Paradox Security Systems
EVO Grade 2/3 Intrusion Panels with IP150 Ethernet and MQTT Integration
Paradox Security Systems (Montreal, Canada, founded 1989) manufactures the EVO and Spectra series of intrusion detection control panels, widely installed across European commercial, industrial, and high-security residential projects. Their panels are certified to EN 50131 Grade 2 and Grade 3, making them suitable for insurance-approved residential and light-commercial alarm systems throughout Europe.
Role in our panels
How we use Paradox Security Systems
The EVO192 is Paradox's flagship control panel, supporting up to 192 zones, 999 users, and 32 areas. It uses the Digiplex EVO digital communication bus for detectors and keypads — a proprietary 4-wire RS-485 bus running at 38,400 baud, different from Wiegand or standard Modbus. The IP150 Internet module connects the EVO panel to the local LAN via RJ45 Ethernet, enabling remote management via the InField app and — critically for smart building integration — MQTT cloud connectivity through the Paradox MQTT bridge solution. MQTT integration architecture: the IP150 module runs a local API accessible on port 10000 (undocumented but reverse-engineered and widely used in Home Assistant). The open-source paradox-alarm-interface (PAI) library by Jean-Philippe Beaudet acts as a bridge, reading the Digiplex bus via serial adapter or IP150 and publishing zone status (open/closed/tamper/alarm), partition arm state (armed away, armed stay, disarmed), and trouble conditions as MQTT topics to a local broker. Home Assistant subscribes to these MQTT topics — zone states appear as binary_sensor entities, partition states as alarm_control_panel entities. KNX integration: a KNX IP gateway (e.g. WAGO 750-893 running Home Assistant KNXD, or MDT KNX IP Router with HTTP gateway) maps MQTT alarm states to KNX group addresses: alarm_state → 1-bit DPT 1.001 for indicator lights, partition_armed → DPT 1.002 for activation/deactivation of KNX lighting scenes and HVAC economy mode. Zone wiring: Paradox uses standard double-balance resistor supervision on zones (parallel 1kΩ EOL resistors by default, configurable to 2.2kΩ or 5.6kΩ depending on jurisdiction and installer programming). The EVOHD+ expansion module adds 16 zones per module, up to 192 total on EVO192. BUS zones via EVO192+ support iButton DG75 and DG65 DEOL zone doubling (two zones per physical cable with zone-doubling EOL resistor configuration), common in retrofit scenarios. The Spectra SP65 is Paradox's entry/mid-range panel (64 zones, 8 areas, 500 users) used in European residential projects. It lacks IP150 but accepts the GPRS/GSM module for remote signalling, and a PCS250 IP/GPRS module for hybrid Ethernet+cellular reporting to ARC. For integrators requiring European Grades without IP complexity, the SP65 with PCS250 is a cost-effective Grade 2 solution for residential alarm systems under EN 50131.
Paradox panels integrate with KNX via three methods: (1) dry-contact relay output modules (EVORE8) wired to KNX binary input modules — zone alarm state triggers lighting flash via DPT 1.001; (2) IP150 Ethernet module → PAI MQTT bridge → Home Assistant → KNX IP gateway publishing arm/disarm and zone states as KNX group addresses; (3) For AV/room controller integration, Crestron or AMX processors communicate with PAI API to pass panel status to KNX scenes.
Used in these project types
Paradox Security Systems products
Key components we install
EVO192 control panel (192 zones, 32 areas, EN 50131)
Flagship Paradox intrusion control panel supporting up to 192 zones, 999 users, and 32 areas. Certified EN 50131 Grade 2; Grade 3 available on EVO192+HD variant. Uses Digiplex EVO 4-wire RS-485 bus at 38,400 baud for detectors and keypads. DIN-rail or cabinet mount. Accepts IP150 Ethernet module for remote management and MQTT bridge integration. Supports EVOHD+ zone expansion modules (16 zones each), EVORE8 relay output modules, and Digiplex bus keypads. Standard programming via EVDHL graphical software or keypad. Used in commercial, industrial, and high-security residential projects across EU requiring EN 50131 certification.
Spectra SP65 (64 zones, 8 areas, Grade 2)
Mid-range Paradox control panel with 64 zones, 8 areas, and 500 users. EN 50131 Grade 2 certified for standard residential and light-commercial alarm installations. Does not accept IP150 Ethernet module but supports GPRS/GSM module for cellular remote signalling and PCS250 IP/GPRS hybrid module for ARC reporting via Ethernet and cellular fallback. Programmed via BabyWare software or keypad. Cost-effective Grade 2 solution for European residential alarm systems. Used by installers who require EN 50131 compliance without the full IP integration complexity of the EVO192 platform.
IP150 Ethernet Internet module
RJ45 Ethernet module that connects the EVO192 panel to the local LAN. Enables remote management via Paradox InField app (iOS/Android) and BabyWare software over IP. Runs a local API on port 10000 compatible with the open-source paradox-alarm-interface (PAI) library for local MQTT bridge integration — no cloud dependency required. Supports Paradox's own MyParadox cloud service (optional). Required for Home Assistant integration via PAI, providing real-time zone and partition states as MQTT topics within 1–2 seconds. Also enables email and push notification delivery for alarm events. Powered directly from the EVO panel bus; DIN-rail or panel-mount.
EVORE8 relay output module (8 programmable outputs)
8-channel programmable relay output module for the EVO Digiplex bus. Each output is a volt-free relay contact (normally open or normally closed, configurable). Used for integration with KNX binary input modules: zone alarm state or partition arm/disarm triggers a relay contact, which the KNX binary input reads as a 1-bit DPT 1.001 telegram for lighting or HVAC control. Also used for external siren/strobe wiring, access control lock release, and ARC monitoring equipment interfaces. Programmed via EVO panel programming to follow zone alarm, area arm, or trouble conditions. Up to 8 EVORE8 modules can be added to a single EVO192 panel bus.
HDX Paradox digital motion detector
Digital passive infrared motion detector for Paradox Digiplex EVO bus. Connects via 4-wire Digiplex bus (no separate power supply wiring required — powered from bus). Reports zone status (open/closed/tamper/fault) digitally over bus, eliminating analogue EOL resistor wiring at the detector. Detection coverage: 12m × 12m standard lens; pet-immune lens available. Tamper-protected housing. Anti-masking version (HDTMX) available for Grade 3 installations. Used in EVO192 bus zone installations where cable run is within 914m bus length limit. Each HDX draws approximately 80–100mA from the Digiplex bus — current budget planning required for large zone counts.
Paradox Security Systems FAQ
Is the Paradox EVO192 certified for use across European Union member states?
Yes. The EVO192 is EN 50131 Grade 2 (Eurograde 2) certified, meeting the requirements for standard residential and commercial alarm installations across the EU. Grade 3 certification is available on the EVO192+HD variant for high-risk commercial and industrial sites where insurers require Grade 3 panels. Both grades are covered by the EN 50131-1 and EN 50131-3 standards and can be installed by NSI/SSAIB-accredited engineers in the UK or equivalent bodies in EU countries.
Can the Paradox IP150 module integrate directly with Home Assistant without cloud?
Yes, locally. The open-source paradox-alarm-interface (PAI) library communicates with the IP150 over the local network using the Paradox serial protocol, publishing all zone and partition states to a local MQTT broker — no cloud dependency. The IP150 must be on the same LAN as the PAI bridge (typically a Raspberry Pi or Home Assistant OS host). Paradox's own cloud service (MyParadox) is separate and not required. The PAI integration provides real-time zone status within 1–2 seconds of a zone changing state.
What is the maximum cable distance for Paradox Digiplex EVO bus detectors?
The Digiplex EVO bus operates at 38,400 baud on a 4-wire cable (2 power + 2 data). Maximum bus length is 914m (3,000ft) total with minimum 22 AWG / 0.5mm² cable. Individual branches off a T-junction bus extender (EVO-BDLR) can each be up to 457m. For larger installations, bus repeaters extend the total distance. Bus current capacity limits the number of bus-powered devices: a single EVO bus supports up to 15A load, so large installations with many bus-powered detection heads (each drawing 60–150mA) require careful current budget planning.
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