I have a security system that has wired sensors to windows, front and back door of our home. I was wondering if there was any way that I can somehow convert these existing sensors to smart devices. They work fine and I am not looking to spend a bunch of money on smart door sensors.
There are a couple of integrated devices that you could add in, depending on the make and model of your alarm.
There is konnected (I've not used it).
Then there is alarm system bridge, which I use: GE, Networx, Interlogix Caddx NX8 security System Integration? - Devices & Integrations - SmartThings Community
I'm sure there are others.....
I used a Arduino, ethernet shield, and a I/O board. Working great. It was a little advanced setup for me, but figured it out.
1 Like
What is its brand and model? Some have interfaces that permit monitoring and control by home automation systems (for example, ELK M1).
Http://Konnected.io works great and they have options for replacing the existing alarm panel innards or interfacing with the existing system.
Adt
Unfortunately that doesn't reveal very much because ADT provides re-branded security systems. It's like Sears which sells Kenmore branded appliances that are actually manufactured by others (such as Whirlpool).
Some manufacturers that come to mind are DSC, ELK, GE Security, Napco, Paradox, etc. Unless you can identify the actual brand and model and determine if they (or someone else) offers a suitable interface, then you may need to replace it outright.
You may also consider Envisalink which access DSC panels.
https://community.hubitat.com/t/envisalink-integration-application-and-connection-driver/3123
1 Like
But they are just wired sensors. You can ditch the control panel all together and just interface the sensors directly to Hubitat through another method. If you interface to ADT, it is likely that you won't get use of motion sensors when the system is disarmed.
There are many possibilities, including selling the house and moving elsewhere. Extreme, but possible. I wouldn't "ditch" the security panel if I knew a suitable interface was available, be it from the panel's manufacturer or someone else. At the moment, it's all speculation because all we know about the panel is "ADT". 
If you interface to ADT, it is likely that you won't get use of motion sensors when the system is disarmed.
You appear to have more knowledge than I do about the security panel ADT installed in DLHenderson889's home. So which brand and model is it?
As a point of reference, my home automation system has worked with an ELK M1 security panel since 2008 (via a driver I created). All of its functionality remains accessible (including motion sensors) even when the panel is disarmed.
There’s yet another option. I like a separate alarm system from my hub, and I’m really liking the Ring Alarm system.
This community integration works incredibly well, but do heed the warnings.
1 Like
I've shared my thoughts a few times before, but I personally would stick with a standalone security system. I previously used HSM + zwave/zigbee sensors until we bought our house, when I installed a DSC system (mix of wired and wireless sensors) + Envisalink. It has worked flawlessly since April, the opposite of my experience with HSM.
I still use HSM to control arming/disarming and notifications, but when HE is down or frozen, the DSC system will always work properly.
1 Like
I will just say that the OP doesn't ask about an alarm panel interface or a security system. He asks about converting the sensors. Shouldn't we try and answer that question rather than tell him that we know better what he should want to do?
+1
I started automating my home in 2006 and, based on personal experience, chose to build a system that allows the three pillars, security, HVAC, and lighting, to function independently of the home automation controller. The home automation adds functionality to the three pillars as opposed to attempting to replace them. This strategy, of avoiding a single point of failure, helps create a more robust and resilient system.
What that means is that if my home automation server is inoperative, lighting, heating/cooling, and security continue to function normally. The thermostat still works according to its schedule, the security system still monitors all sensors and reports intrusions, and the lighting system's scenes (like turning all interior lights on/off) are still accessible albeit not according to any schedule.
In other words, it simply reverts to being a non-automated home. In contrast, if everything is centralized in a single controller, when it is offline the thermostat scheduling may become unavailable, security sensors may cease to be monitored, and lighting scenes may be inaccessible. So it has the potential to not simply revert to a non-automated home but to an unheated, unsecured home.
3 Likes
Not quite -- OP stated that they do have a security system. My suggestion was to consider using Envisalink and keeping that system (or replacing the controller if they are unable to enter the programming modes on the current system.) I made this suggestion after too many frustrations with HSM acting alone. My suggestion is an alternative to something like konnected -- but in my opinion, one that's favorable.
Edit: I should also say that while I do have alarm keypads, I installed the primary keypad in our pantry closet (HSM controls arming/disarming). The only time we have to touch the keypad is when HE is feeling grumpy and needs a reboot 
That's true but then the OP follows that up with:
My interpretation is that the desire is preserve the existing wired devices but, through some means, make them available to Hubitat. The shorthand used was "convert these existing sensors to smart devices".
If one were to interpret that literally, namely physically convert wired sensors into 'smart devices', then there's no economical, let alone practical, route to that end. You would need to replace them and that choice would open the discussion to new options (and more decisions).
1 Like
The Ring integration allows this too. Although I can easily switch things back, I have eliminated needing to have two sensors at each door, as an example, by using the community integration for Ring Alarm. The sensors are simultaneously available for the Ring Alarm system and HE, all local without having to try to do a primary/secondary Z-Wave controller scenario.
It was very simple to setup and the integration was a breeze to get configured. I have full control over the Ring Alarm hub from HE, as well as full status of the Ring hub and it’s sensors. The only thing I cannot control is the native functionality of the Dome siren I have paired with the Ring Alarm hub.
This is my circumstance as well and I've been trying to figure out what to do. I have a Honeywell Vista 20p with Evisalink. So far konnected and AlarmDecoder are the only two options I've found. I don't have much desire to have to wire up two konnected expansion boards to get all 13 zones so I've been considering the AlarmDecoder. Other than it being out of stock for some time I'm also not crazy of introducing another device such as an rpi I need to manage. I was hoping for a driver to link to the Envisalink but it so far only exists for DSC panels. No one has done this for Honeywell panels without the need of a middleman device which starts to become less attractive.
The Envisalink provides your Vista 20p with an Ethernet connection and an API (Application Programming Interface). That means the Vista 20p becomes a network-facing device with a means to monitor and control it.
Have you tried the existing envisalink integration? Or does it lack functionality provided by konnected and AlarmDecoder?
I am a big konnected fan, but I must admit that my HE is more about monitoring than home automation. I only have contact sensors.
If you just want some of your contact sensors integrated with HE, you could very likely just buy a zwave contact switch that allows external wiring. I would check the resistance first to ensure minimal resistance. If the switches are “normally closed” you can daisy chain several to one sensor. If “normally open”, wire them in parallel to a sensor. While I do not do this with my security sensors, I bypassed the transformer and wired my doorbell to a contact sensor and have been pleased with it (ecolink).
