I'd like to share my experience connecting First Alert/BRK Fire/Smoke/CO hardwired alarms to HomeSeer
After extensive renovations over the years, our house has 10 or more interconnected fire alarms.
Changing them for 'smarter' alarm was a huge expense, and didn't find an acceptable solution for replacing
some alarms at a time with a different brand, so after some research, hesitation and more research. decided
to interconnect the alarms I already have to HomeSeer.
First Alert/BRK offers a relay to interconnect with remote/third party auxiliary devices (Bells, etc).
I figured this might not be necessary electrically, but it's relatively inexpensive
and it's certified to work with these alarms, so it's in the clear for compliance reasons.
This is paired with a Qubino Dry-contact 1D Relay.
The nice thing about the Qubino dry-contact relay is that it can be programmed as a smoke alarm.
It's a bit over-kill but price-wise was not that much different than other options, and it's really small
so it's easier to tuck inside the junction box along with the relay, which is a bit unwieldy.
Also, it's designed and built in Europe, so I expect better quality control.
Parts list:
BRK relay: https://www.homedepot.com/p/First-Al...-RM4/204357245
Dry-Contact Module: https://www.amazon.com/Qubino-Z-Wave...dp/B01MSEG2J1/
110V line cable for connecting things together.
How to wire, from each device's perspective:
Line Wires: Black, White, Orange:
Live-Line - BLACK (110V):
- Alarm: Black
- BRK Relay (Line): Black
- BRK Relay (Aux): Brown (Common)
- Qubino: L - Live (line) wire
Neutral - White:
- Alarm: White
- BRK Relay (Line): White
- Qubino: N - Neutral wire
Alarm Interconnect - ORANGE:
- Alarm: Orange
- BRK Relay (Line): Orange
BRK Relay wires:
- Brown (Common): Connect to Live Line (Black 110V)
- Blue (Normally Open): Connect to Qubino I2: Input for switch /push button or sensor
- Gray (Normally Closed): Cover with electrical tape
Qubino Connections:
N (Neutral wire): Line White
L (Live (line) wire): Line Black (Live 110V), BRK Relay Brown, Also to temporary switch with I1
Q Input: Not Used
Q Output: Not Used
I2 (Input for switch /push button or sensor): BRK Relay Blue
I1 (Input for switch /push button): Temporarily connect a standard switch with Line
Wiring is a bit convoluted, but it makes sense once all is together. If you don't like the idea of twisting so many
cables together, consider something like IDEAL In-Sure multiport connectors (HD or Lowe's).
During wiring, I mentioned a temporary switch on Qubino I1. This is to enter Z-Wave pairing mode.
It's not needed after it's working, but it is required initially, as explained below:
Once power is restored to fire alarms, Qubino enters into INCLUDE mode when it's not registered.
Add it to Homeseer from Z-Tool or Web UI.
Homeseer will detect it as a simple switch. I2 is not shown.
By default, it appears as a basic device and additional features need to be enabled.
Go to the Z-Wave tab in Homeseer for the Qubino switch, and set Parameter 100
(By default it's set to 0) to Option 6.
The possible options are:
1 - Home Security; Motion Detection, unknown location
2 - CO; Carbon Monoxide detected, unknown location
3 - CO2; Carbon Dioxide detected, unknown location
4 - Water Alarm; Water Leak detected, unknown location
5 - Heat Alarm; Overheat detected, unknown location
6 - Smoke Alarm; Smoke detected, unknown location
9 - Sensor binary
0 - Endpoint, I2 disabled
Note that the BRK relay signal does not distinguish between Smoke or CO, so I went with Smoke.
Now, after setting this, re-scanning the product won't work, One has to actually EXCLUDE it and INCLUDE it again.
To EXCLUDE Qubino, set HomeSeer Z-Wave interface in Exclude mode, and on Qubino,
Toggle the switch connected to the I1 terminal 3 times within 3 seconds.
Then add it again by setting Homeseer Z-Wave into include mode
and Toggle the switch connected to the I1 terminal 3 times within 3 seconds.
Homeseer will now display a composite device with the following: Master Device, Switch Binary 1,
Smoke Sensor and Smoke Notification.
When the alarms go on, the Sensor with go on, and send a notification 'Smoke Detected Unknown Location'
Either can be used for scene triggers.
After all is done, I removed the switch from I1 and Live, and everything fitted, tightly, into the ceiling box.
(New construction), but it was tight with the large relay and all the wires.
On some connections, I used stranded wire to make it easier to tuck them inside the box.
I didn't use the actual relay on Qubino, since I didn't want to add unrelated load to the alarms circuit.
After extensive renovations over the years, our house has 10 or more interconnected fire alarms.
Changing them for 'smarter' alarm was a huge expense, and didn't find an acceptable solution for replacing
some alarms at a time with a different brand, so after some research, hesitation and more research. decided
to interconnect the alarms I already have to HomeSeer.
First Alert/BRK offers a relay to interconnect with remote/third party auxiliary devices (Bells, etc).
I figured this might not be necessary electrically, but it's relatively inexpensive
and it's certified to work with these alarms, so it's in the clear for compliance reasons.
This is paired with a Qubino Dry-contact 1D Relay.
The nice thing about the Qubino dry-contact relay is that it can be programmed as a smoke alarm.
It's a bit over-kill but price-wise was not that much different than other options, and it's really small
so it's easier to tuck inside the junction box along with the relay, which is a bit unwieldy.
Also, it's designed and built in Europe, so I expect better quality control.
Parts list:
BRK relay: https://www.homedepot.com/p/First-Al...-RM4/204357245
Dry-Contact Module: https://www.amazon.com/Qubino-Z-Wave...dp/B01MSEG2J1/
110V line cable for connecting things together.
How to wire, from each device's perspective:
Line Wires: Black, White, Orange:
Live-Line - BLACK (110V):
- Alarm: Black
- BRK Relay (Line): Black
- BRK Relay (Aux): Brown (Common)
- Qubino: L - Live (line) wire
Neutral - White:
- Alarm: White
- BRK Relay (Line): White
- Qubino: N - Neutral wire
Alarm Interconnect - ORANGE:
- Alarm: Orange
- BRK Relay (Line): Orange
BRK Relay wires:
- Brown (Common): Connect to Live Line (Black 110V)
- Blue (Normally Open): Connect to Qubino I2: Input for switch /push button or sensor
- Gray (Normally Closed): Cover with electrical tape
Qubino Connections:
N (Neutral wire): Line White
L (Live (line) wire): Line Black (Live 110V), BRK Relay Brown, Also to temporary switch with I1
Q Input: Not Used
Q Output: Not Used
I2 (Input for switch /push button or sensor): BRK Relay Blue
I1 (Input for switch /push button): Temporarily connect a standard switch with Line
Wiring is a bit convoluted, but it makes sense once all is together. If you don't like the idea of twisting so many
cables together, consider something like IDEAL In-Sure multiport connectors (HD or Lowe's).
During wiring, I mentioned a temporary switch on Qubino I1. This is to enter Z-Wave pairing mode.
It's not needed after it's working, but it is required initially, as explained below:
Once power is restored to fire alarms, Qubino enters into INCLUDE mode when it's not registered.
Add it to Homeseer from Z-Tool or Web UI.
Homeseer will detect it as a simple switch. I2 is not shown.
By default, it appears as a basic device and additional features need to be enabled.
Go to the Z-Wave tab in Homeseer for the Qubino switch, and set Parameter 100
(By default it's set to 0) to Option 6.
The possible options are:
1 - Home Security; Motion Detection, unknown location
2 - CO; Carbon Monoxide detected, unknown location
3 - CO2; Carbon Dioxide detected, unknown location
4 - Water Alarm; Water Leak detected, unknown location
5 - Heat Alarm; Overheat detected, unknown location
6 - Smoke Alarm; Smoke detected, unknown location
9 - Sensor binary
0 - Endpoint, I2 disabled
Note that the BRK relay signal does not distinguish between Smoke or CO, so I went with Smoke.
Now, after setting this, re-scanning the product won't work, One has to actually EXCLUDE it and INCLUDE it again.
To EXCLUDE Qubino, set HomeSeer Z-Wave interface in Exclude mode, and on Qubino,
Toggle the switch connected to the I1 terminal 3 times within 3 seconds.
Then add it again by setting Homeseer Z-Wave into include mode
and Toggle the switch connected to the I1 terminal 3 times within 3 seconds.
Homeseer will now display a composite device with the following: Master Device, Switch Binary 1,
Smoke Sensor and Smoke Notification.
When the alarms go on, the Sensor with go on, and send a notification 'Smoke Detected Unknown Location'
Either can be used for scene triggers.
After all is done, I removed the switch from I1 and Live, and everything fitted, tightly, into the ceiling box.
(New construction), but it was tight with the large relay and all the wires.
On some connections, I used stranded wire to make it easier to tuck them inside the box.
I didn't use the actual relay on Qubino, since I didn't want to add unrelated load to the alarms circuit.
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