DIY Danger: How Konnected Has Concocted False Claims About Its Alarm Panel Solution
Konnected says its alarm panel can turn any wired alarm system into a smart alarm. However, an independent forensic analysis shows it disregards security and life-safety standards and represents extreme danger to consumers.
NOTE FROM EDITOR: The opinions expressed within this article are those of the author alone. This post about Konnected was updated on Feb. 12, 2024.
Konnected of Orlando, Fla., bills its alarm panel as “an open source solution for connecting wired sensors and switches to home automation platforms.” In a nutshell, the company claims that its diminutive circuit board adds features to legacy alarm panels and works with nearly all wired sensors, including those protecting doors and windows, as well as for motion, glass-break and smoke detection.
Consumers can order the panel direct from the company or through online vendors. It can be installed DIY or professionally via the company’s network of affiliated installers and dealers. Instead of installing a new listed circuit board in replacement to the existing panel, assuming it is non-functional, the Konnected alarm panel is said to replace the old motherboard, entirely. Professional monitoring is optional.
After scrutinizing Konnected’s Internet marketing efforts — including videos produced by company Founder Nate Clark — I became interested in forensically analyzing the panel to determine if it indeed lives up to being a “modern replacement” for common wired security systems.
What follows are my investigative results, which include my findings and opinions and then compares them to equipment manufactured and utilized by the professional and technical community of the alarm industry, UL and NFPA Standards, and nationally recognized industry standards and best practices.
Forensic Analysis Reveals Dangers
The first iteration of the Konnected alarm panel was launched on Kickstarter in 2017. The company’s assertion that its panel serves as a viable replacement for “Honeywell/Ademco, DSC, Brinks, Interlogix, Napco, and all other hardwired security systems” is, in my opinion, a false claim. “Now in its 2nd generation,” Konnected states that it has more ways than ever to upgrade “any” wired alarm system.
This includes connecting an interface module to any wired alarm panel, allowing consumers to “tap into wired zones without giving up your traditional keypads.”
In most cases, according to the company, users can even arm/disarm the traditional panel remotely and receive notifications if it is triggered.
Realistically, the sale and use of Konnected products either independently or in-parallel with the interface module to any listed control unit is both dangerous and unreliable. In my opinion, Clark’s decision to disregard all aspects of the core fundamentals of what security and life-safety systems are required to be equipped with is what equates to a conscious indifference to the safety and security of unsuspecting consumers.
An Email Correspondence
I attempted to communicate with Clark on multiple occasions to express my expert opinion that his products are extremely dangerous and unreliable. Following is a portion of an email correspondence I received in reply from him:
Let me just clarify that our products are not complete security “systems” because they do not handle the logic of arming, disarming, alerting, monitoring, fault detection, etc. If you’re referring to UL Standard 681, then by definition Konnected products could not meet that standard because they do not perform these functions, nor are they designed to.
Our products enable traditional wired sensors and signaling devices (i.e. siren) to be bridged to a 3rd-party home automation platform (such as SmartThings, Home Assistant, etc.), which in many ways can emulate the functions of a security system in software.
UL 681, which Clark mentions on assumption, is the UL Standard for Safety Installation and Classification of Burglar and Holdup Alarm Systems relating to UL-certificated systems, and has absolutely nothing to do with household burglar and fire alarm combination listed control units to UL 1023 and UL 985.
One only has to look at the Konnected website to see how this statement by Clark is incongruent to what the company represents publicly. Glaringly, Clark’s response speaks volumes in that he created a concept and product that universally disregarded and/or never took into consideration the myriad dangers and risks associated with security and life-safety systems when control panel equipment is not conforming and when inherent safeguards of a control panel are not being employed.
Consider: None of the company’s alarm panels are listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), and none of the control panel equipment manufacturers listed on Konnected’s website adopt what Konnected represents that their products provide when connected to any of these listed control units.
A Modern Replacement?
Notwithstanding, Konnected assertively touts its products are “a modern replacement” to common alarm systems. In my opinion, this is a false claim. With regard to the Konnected products not performing functions of an alarm system — coupled with, “nor are they designed to” — is yet another attempt by Konnected to disregard the industry standard of care and, in my opinion, try to distance themselves from what they claim their products provide for consumers.
Among these claims that I consider false: “Konnected is the solution you’ve been looking for to upgrade or upcycle any brand of wired security system.” Konnected conceals material information from consumers by not disclosing the criticality of the fact that its alarm panels are not listed. Nor are consumers made aware that none of the professional equipment manufacturers referenced on Konnected’s website have authorized Konnected products to be utilized with the listed control units made by each of these respective manufacturers.
Certainly, this would be an important disclosure for any consumer to know about before considering the purchase of Konnected products.
The loop side of the circuit in this smoke detector is connected to the normally closed and common instead of the normally open and common, which is reserved for 24-hour zones.
Hazardous Technical Advice
Clark had the audacity to send me an email in what I believe was an attempt by him to convince me that everything was good. I did not find it convincing at all. In my opinion, it just demonstrates his egregious behavior and attempts to use false claims as a remedy to what can never be cured on the Konnected products, which his company sells and markets to the public.
His email states: “You’re correct that our products are not listed by a NRTL and do not meet NFPA standards.”
I find it incredulous that Clark admits what he knows about NRTL and NFPA Standards, yet still designed his products in material deviation to these core mandates.
His email continues: “Konnected is not intended to be used for fire or life safety.”
I agree, but Konnected markets and represents its products much differently.
Clark adds: “Our products are designed and marketed for home automation and ‘smart home’ integration for convenience/lifestyle purposes only.”
In my opinion, this is yet another false claim. Regardless of how you want to frame it, consumers do not buy security systems and life-safety systems for convenience/lifestyle purposes only. Any suggestions to the contrary are erroneous. The reality of the situation is that consumers purchase alarm systems for peace of mind and warning of an intrusion emergency, a fire and/or carbon monoxide (CO) and/or gas emergency in their home, in order to protect themselves and their families from serious personal injury and/or death.
Clark also states: “That being said, we do have advisors on the team that come from the security/fire industry and are working on evaluating our product line for future NRTL recognition. We’re not there yet, though.”
No kidding. Product evaluation and compliance should have happened long before this product was engineered and put in the stream of commerce.
As elaborated above, Clark references in his email that Konnected has advisors on the team that come from the security/fire industry. Who are the “team members” involved which support this product as is?
Konnected claims that “most traditional alarm systems are limited” to 8 or 12 zones, forcing installers to group multiple sensors together into a zone. In my opinion, this is a false claim.
Konnected claims that its control panel works with all wired security system devices and references smoke and co detectors. In my opinion, this is a false claim in that connecting the “Konnected Alarm Panel” to any smoke detector(s) and/or CO detector(s) violates adopted fire codes across the country, including but not limited to NFPA 72.
The consequences of relying on an unreliable and non-conforming fire alarm system is significant property loss and/or serious personal injury and/or death to occupants within the home.
To further amplify the egregiousness of Konnected Alarm Panels is that the company unilaterally disregards mission-critical minimum supervision regulations.
Konnected is so disconnected from alarm science that they add in a disclaimer that states “THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A LIFE SAFETY DEVICE,” referring to their “Alarm Panel.” What alarm panel is a life-safety device?
Thereafter, the disclaimer states, “Use with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is for informational purposes only. Do not rely on Konnected alone to notify you in a life-threatening emergency.”
Despite this misdirection, Konnected provides “technical advice” to consumers on how to connect all types of smoke detectors and CO detectors to their unlisted “Alarm Panels” and other associated products. They even go so far as to request that consumers send Konnected photos of the final wiring terminations on the inside of control units for help.
Accordingly, the contention that anything Konnected is providing is for informational purposes only to consumers is nonsense.
Konnected’s attempts to circumvent adopted fire codes and NFPA 72 is both dangerous and does not eliminate any of these statutory duties no matter how Konnected wants to spin it.
Konnected knowingly admits that it is not certified to any national standards for smoke and fire-safety monitoring equipment, attempting to make it feel like this is perfectly acceptable. In other words, Konnected knowingly created, designed, markets and sells products which do not even meet minimum fire code standards even though they concede awareness and knowledge of certified (listed) and national standards relating to these mission-critical products.
Konnected knew, should have known, and/or most certainly had to recognize that families around the country, and the world, rely on life-safety smoke detectors and CO detectors and gas alarms, to help save their lives in the event of a fire and/or CO and/or gas emergency. Yet this never appears to have concerned Konnected in that they continue to sell unlisted products, which can never be used under adopted fire codes and NFPA 72 in a household or any type of occupancy.
Konnected also states: “Use is intended for informational purposes only for use with home automation software.”
Let me be clear: there is no place for life-safety smoke detectors and CO detectors on home automation software as part of Konnected’s offering, and the marketing of these products is inconsistent with what Clark wants me to believe.
The company’s website states: “Check local code requirements. Local fire and electrical code may require certain type of wiring or connection with external monitoring services. Konnected is not a certified fire protection monitoring device and cannot be used to comply with such requirements.”
There is no reason for a consumer to check “local code requirements” because Konnected products are not listed and do not and would never comply with building and fire codes. Also significant, the Konnected product line does not provide Temporal III or IV, nor do they appear to understand this minimum fire code requirement or any part of NFPA 72.
Admissions by the company that its products are not certified to any national standards for smoke and fire-safety monitoring amplifies that — even though Konnected is aware of national standards — it still chose to completely disregard them in the products which they have designed and marketed.
Konnected’s technical advice to consumers for wiring a four-wire smoke detector to its alarm panel is demonstrated here as an example. Adhering to Konnected’s technical advice is nothing short of creating danger, unreliability and violates NFPA 72.
No end-of-line resistor (EOLR) supervision and no power supervision relay is indicated in the photograph, which is totally consistent with Konnected’s universal disregard and lack of understanding of adopted fire codes across the United States by AHJs.
Furthermore, the loop side of the circuit in the smoke detector photograph above is connected to the normally closed and common instead of the normally open and common, which the pro side of the alarm industry knows is reserved for 24-hour zones.
On its website, here is what Konnected directs consumers to do with end-of-line resistors:
If you’re removing sensors from an old existing alarm panel, they may be wired with end-of-line resistors. Remove the resistors and discard or save for a different project.
Disregard end-of-line resistors or save them for a different project? Clearly, Konnected does not have the foggiest idea of what they are talking about.
Konnected states the use of smoke and CO detectors with its products is for informational purposes only. However, the company provides technical advice on how to wire a smoke detector onto its alarm panel via the photograph above, which seriously violates every known code and standard that applies to UL-268 Smoke Detectors, and UL1023/UL-985 Household Combination Listed Burglar and Fire Alarm Control Units.
Furthermore, the company’s technical advice encompasses multiple smoke detectors but remains universally silent on mission-critical and code required supervision: “If you have multiple interconnected smoke detectors, ensure that they all alarm when one alarms.”
The professional and technical community of the alarm industry knows that Konnected’s criteria does not even come close to meeting the minimum requirements of fire alarm life-safety code compliance. In other words, without the required supervision, the fact that a smoke detector “works” at the time it is tested is meaningless.
The Alarm Panel 2 is more compact than its predecessor while adding integrated and improved WiFi and other features, according to Konnected.
Tragically, consumers are completely unaware and in my opinion have been put at high risk by Konnected’s technical advice. According to Clark, because Konnected products “do not handle the logic of arming, disarming, alerting, monitoring, fault detection, etc.,” the company is not providing a complete security system. Yet, the company’s representations to the public are materially different.
In my opinion, Konnected provides nothing less than a dangerous and false sense of security to consumers as it relates to threats by the criminal element and life-safety risks in the event of a fire, CO and/or gas emergency. Importantly, Clark concedes the company’s products do not handle “fault detection.”
Once again, this is yet another inherent danger of Konnected products which cannot exist on alarm products. There are no warnings as to the products being non-compliant, nor are there any warnings to consumers about strict adherence requirements to NFPA 72.
Konnected represents to the public that its products “turn any alarm system into a smart alarm.” Let me be perfectly clear: There is nothing “smart” about any of the company’s products. Moreover, there are a multitude of listed alarm products sold by professional equipment manufacturers, which provide features and functions that either meet and/or exceed what Konnected states its products provide.
In a similar vein, the majority of these professional products have been tested by nationally recognized testing laboratories and have been specifically designed to connect to listed household and commercial alarm control units. Yet another troublesome technical directive on the company’s website concerns the potential for a malfunctioning board:
If your device is not responsive and feels hot to the touch, it needs to be replaced. Sometimes this is caused by a short circuit or a voltage spike, but other times the board is just bad.
In other words, if the Konnected alarm panel fails, unless you are touching the circuit board when it is hot, you will not know that it failed. Additionally, once this board fails, everything connected to the Konnected board is no longer functional.
A short circuit should not blow a circuit board on an alarm system or on any device which is being connected to an alarm system. The fault on the board can also negatively effect other mission-critical functions of the host security system control panel.
Not surprisingly, Konnected products do not provide any automatic way to warn consumers of a failure on their unlisted product line, and since they are required to connect to the auxiliary output (data bus) of the host control unit, a short from the Konnected equipment will shut down most host panels.
The built-in switch/relay on the Konnected Alarm Board can accommodate a siren up to 1.4A or 15W. When the siren exceeds this specification, or when wires are shorted across the switch, it can become fused in an on or off position. When this happens, you will not be able to either turn your siren on or off depending on how it’s stuck.
Here Konnected is using its nonlisted equipment as the portal to activate the system’s sirens with the caveat of what can happen without any warning whatsoever to the consumer. Self-evidently, not only is the siren(s) not electronically supervised like the rest of the design doctrine of Konnected products, but it can become fused without warning and end up in a sustained off position.
Woefully deficient, the Konnected product line does not detect this material change of state and remains silent just like all of the connected sirens. Thereafter, if the siren is fused in the “off” position, there will be no onsite audible alarm when an emergency is detected. This design flaw has a high propensity of negatively effecting other crucial functions of the security system without any onsite and/or remote warning being provided to consumers.
Concurrently, if there is a fire and/or CO and/or a gas emergency event in the premises, and the siren output is locked in the off position, the system will not audibly sound.
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About the Author
Jeff Zwirn, SSI Contributor
Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, FACFEI, CHS-IV, SET, CCI, FASI&T, MBAT, writes Security Sales & Integration’s “Security Science” column. He is also president of IDS Research and Development, an alarm and security consultation, expert witness and training authority providing nationwide services on all issues related to alarm and security matters. He can be reached at 800-353-0733.
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On the other hand, consumers seem to be quite happy with:
1. Systems that run without monthly monitoring fees.
2. Systems that can be maintained when installers have not shared codes to modify the system
3. Systems that easily integrate with other digital products.
Ultimately consumers are in the best position to decide what is best for them. Personally, I can attest to being quite happy without support for line-supervision.
Likewise, a Connected Fire & Smoke alarm is superior and more safe than an unconnected one, especially if neither of them have a power backup, as is common in residential systems.
At the end-of the day, Konnected allows me to take control of my home & home-security in a manner a traditional alarm does not. As a homeowner I am in the best position to determine if that is appropriate.
Doing you out of business hey? It’s free open source software, good point on the smoke alarms but you obviously got an ulterior motive and a conflict of interest here.
I agree with the above commenters. This article is written by someone who feels their business is threatened.
The alarm industry has not been innocent, it has been plagued with bad actors throughout the years, locking home owner systems even after paying off contracts. The consumers are tired of the predatory business practices.
Konnected provides functionality the consumers want or they wouldn’t be selling any. You should focus on improving what traditional alarm system are lacking and why consumers don’t want your products.
We don’t care about UL and NFPA, organizations funded by the alarm companies themselves.
My fire/co/water detectors still function to code when hooked up to my konnected panel, they still go off, but now with the enhanced functionality that I can see on my smartphone and get notified when they go off if I am not home to hear the noise they make. That makes me feel safer about my home.
Additionality monitoring is useless to me, too many false alarms. I can self monitor now with all the functionality the alarm companies kept from consumers long enough because of their own self interest. I can call the police or fire when I get a notification, I can check my cameras to confirm it isn’t a false arm. Everyone who has paid false alarm fee understands this.
Love my Konneted system. Stated not to be a life safety device, Linking a local fire alarm system via a UL listed adapter is just extra information IN ADDITION to the existing siren warning. How many legacy professional alarm systems are sitting disconnected In homes? Love my konnected. Even have a sensor on my beer fridge!
As the owner of a security company I am sickened by the industry and corruption. Lying to customers to get locked into contracts, using scare tactics to get people away from self install and monitoring. The alarm industry is desperately trying to hold on to old technology that locks consumers in. I personally have dsc installed at my properties and use konnected to auto arm and disarm with SmartThings using geofencing. It works great for 5 years straight now.
The only thing I see that’s misleading is this article. The title suggests there’s a danger here, when no such threat exists. There are a lot of emotional claims with nearly no substance as to the “why.” Why does this cause a danger to my family? Forget about standards for a moment. Explain the net effect. Any expert worth their salt can communicate their expertise in plain language English to a lay person, and this article just fails that test. It just sounds like a deeply entrenched industry preying on monthly fees desperately trying to keep their claws in place while fighting modernity. Explain the issue with brevity or stop complaining.
1. I asked Nate Clark, the President of Konnected, to debate me as to my article, and he said there was no need. In other words, the science to my accuracy besides my specialized education, skill, knowledge training, and experience is what Nate Clark admitted to me, in writing, that I think that by framing the conversation as a debate, you have prematurely concluded that I would be disagreeing with you and we would be engaging in an adversarial discussion. In fact, most of your technical points are correct so there wouldn’t be much of a debate.
2. There is nothing emotional about knowingly selling a product that is not UL listed and violates the Fire Code and the National Electrical Code (NEC). The NFPA- National Fire Protection Association at 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, that was established in 1896 publishes the most authoritative treatise on fire alarm systems being, NFPA-72. See https://www.nfpa.org/overview/. Konnected’s products violate NFPA 72 and NFPA 70.
3. As elaborated to in my article, the danger to you and your family is that you will never be warned of a system impairment as is required under minimum industry standards, so while you think you are protected, you’re not, and if an intruder or fire emergency happens, you would not be warned. That’s dangerous. Despite Konnected not complying with Standards, this is not an option for a host of products, including security systems and life safety purposes. Would you ever buy a Smoke Alarm that’s not UL Listed and/or does not comply with NFPA 72? What about a fire extinguisher?
4. Any Alarm System product that is not listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL Intertek/ETL, is dangerous since it has not been tested for reliability to nationally recognized industry standards and best practices that include but is not limited to UL-1023 and UL-985 standards.
5. When it comes to security and life safety and the choices equipment manufacturers, make its serious business. This is not about complaining; it’s about identifying inherent dangers that, but for companies like Konnected, should never exist. Millions and millions of people rely on alarm systems, so for a company like Konnected to disregard the criticality of codes and standards puts subscribers at needless risk.
6. If you knew that there was going to be a fire in your home tonight, you would do everything in your power to protect them, and in doing so, you buy Konnected equipment and follow what they tell you to do. However, despite installing Konnected equipment, it is in a non0functional state as to its audible sounder and/or the smoke detectors that you connect to it. With this in mind, instead of being able to proactively warn you, it does not provide for supervision of these alarm components. Resultantly, no one in your home is provided with early warning during a fire emergency. When this happens, it is statistically known that occupants in the home will be seriously injured or be killed. Can you think of anyone that would knowingly purchase equipment to protect their family, whereby the equipment manufacturer intentionally disregards the Fire Code? What could be more important than having a reliable fire alarm system to protect you and your family? That cannot be achieved with Konnected equipment based on its dangerous and defective design.
Do you feel the same about Ring’s Retrofit solution? https://ring.com/products/retrofit-alarm-kit
My Dad asked a question about Ring.com but you removed it for some reason. We want to know if you feel the same about Rings retrofit solution.
I stumbled across this article two years after it’s written and it’s cracking me up so much I have to comment even if I’m the only one who sees it. You come off as incredibly hostile towards the guy (Clark) and try to twist snippets of his response email in such a way to make it look like he’s arguing with you when it’s clear he’s not, even though we can’t see the full context of the email correspondence. Your title claims “False Statements” from konnected, but when I bought their system a few years ago it was made blatantly obvious on their site and in the materials it was not to be relied on as a primary system, and only an additional convenience for tying sensors to a smart home. If anyone really felt deceived by what they were getting then it’s possible they have poor reading comprehension. They include options to go further and instructions how to do so, but every step of the way they indicate “It’s at your own risk.” Have you considered the possibility that some people like me are just installing them on old, otherwise unused panels so they can tie door and window sensors into their smart home? Maybe we’re tired of the racket being run by security solutions providers. Why don’t you write about the deceitful practices of alarm companies and security system providers? Talk some as well about all the proprietary devices that might lead one to look for an alternative or workaround.
I dispute your conclusions. Life Safety is not something that should be dismissed. In gross contrast, it is axiomatic to me that your comments do not recognize the criticality of NFPA 72.® Whatever you bought and whatever you think that works does not supersede the criticality of NFPA 72, and not meeting minimum NFPA 72 Standards is both foreseeably dangerous and unacceptable. No equipment manufacturer can just disregard these adopted standards instead of complying with them. Similarly, no equipment manufacturer can add language into their offerings that tries to circumvent what is minimally required by authorities having jurisdiction across the country! Everyone is entitled to reliable life safety, and there are do-it-yourself products that accomplish this task. Dangerously, Konnected is not one of them, and despite what you do not know about NFPA 72, does not change the facts and the danger. Please feel free to reach out to the NFPA directly or purchase a copy of NFPA-72- National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. http://www.nfpa.org. The National Fire Protection Association was founded on November 6, 1896.
Wow, I have never seen a more hostile and one sided rant posing as an article. When I personally took products to UL for Evaluation it cost thousands of dollars to get the UL certification, and then I was required to pay for each UL label put on the product. Was my product any better because of the UL rating? Categorically NO. It was the exact same product I made for non-non UL approved sales I just had to charge more because of the UL rating!
Since it was written, Konnected has not told me that they dispute any part of my article. Clearly, if there was anything one-sided, which there isn’t, I would have expected Konnected to respond, but they have curiously remained silent. In my opinion, this was not fortuitous. In any event, there is nothing one-sided about my article. Against the foregoing backdrop, the entirety of the professional alarm equipment manufacturing industry has relied upon UL for more than 60 years. Your statement proves that you are unaware of the criticality of Listing Burglar and Fire Alarm Equipment and that when companies fail to do so, like Konnected equipment demonstrated when I wrote my article, they are needlessly increasing the risks to consumers who rely on burglar alarm and life safety fire alarm systems for their protection. I recommend that you get educated about alarm systems before deciding that dangerous products like Konnected are reliable. By the way, UL does not rate; they list products. See UL-1023, UL-985, and you should also look at NFPA-72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The foregoing opinions are held to a reasonable degree of Professional, Technical, Scientific, and Alarm Science certainty. See www. alarmexpert.com Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, SET, FASI&T, CHPA-IV, MBAT, NFPA 3000(PS), President, IDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INC.
I hadn’t heard about konnected. where can i get one?
Wait, there’s zero-subscription DIY open-source device that will allow me to use the sensors someone installed in my house? Sign me up!
If one wants a monitored system then most of the points the author makes are reasonable. What isn’t made clear is that Konnected has 2 modes – replacement and interface. Most/all of the points the author makes relate to the replace mode. But one has to know that the replace mode is used when people don’t want central monitoring. The old wired system has lots of good sensors that can be used for convenience monitoring of one’s home. E.g., if a window is left open while the AC is on make an announcement on the speakers. Konnected allows those signals to be passed to home automation systems. These are not life safety issues. The one potential overlap are smoke detectors. But smoke detectors have to work no matter the presence of a central alarm system or not. Konnected doesn’t add anything more than the Nest app does to Nest Protects. And doesn’t take away anything from a non-monitored home.
What would be interesting to me is the author’s views of the interface mode products. These leave the existing panel in place, monitored or not, and add connectors to the system to allow use in the home automation systems. In this way Konnected is a DIY version of the proprietary interface modules that the alarm panel manufacturers already sell. Or similar to the Envisalink products.
The alarm system industry is trying to find its way with modern technology. Everyone wants to be the focal point and be able to charge subscription fees. Unfortunately the system manufacturer companies are not nimble. They are used to working in the alarm system business that has a lot of regulation and engineering that goes along with the requirements. All the new stuff is just hard for them to do as it doesn’t easily fit their mindset.
As an advance consumer I want my alarm system to do alarm stuff. I want my home automation system to do its stuff. I want a way to interface the systems so they can complement one another. Usually that means using signals from the alarm system and its sensors in the home automation system. The only signals going the other way are to arm and disarm the alarm system (like Alexa can do for Alarm.com).
I would like the author to provide a list of recommended alternatives to the Konnected.io solution that use existing NO/NC sensors, do not require monitoring and integrate with home automation software. List solutions that meet your standards. If you don’t know of any, then I think you have a wonderful business opportunity to make a solution to compete with Kennected.io.
Dude, you have numerous security system sponsors funding your efforts. Clearly this is a biased review and frankly with no objective (almost combative) perspective. Disregard this rant.
NO ONE IS SPONSORING MY FORENSIC INVESTIGATION OF THE DANGEROUS KONNECTED PRODUCTS.
YOUR SUGGESTION IS BOTH SPURIOUS AND UNFOUNDED.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE PRODUCTS DO NOT MEET THE MANDATORY MINIUMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT ALL ALARM SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO.
PURCHASING OF KONNECTED PRODUCTS ARE FORESEEABLY DANGEROUS.
Getting emotional and typing in all caps because the majority of the responses (i.e.: the ‘reasonable person’ standard) point out that your article sounds hostile, verbose, and biased isn’t helpful to your cause. It seems you don’t really care though, since you just keep beating your drum that Konnected is dangerous to families and that the responses are all wrong wrong WRONG. But as yet ANOTHER respondent who doesn’t even (yet) own Konnected and still read through this with a furrowed “What crawled up this guy’s ass and died?” expression, you’re not accomplishing your goal of communicating a danger here. You’re just coming across as untrustworthy and angry.
It’s a PCB bridge that adds smart monitoring for wired sensors. It could break, just like anything else… I’m not sure what UL listing would change. All of the monitoring functionality is actually done through home automation software, so most of your issues would seem to actually be focused there. I.e.: how dare Home Assistant allow you to set up notifications for door and fire sensors without being UL listed, what if the sensors stop working and you don’t know…what if the VM goes down…insert your article here.
Yeah, I’m not sure you understand the demographic boards like Konnected target, and I don’t think the length and fervor of this article is appropriate to the scope of this hypothetical problem. People who can set up this board and the associated home automation (setting up a VM in Linux/Unraid/Hypervisor, MQTT, a proxy, a VPN for home access) aren’t at risk of whatever you seem to think this product puts them at risk of. 87 year old QVC-shopping Thelma who can’t work her DVR isn’t buying this.
I agree with others. Obvious case of being threatened by the wave of the future. I had my alarm system installed years ago by ADT. They basically give you the cheap ass hardware and installation if you agree to be locked into a monitoring service that is their bread and butter. I loved the day I gutted my nasty outdated ADT system and installed a modern Konnected board to take over the system. I do my own monitoring now for free with a feature rich setup through Home Assistant. Konnected is the future……… and the days of outdated hardware and expensive monitoring contracts are over!! Maybe go back to school and learn a more respectable trade!!
Seems everyone else that read this article got the same impression as me. Someone who wants to be able to lock-in customers to perpetual and never-ending monitoring and support fees doesn’t like a product that removes that undesired stranglehold on consumers. Color me surprised.
If it came down to NOT having the open-source option, and having to choose between never-ending subscription fee hell (and questionable people with unfettered access to my data and system information) or not having the equipment at all, I’d choose to not have the equipment. Fortunately the open-source option is there.
Life Safety and Security Systems are Important.
Any alarm system equipment that is not Listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and that does not comply with the mandatory minimum requirements of NFPA 72 is dangerous, because it is not reliable.
The same danger applies to any company who provides consumers with advice that is in gross deviation to UL Standards and NFPA 72 Standards.
At the same time, there are a profusion of open source solutions and they reside in do it yourself products that are listed and comply with NFPA 72 Standards.
However, Konnected is not that open source and this is a choice that they made despite the risks to consumers.
If a fire alarm system is not designed and manufactured correctly and there is a fire, people will not likely escape from the premises before it becomes untenable.
Having said that, when someone is seriously injured and/or dies in a fire that but for a faulty non-code conforming smoke detector and/or alarm equipment, they would not have not been seriously injured and/or diem it is a tragedy.
Any suggestions to the contrary are erroneous.
If you do not pay attention to the risks of life safety, you needlessly put your family and yourself at an increased risk of serious personal injury and/or death.
Jeffrey D. Zwirn, CPP, CFPS, CFE, SET, FASI&T, CHPA-IV, MBAT, NFPA 3000(PS), President
Over 43 years of specialized education, skill, knowledge, training, experience and credentials in the alarm, central station, and security industry.
Over 25 Year Designated Expert Instructor for the New York City Police Department in Physical and Electronic Security
Author of the Authoritative and Peer Reviewed Alarm Science Manual
Appointed Distinguished Life Member By the President of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Appointed to serve on twenty (24) four UL- Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Standard Technical Panels
2018 Recipient of the True Professional Award from the New Jersey Electronic Security Association (NJESA) At Their 2019 Annual Symposium
2019 Recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the New Jersey Electronic Security Association (NJESA) On Their Fiftieth Anniversary
Awarded Three United States Patents for Alarm Systems
IDS Research & Development, Incorporated
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