M1 Newsletter

August 10, 2005

M1 Keypad Function Keys Illumination Events

The M1 Keypad (ELK-M1KP) features 6 programmable function keys that can be set up to contact emergency services or perform tasks such as controlling lights, watering the lawn, opening and closing the garage door, etc.  The keys may be programmed in the following ways:

·        Using Installation Programming Menu 9, Submenu 4-Keypad Definitions

·        On the keypads screen in ElkRP

·        Using rules

In previous newsletters, we have used rules to program an F key to operate the garage door and set a “flag” to activate or deactivate a sequence of events. 

Each key may also be programmed with an illumination event which causes the key to light up under certain conditions.   The light can be programmed to turn on when the event turns on or off.  It can also be programmed to blink.  It can be programmed to follow the state of a zone or output, indicate the arm state of an area, indicate that an alarm occurred, etc.  This newsletter will concentrate on practical uses for illumination events.

“Is the basement door locked?”
A door contact is installed in the recess of the door jam that accepts the bolt from the lock.  That contact is tied into a zone on the M1 (Zone 1 in this example).  An F key (F5 in this example) is programmed to follow the state of that zone.  This is done on the keypad screen in ElkRP as shown below.  

When the door is not locked the F5 key will be lit.  You will no longer have to wonder, just as you are getting settled in for the night, if the doors are locked.  Just look at the keypad to see. 

Helpful Hint:  A popular option for keypads located in a bedroom is the “LED’s off 60 seconds after no activity.”  If illumination events will be used to detect if doors are locked, set the backlight on the keypad to the lowest setting acceptable for visibility and do not enable this option.  This will reduce the amount of light in the room, while still allowing the customer to see the illuminated F keys if the doors are not locked.

“Is the workshop armed?”
In applications where the system is partitioned into more than one area (like a workshop in a separate building), an F key can be programmed to indicate the arm status of that area.  In this example, although the keypad is assigned to area 1, the F4 key will be programmed to blink when Area 2 is armed.

The rule below allows the same F key (F4 in this example) to arm Area 2 to away mode.

Helpful Hint:  The illumination event drop down box lists ALL event codes for the system.  Some of these events may not be practical to use as an illumination event.  For example, an automation task does not have an on or off state, but is activated at a particular moment.  For this reason if an automation task is chosen as an illumination event, the key will never be lit. 

ELK RP Tips 

Setting Up A “Default” RP Access Code

The RP Access code is a security feature that prevents unauthorized connections to a customer’s system and prevents takeover by competitors.  It is a code that you or your system administrator chooses.  This code should be kept confidential.

The code is stored with each account in the accounts database and is also programmed in each system’s main unit.  When ElkRP connects to a system, if the codes do not match, the connection is terminated.

For simplicity, the same code could be used for each account.  It would be, in effect, your “Dealer Code.”  If the same RP Access code will be used for all accounts, that code can be set as the default and will be automatically entered in all new accounts created.  Select “Options” from the Setup menu.  Enter the default code on the RP Code tab.

If greater security is desired, the code may be different for each account.  In this case, the code in entered manually each time a new account is created.

Got Questions or Ideas?
Email me at amy.strickland@elkproducts.com