paulbates

Hi Bill A few things, What is your polling interval in the Climate module? What does the program 'Snow Probably' do, can you post it? You could try putting a "Repeat every X minutes" as the first statement before "Run Program Snow Probable". Paul

Hi I'm not sure "how close is too close"...but it seems you are really close. For the scenes, yes, that's what I mean. I have several large scenes that are very close to the same thing..but one has some additional device they are convenient for effect and functionality.. but if I had to start chopping, it would be there... if that's possible for you. Paul

Hi Fred The ISY Portal is a cloud based service of which the ISY is a client. They each have a part to play. The ISY logs in to the ISY Portal service. This allows you to close any router ports you have open for the ISY. As you pointed out, the Portal can be thought about in 2 ways: 1) Remote access to the ISY as an internet appliance with no firewall ports open. ISY->Portal->You outside of your home.. The ISY calls out to the portal and stays attached. You login into the ISY Portal to get back in. Functions include: Remote Admin Console, Remote web page access, Remote Home Automation Dashboard... and connectivity for mobile applications that support it.... Mobilinc and Agave are what I'm aware of, I'm sure others do too. You can also reboot, upgrade and look at logs. 2) Connection to 'Cloud HA' Enablers. Today this includes the Amazon Echo and IFTTT (if this then that). UDI has indicated their intent to also include Google Home as well. Since all 3 of these integrate many individual products like thermostats, switches, alarms systems, etc... its likely UDI will consider additional big integration points like the Echo, IFTTT, Home...if more come along. Yes, if you bought and paid for the Network Module, it remains yours.... that's how its worked out for me I use all of its features currently. Its been worth it to me. I don't think UDI will want modify the portal to split those apart when its $2 a month to begin with. Paul

The iolinc has a 5 volt rating for input, and HVAC uses 24 volts AC, so I wouldn't wire it directly to an iolinc Iolinc contact specs: 5V (10mA), GND, Sense, N/C, N/O, Common (28-16 gauge wire) I've seen posts where people have wired the 24vac call to a relay, and let the relay switch the iolinc. One of our more electronically inclined here might know the right part specification, or search around the forums Paul

I've had a hub and taken it apart. Different case, but the daughter card is the same thing you find in the PLM. No difference outside of the interface to local LAN and connect.insteon.com Paul

Hi, No, the ISY doesn't support serial/IP style commutations for the hub like HouseLinc or HomeSeer do. The 2413S is the best to use to insure communication with Insteon products Paul

Before discovering devices on the Echo side, use the ISY portal to select and publish the devices and scenes individually, so the that they can be discovered. If you added them, hit the refresh botton on the top to make sure they are published for the Echo to discover. Paul

This could depend on the state of the ISY and the backup you are using. If you took at backup right before swapping the PLM, then it could have backed up the bad/no link data in the PLM. Note... the directions aren't totally clear.. you can not put all battery devices in linking mode at the same time.. they must be done one at a time. You have to be prepared to either bring them to the system you are using to do the restore, or have a 'runner' going to the right ones at the right time, or be prepared to run to each and come back. For me, with devices all over the place, this always takes time and repeating it several times. Do you have a recent backup from before the PLM died? If so, restore that and try to Restore Modem (link a few posts up) again. Paul

Yes, I have a folder sorted to the bottom of the tree. Inside of there, I have a sub folder for battery alerts and a sub folder unused devices in another. Unused Devices includes the complementary sensor nodes, nodes I'm not currently using (eg an io linc where I'm only using the sensor, and also devices i'm not currently using and have disabled but are ready to to go (appliancelincs, etc). Paul

Hi Andrew, happy new year to you too! In the program, are you turning the light as a device on directly, or the scene associated with key and light? You want to "set scene xxxx on" to get the key to light up too, if you're not doing that. Turning the light on directly vs scene would match the symptoms you're reporting. Paul

Ok, I might have misunderstood based on the initial post, when it comes to the 'repeat every 1 hour'. That part will only work every hour as long as the variable > 100. You can leave the repeat every one hour out Another way to do it with 2 programs Program a (new program) If $dashbox.... > 100 $sumpOn = 1 Else $sumpOn = 0 Program b (existing program, modified) if $sumpOn = 1 Send Notification (...leave as is) $sumpCycles +=1 (count the number of sump pump cycles) Repeat every 1 minute $sumpRuntime += 1 (measure the runtime of the pump.. maybe seconds instead of minutes) I added the statements to count cycles and runtime... You can reset daily, weekly or monthly with another program (set them to 0). Given its winter, probably weekly or monthly is more useful. I do something similar for my furnaces Paul

The primary diagnostic here is link count = 0, even after a restore modem/plm. I would order a new plm and follow the procedure for that: http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i/ISY-26_INSTEON:File_Menu#Restore_Modem_.28PLM.29 Paul

Hi John Because the ISY program is evaluating a variable, its executing any time that variable changes. Chances are what you are seeing is a steady increase in voltage, each change re-executing the program I would put a 10 second wait as the first statement of the "Then" section of the program, that will give the pump time to start and stabilize, and the changes get a chance to complete. I would do this If (....leave as is) Then wait 10 seconds Repeat every one hour Send Notification (....leave as is) Paul

There is not a hard 1:1 relationship from device to to total link count. For example, I have several large scenes to turn off ~20 devices. These scenes are hosted in the plm. I have a number of keypads, and they need scenes to control the buttons.... in addition I also define scenes with those same buttons and lots of other devices. The point is, if you have some really big scenes to turn large groups of devices on and off, you can look at consolidating or reducing them. I'd prefer not to do it that way, but you're banging into an unmovable headroom issue Take a look a your biggest scenes defined on your ISY and see if there is a way to combine or cut back. Paul

That appears to be the symptom of igniter voltage from the furnace traveling down the the 24vac lines. The 2441TH can only handle so much of that and can eventually lock up in response. I had this lock up / 'runaway heat' issue in 2012 with several 2441THs and eventually got my money back. There is a lengthy thread on the forum here about the extent some members went to to fix it with modifications and additional electronics, but I wasn't going there. My house came with standard contractor issue Honeywells, and I installed RCS and now Venstar thermostats on the same furnaces, none of them locked up. I think most people don't have the 'igniter problem'... I also think most thermostat manufacturers design with it in mind. Paul

With a link count of 0 after a restore, I would suspect its the PLM. How old is the PLM, more than 2.5 years? Is the PLM's LED on? Paul

That sounds like the right plan, that's the way you'll know for sure. If that does fix it, then you'll have a spare PLM on hand, which I always do. Paul

If you've swapped for another keypad and get identical results, its pointing at the PLM, I didn't see in the dialogue if your PLM is at or over the 2.5 year 'date of death' mark? If so, the PLM could be on its way to PLM heaven If not, the symptoms could also be potentially explained by being out of link address space. The PLM would not be able to hold the links from the switch to compare and respond to them What's the highest link count you've seen? Paul

Thanks Stu, its whatever somebody does when they arrive or leave. A better example this time of year is brushing snow off of a car. They may get behind the car, the "On" isnt sent, and then the lights go off. Then they come around the car and the lights go back on. My requirement is to keep the driveway and deck lit up until: somebody pulls in the driveway gets out of their car and comes in the house, or... until they leave the house, get into their car and drive away.. ... and not going on / off / on / off several times for either of those activities because of warming up, snow removal, loading the car, etc,.. I've used and prefer "signal on every sense", "Send On Only". and have a program to turn it off after X minutes. Paul

I send an on each time for my back deck and driveway. That way it stays on for my for my specified time of 4.5 minutes, if someone doesn't get out of their car for few minutes, or... more likely if they get in to warm their car up for a few before backing out in winter. That makes it better for visitors than it flashing on and off a few times. I change batteries twice a year which I'm good with. Paul

Yes. I've used all of those versions, and have 3 W10 systems today. Some notes Its generally better to download the admin console java app and run it locally from an icon on your desktop, rather than starting with a browser link. Chrome for instance, will no longer support launching java apps. The directions on doing this are with each firmware version Firewall and operating systems have become more and more safeguarded against 'bad' java apps, and software like the admin console pay the price in terms of have to configure firewalls and allow the admin console software. You have to be more diligent than ever in clearing java cache when upgrading ISY firmware versions It likely you won't experience these roadblocks. If you run into problems, check back here and/or search the forum for W10, Windows 10, etc Paul

The firmware updates for the 99i stopped a few years ago, and that firmware has deprecated SSL certificates vs current TLS, That's what's caused the issue. Said in a straightforward way, you'll want to start by upgrading your ISY 99i to the 994i and the latest firmware. Depending what software to access the ISY you are running on your iphone, that will likey solve that problem. The portal has a lot of advantages, but on the 99i you won't be able to participate. UDI offers an upgrade path for you, see the upgrades and refurbished: https://www.universal-devices.com/sales/ Paul

If you have the ISY portal, you can assign programs for alexa to turn on and off. The 'if' can be empty. The then would invoke the appropriate network resource. This can also be done with IFTTT with the Maker channel as the Then channel Paul

Its hard to have this kind of technology/ capability and expect children to self manage, at ages where they are learning and exploring their world verbally. Smart phones, tablets, computers can/should be managed and locked. Alexa can't be currently, (eg voice id). And even if you put it on a higher shelf to prevent direct access to the mic button, constantly managing the mic button would make it worthless IMO.

Hi, Welcome to the forums! Thanks for that report, that is helpful in understanding the line-of-site limitations. Paul