Review on ELK M1KP2 LCD Profile Keypad by Aaron Ward

My review is on Elk products. In 2009 we needed a home automation system for a 6,500 square foot fully connected home. Literally every door and window has been pre-wired for alarms, and Category 5 wiring has been run throughout the house to support built-in cameras and other devices. The installers chosen by the builder recommended HAI products or Elk products. We chose moose. Big mistake. Firstly, the installer they hired went bankrupt before we even bought him, which isn't a big deal. To locate the installer named Elk, Elk directed us to his local representative. The representative gave us several names. We have chosen one. They bought most of the product from a company called Smart Home. Now Elk refuses to honor purchased smart home products, as does Revain. But don't worry, that's not why you should avoid Elk with a 10ft pole. We're spending over $10,000 on our idiotic system. It was 100% Elk but with lights controlled by another vendor (I already forgot) and the thermostats were HAI because ELK didn't have a smart thermostat yet. Our installers went bankrupt. And only licensed installers have access to the "brains” of the Elk system. We had a modest level of control from the M1, but not nearly enough. We also did not have the authority to update the software, Elk requires an authorized installer to do this. We called Elk, they were helpless to find us a replacement installer. I contacted the original installers and they provided me with the codes for my system and wished me luck. I actually successfully installed the updated software and figured out how to reprogram, change priorities etc. We then had a power issue which I couldn't solve. I called the local representative. She told me that she had many reports of the same problem and replacing the battery might solve the problem. I replaced the battery and it happened. It's been a few years now and we wanted to add some wireless smoke alarms. Wireless devices require separate programming. The representative offered me lessons. In the end, the only way to go was Elk College. They have online seminars etc. But I didn't have time. Next, the power supply failed. Replacing a powertrain requires a higher level of safety than I've had before. I called the service. My local security company that monitors and maintains many systems said they would be happy to help but had no experience with ELK. They wanted to bill me by the hour. I literally looked for almost $1000 just for them to learn how to take over the system as they didn't have access to install codes etc plus I had to pay for new power supplies and who knows what else. In the meantime, the lighting control has failed so badly that we had to rewire and "deautomatize" all the switches. Due to the limited budget, I called everyone. I learned that Time Warner could take over my system for $200, effectively replacing the power supply, battery, etc., and providing further service. ultimately those who are responsible for my purchase at Smart Home. By the way, Smart Home is also not supported. After spending literally 200% of the estimate, the installers left a few unused ElC products; I asked if Smart Home would allow them to be returned on credit; Despite an email from the installers saying everything was fine, that they bought it for me, Smart Home refused to accept the goods.