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UCMA/Pi — Home Assistant Add-on for Cytech Comfort
Complete setup and user guide — Version 3.0
Introduction
The UCMA/Pi is an add-on module for the Cytech Comfort Alarm/Automation system. It contains a Compute Module 4 (CM4) Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant OS (HAOS). Connecting the UCMA/Pi to your Comfort system gives you full integration with Home Assistant, allowing you to monitor and control your alarm from any web browser or smartphone — at home or remotely.
This guide covers initial setup, configuration of the Cytech Comfort add-on, loading your Comfort database, and using the Home Assistant interface on desktop and mobile.
1.1 Key Features
- Pre-installed with Home Assistant OS — no additional software required
- Cytech Comfort MQTT Bridge — connects Comfort to Home Assistant using MQTT
- Mosquitto MQTT Broker — built-in, pre-configured for local communication
- ComfortLink — instant secure remote access with no setup required
- Tailscale VPN — optional secure remote access via your own VPN account
- Home Assistant Companion App — full mobile access on Android and iOS
- Push notifications for alarm events: arm, disarm, and alerts
- Direct access to Comfort entities: zones, outputs, flags, counters, sensors, timers
1.2 Requirements
- Comfort alarm system with the UCMA/Pi module
- A network router with a spare Ethernet port
- A PC or smartphone on the same network
- The Comfort configuration file in CCLX format for your installation
2. Hardware Overview and Installation
2.1 What's in the Box
- UCMA/Pi module (PCB with Raspberry Pi CM4)
- UCM connection cable (white/grey, 4-pin connectors at each end)
- QR Code linking this manual
Note: The UCMA/Pi is powered entirely by the Comfort panel via the UCM bus. No external power supply or USB power is required during normal operation.
2.2 The UCMA/Pi Module
The UCMA/Pi is built around the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4), mounted on a carrier board designed to interface directly with the Cytech Comfort UCM bus.
2.3 Connectors and Ports
Ethernet Port (RJ45) — Located on the top-left edge of the board. Connect a standard Ethernet cable from this port to your network router or switch.
UCM RS485 Bus Connector — The white 4-pin connector connects to the Comfort RS485 bus via the supplied cable. This cable carries both data and power to run the module.
USB Port — One USB 2.0 port for external interfaces e.g. Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, or a keyboard. Not required for normal operation.
HDMI Port — For direct display output during maintenance. Not required for normal operation.
Terminal Blocks (Blue) — Screw terminals on the right side provide an alternative connection to Comfort (12V/GND/KA/KB) — same signals as the RS485 bus cable.
2.4 LED Indicators
- D4 (green) — 5 V power — lit continuously when the module is receiving power from the UCM bus
- D2 (red) — 3.3 V power — lit continuously when the on-board 3.3 V regulator is active
- D1 (green) — Activity — flashes during SD card / storage activity. Rapid flashing on first boot is normal
- Ethernet LEDs — On the RJ45 port. Green = link active; amber/flashing = data activity
Note: On first power-on, the D1 activity LED will flash continuously for several minutes while Home Assistant OS initialises. This is normal. Do not remove power during this process.
2.5 UCM ID Setting
Each UCM device on the Comfort bus must have a unique ID. The UCMA/Pi UCM ID is set by the SW7 DIP switch on the board. The factory default is ID 2. If ID 2 is taken by another UCM, set it to the next available sequential ID. Do not use ID 1, which is reserved for Comfigurator programming.
Important: Do not connect the UCMA/Pi to the Comfort bus if another device already has the same UCM ID. Duplicate IDs will cause communication errors on the entire bus.
2.6 The UCM Cable
The supplied cable connects the UCMA/Pi to the Comfort panel's UCM bus port. It has identical 4-pin connectors at each end and can be plugged in either way — the connectors are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.
2.7 Installation Steps
- Power off the Comfort panel at the mains before handling the module.
- Set the UCM ID DIP switches to a unique, unused ID (default is 2). See Section 2.5.
- Mount the UCMA/Pi in the Comfort panel enclosure using the provided fixing points.
- Connect one end of the UCM cable to the JP2 or JP2A 4-pin connector on the UCMA/Pi board.
- Connect the other end of the cable to the RS485 4-pin connector on the Comfort board.
- Connect an Ethernet cable from the RJ45 port on the UCMA/Pi to your network router or switch.
- Insert the pre-programmed micro SD card into the slot until it clicks into place.
- Restore power to the Comfort panel. The UCMA/Pi will start automatically. Allow up to 5 minutes on first boot for Home Assistant OS to initialise.
Troubleshooting Tip: After powering on, confirm the UCMA/Pi has started by checking your router's connected-device list for a new device named "cytech".
Guide Contents
- Post 1: Overview & Hardware (this post)
- Post 2: First-Time Setup
- Post 3: Add-ons & Configuring the Cytech Comfort Add-on
- Post 4: Loading the Comfort CCLX File
- Post 5: Comfort Alarm Dashboard, Entities & System Info
- Post 6: Mobile App Setup & Remote Access
- Post 7: Configuration Files, Troubleshooting & Quick Reference
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UCMA/Pi for Home Assistant
