iowaj

I recently replaced the ISY994i and have it up and running. I have some switches though that are still not working and have tried all advice I've found through the forum. I have obtained replacement switches, but before installing I want to be sure the firmware on new ISY is updated. The ISY has v.4.8.0 and I see that v4.9.0 is available. I am using a Mac with java v8 update 281. I have never been clear about how to update the firmware on the ISY and have searched for instructions but don't find them. Can anyone here instruct me how to do that? Thanks!

No, trust me, some of the earlier switches were defective and that was acknowledged about 10-11 years ago. Became impossible to turn the paddle switch on and off without touching them a certain way and then eventually stopped working completely. Smarthome stood behind them and replaced the 30+ switches, but I could find no electrician around at the time who would touch them. So, with wonderful help through this forum, I jumped in with both feet to learn the system, and replaced all those switches myself.

I am going to speak from the buyer side as we inherited the system with our purchase of a large home with many, many Insteon switches and ISY. For the previous owner I think it was a fun hobby, and he did spend an hour or two explaining things. For us, it's been nothing but a headache and large expense. It's so frustrating to have key switches go bad when all you want to do is turn the light on and off. It was a huge learning curve to learn how to work the system, and without the help found here would likely have ripped everything out by now. We literally had 30+ defective insteon switches we managed to replace on our own when no electrician could be found that would work with them. That being said, when we sell this place, there is no way I'm taking anything with me nor taking out the many, many switches. So I will be curious what suggestions show up here for passing the system on to the next buyer.

Problem solved! You think I would have noticed that the on level was 0%. Never had that one happen before so didn't even think to look at it. Thanks!

I replaced a switch that had gone bad after trying suggestions listed in another topic I posted. At the same time I decided to replace an 8 button switch right next to it that has repeatedly had an issue. I am now having the same problem with these 2 new switches that I had when replacing a 6 button switch a few days ago. The ISY recognizes both switches and made the swap through the admin console. The Insteon and Firmware are both the same, V4.6.2. I can turn the switches on and off manually, and if on I can turn off via the admin console. But I cannot turn then on via the admin console and assume the programming I have with them is not going to work. I have not had an previous communication issues with the old switches that were there. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Thanks all for your input. This switch did have an air gap button and tried all the advice above that I could but appears the switch failed. I have replaced it along with an 8 button switch beside it that has been giving me issues off and on. Decided if I was dealing with one I'd deal with both. However, I have a new issue similar to a recent one I posted. The ISY recognized both the new 8 button switch and dimmer switch I installed. Firmware and UDI are both version 4.6.2. I was able to replace the old switch with the new ones added using the admin console. While it appears the ISY recognizes both switches and that they were programmed correctly with the swap, I cannot control either switch using the admin console. I assume the programming will not end up working either. Suggestions? Up until recently I have never had an issue swapping switches.

A couple of nights ago at the time a program was scheduled to turn on outside lights, I had one of the programmed switches go crazy. I first noticed the porch light turning on and off repeatedly and quickly and noticed the switch was doing the same. I pulled out the tab at the bottom for a few seconds but when letting go it continued the on/off cycle. I pulled out then pushed in all the way for several seconds, and this seemed to totally take out the switch. The ISY can no longer communicate with it so no way to restore, etc. It seems there is power to the switch as the bottom light on the side is on, but seems dead as no action when operating switch. Is there anything else I can do or do I just need to replace the switch?

Thanks for this response. We did have one company pushing wireless on us because they said it was the best, latest thing to work with new technology. I was skeptical and also questioned whether wireless would interfere with ISY hence my initial question. All of the system we currently have is hardwired. It is just missing a few key pieces and am not sure why the previous owner failed to wire those. I am also told by a couple of companies we can use the wiring we have for existing devices to connect into a new system and simply add 2 or 3 wireless devices needed to complete the system along with a cellular device for monitoring. We would have to replace the brains and keypads if switching over to a company that will monitor it. .

Pretty sure I asked this question a year ago and was told the software was not available.

Is there a way to access the Elk with a Macbook Pro? And is there a company that will act as a central monitoring station for the Elk? I just don't have a lot of time to mess with this system.

We have an ISY system with many switches installed by the previous owner and have finally gotten the hang of working with it. The previous owner also installed an Elk M1 security system but have not been able to connect with it thru my Macbook and not all the devices needed to provide the security we would prefer were installed by the previous owner. We do not care to figure out how to add these devices or to play with the Elk M1. Given that, we have received quotes from 3 companies on upgrading the system with added features and monitoring. All of these involve removing the Elk M1 system and some options are wireless. I am wondering if anyone else has a wireless security system installed by a company and if they have had any issues with that wireless security system interfering with their ISY/insteon lighting system. Thought I'd ask before taking this leap. Thanks for any input!

Thanks!

The new PLM arrived today and have been searching on here to find some step by step instructions on how to swap out the old PLM for the new one. I am not having luck finding anything. Can someone provide directions?

Electronically handy I am not so guess I will fork over the money for a new one. I see a 2431S and a 2431U PLM. What is the difference? The one that I have that appears to have failed is a 2431S.

I have the ISY994i and realized that lights that the ISY programs have not been running this last week. I logged in to the ISY and it said it was in safe mode. Tried to reboot the PLM, as it appeared there was no indicator light on. I unplugged it for 10 sec and plugged back in. Having done this before, I know I should here a beep and should hold button till it stops after plugging in, but this time there was absolutely no sound and no light. Should I assume the PLM is bad or is there something else I should try first? Thanks!