touch the alarm panel (to avoid dealing
> with the alarm monitoring company), I would ideally like to use the
> GEM-X10 module to translate as many granular events as possible into
> X10 signals (hopefully these events will include at least an open/
> close on each individual zone, system armed/disarmed, alarm sounding,
> fire alert, etc). I'll then be sending a unique X10 signal for each
> event to my Home Controller (PC running X10 compatible software), for
> which I can then create any actions (more X10 commands to actually
> control things) I want. I should also be able to send an email with
> any event received from the GEM-P816. This way, I don't need to touch
> the panel to rewire any of the contacts or reprogram like I would if I
> upgraded the panel. I believe I will be able to configure up to 64
> events to trigger the sending of up to 64 X10 codes (simulating (8) 8-
> port external relay modules).
>
> I will advise once I am able to determine if this is all possible. If
> anyone has any suggestions or comments as of this point, I would
> greatly appreciate it.
>
> Thanks!
> Ken
>