cwalsh714

The reason why the Autelis system can directly interface with the Intelliflo is that both talk RS485. This is a serial communications protocol, and Autelis has figured out what specific binary codes are passed between the Intelliflo and the Easytouch/Intellitouch to control its different functions. The same is true for the IntelliChlor (and IntelliChem?). All of these can communicate on the RS485 line, and they can be wired up in parallel so they all connect to their Ethernet/RS485 bridge. However, to measure temperature in your spa/pool, you still need temp. probes, and I'm not aware of any that talk RS485. Also, you need to be able to control 24V pool valves, and you need some way to switch on and off other equipment like the heater, auxilliary pumps (e.g. booster pumps for cleaner, pumps for water features, etc). You could certainly put together something proprietary using an Insteon compatible controller like an EZIO8, but you would still need to do the "programming" for in on the ISY. You would end up with a "Frankensystem" that was highly proprietary, and though somewhat cheaper, likely to be prone to Insteon's communications fallabilities. So, the Autelis stuff is great for simple communications with an Intelliflo, but if you need to automate all of the functions, it's probably best to go with a full blown system like the EasyTouch (which is more like around $1000 if you already have a salt generator; a SunTouch is around $3-500). The EasyTouch is widely known in the industry, its communications protocol is robust, and if you ever sell your house, you don't have to write a 300 page document to explain how it works. The Autelis is great because it lets you integrate your pool system into ISY-based HA plan. It does not replace a true pool controller though.

The Autelis system appears to use an ethernet->RS485 bridge, as has been discussed. It is cheaper than the ScreenLogic 2 system from Pentair and supports both Android and iPhone (ScreenLogic only supports the latter). It doesn't support the EasyTouch interface yet, but I would imagine that should not be difficult to address. I'm going to look into this further.

Zyll: This is exactly what I want to do. I would like to install an EasyTouch (now compatible with ScreenLogic 2), but I really don't like the idea of having to keep my computer on 24/7 to be able to control it. Also, ScreenLogic 2 only supports iOS devices, not Android. I'd love to be able to control pool and spa from MobiLinc, and have it all integrated with my Pentair stuff. If you look at the How To forum, I've been getting help to develop a set of ISY programs that control the shows and colors of our IntelliBrite LED pool lights and it works great (much more useful than the IntelliBrite controller sold by Pentair). In any event, I plan to purchase and ethernet to RS485 bridge and hook that into the EasyTouch. Any info you have on this would be great. BTW, I'd love to be able to hook into the system to control pump speed etc. I do like the idea of letting the ISY handle all of the programming, but are there ways to report on and adjust pool/spa temp? Thanks for any and all info on this project! Craig

Now, on the HTML/Browser page of the ISY, it lists the status of each of the programs (true, false) next to each of the programs. Is there a way for this to signal which program has run, e.g. which mode is active? I guess the Off and Toggle programs would have to turn the status off on all other programs, except the off program (or the program that was most recently activated for the toggle program). This would be handy so that you would know which program had been activated. Very nice. Thanks again! Craig

Ah, the key was to remove the Toggle program out of the Folder with the other programs. Now, clicking on one of the various color or show programs causes this thing to actually work. A little more tweaking and this thing will replace the functionality of the $250 box Pentair sells to control these things...but you can do this remotely from anywhere in the world using the ISY and MobiLinc or Orchestrator. Very cool! I'll upload my code later to show how it's done.

Xanthos: Cool. I didn't know I could do that. Okay, the program doesn't seem to work, and this is definitely due to my naivety. I have 15 programs installed in one folder called Pool Lights. Each program is named for the different function, e.g. 00- off , 01-SAm, 02-Party, 03-Royal, etc., to match the programs on the lights. When I click on the Programs on MobiLinc, I see the Pool Lights folder, and I see the individual programs. But, if I click on any, I don't get a response. So, a couple of questions. 1. What do I need to do to let the programs in the Pool Lights folder know that they should run when I click on Run Then? I think the folder has an If Then statement, and I believe that the Folder status is by default false. How do I program the folder to make its status True when it is opened? I think this is preventing the programs from running. 2. In each individual program (except 1-SAm and 0-Off), each program is supposed to call the PoolLightToggle program recursively until LightCycle is 0. Am I supposed to call the PoolLightToggle program from within each of the set programs (which set the LightCycle variable), or does the PoolLightToggle program activate automatically if LightCycle is > 0? Thanks so much for your help. I'm a total newby to more complex programming with variables, etc.

Okay, I've programmed all of this in using 15 different programs under one called Pool Lights. The only issue is how do I run the different programs? If I access via MobiLinc, if I click on the Pool Lights folder, it does show the 15 different folders (14 for different modes, 15 for off). But, if I click on one of the buttons for the 15 programs, it shows the "Run If", "Run Else", etc. How do I set it so that if the button is clicked, the program automatically executes? Thanks for all of your help! Craig

I recently installed Pentair Intellibrite pool lights in our backyard pool and spa, and these are both wired to a GFI circuit with an Insteon Icon switch that is then wired to a 12V Intermatic pool transformer. The transformer is used because the lights are run off 12V AC (I couldn't wait to get 120V AC wiring out of the pool niches.. dangerous!). In any event, I'd like to be able to control the programming of these lights. Currently, I can control the lights in terms of single colors or 7 different color changing "shows" by toggling the lights off and on a set number of times (e.g. 8 toggles to get a continuous white color, etc). A couple of questions: 1. Can I set up "virtual" buttons in the ISY? I say this because I mainly use MobiLinc Pro to control my Insteon stuff. I prefer to use my Android phone as a remote instead of KeypadLincs and RemoteLincs. Also, there are 14 different programs for these lights, so I would have to have 14 different buttons, and the most I think possible are 8 buttons on a KPL. 2. Can I use recursive loops (e.g. toggle the light off/on until count is 8 times), or would I have to hard-code this for each virtual button? This would be something of a do-while loop, if such a thing exists in the ISY control code. 14 separate programs seems excessive to me. Thanks! Craig

First, you will need a truly static IP address or a dynamic DNS service to supply a dynamic address that points to your router. I was able to get this to work by getting a DynDNS.org account set up, and then using my Cisco/Linksys E4200v2 router to manage my DynDNS account. Without a static IP or a dynamic DNS address (e.g. myname.dyndns.org), you will not be able to communicate with your ISY from outside your LAN when the router's "outside" IP address changes. Next, you need to make sure you have the 443 port open. This allows you to access your ISY99i via HTTPS. So, read up on port forwarding, and make sure that port 443 points to the LAN ip address of your ISY99i (e.g. something like 192.168.1.85, if your modem is using the 192.168.x.x address space). Next, you need to go to My Settings in MobiLinc Pro. Press Lighting Controller Settings, and then make sure Host Type is set to ISY. Type in user name and password. Give the LAN ip address for local access (e.g. 192.168.1.80 as above; you can find this address in your router's device list). The local port will likely be 80. Under Secure - https://, type in your static ip or your dynamic address name (e.g. myname.dyndns.org). Your secure port by default will be 443. Under connect method, I use autodetect, but to test that your outside addressing works, click on secure. Once this is set, click on Tap to Sync with ISY. You should be able to connect up.