grtaylor Posted December 6, 2013 Posted December 6, 2013 I've been reading the posts I can find but am still confused about one thing I'm seeing. I just bought 4 sensors, all linked fine, and then I went to test. I put some water on a plate and popped one of the sensors on it. It sends a Wet On, followed by a Dry On. It's still sitting in the water. ISY sees the state of the sensor as Dry. It's not. What's up with that? If it's wet, shouldn't it stay like that until it sends a Dry? Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 00.00.02 CB 11 02 LTONRR (02) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->Group=2, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 2] DON 2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 2] ST 255 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 1] ST 0 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 00.00.02 CB 11 02 LTONRR (02) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->Group=2, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:58 AM : [iNST-DUP ] Previous message ignored. Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 00.00.01 CB 11 01 LTONRR (01) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->Group=1, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 1] DON 1 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 1] ST 255 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [ 25 B4 5E 2] ST 0 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 00.00.01 CB 11 01 LTONRR (01) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->Group=1, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-DUP ] Previous message ignored. Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 22.FE.F6 41 11 01 LTONRR (01) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [std-Cleanup ] 25.B4.5E-->ISY/PLM Group=1, Max Hops=1, Hops Left=0 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-DUP ] Previous message ignored. Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 11.01.01 CB 06 00 (00) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->11.01.01, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-INFO ] Previous message ignored. Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-SRX ] 02 50 25.B4.5E 11.01.01 CB 06 00 (00) Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [std-Group ] 25.B4.5E-->11.01.01, Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2 Fri 12/06/2013 09:53:59 AM : [iNST-INFO ] Previous message ignored.
LeeG Posted December 6, 2013 Posted December 6, 2013 The Leak Sensor trips Wet based on the "conductivity" of the liquid it is sitting in. Water conductivity varies which results in the Leak Sensor switching to Dry even when sitting in the water that originally triggered the Wet state. Moving the Leak Sensor around in the water will often change the Wet/Dry state. My view is if the Leak Sensor trips Wet it is a condition that needs intervention even if the Leak Sensor moves back to Dry. "What's up with that? If it's wet, shouldn't it stay like that until it sends a Dry?" The Leak Sensor did send a Dry so the ISY is correctly noting the current state.
grtaylor Posted December 6, 2013 Author Posted December 6, 2013 Thanks Lee. So I have the wrong kind of water? I just tried it again, and it now stays on, the water, the same water, has I guessed warmed up a bit. I tried another unit, doesn't switch on at all, or rather it seems it be sending DRY when put into water. Hmm. I agree that any ON is a sign of trouble, but if it switches ON, then off, it could also be read as a sign that the water has gone - when it goes ON then OFF, but is still in water, it can't be trusted. I'm surprised they are so sensitive.
grtaylor Posted December 6, 2013 Author Posted December 6, 2013 I tried taking the base from one unit and putting it into the other. That one now works fine. The rubberized base with the sensors on it would seem to be part of the issue. Shorting the springs by hand results in a very obvious and consistent wet ON. It would appear the contacts built in to the rubber base are what are causing the intermittent on/off or failure to come on issues. That's not good.
EricK Posted December 7, 2013 Posted December 7, 2013 I am sending back 8 leak sensors that have not been working properly. I did my trouble shooting with houselinc. They worked fine when put on metal, but not when placed in water. In water they would show wet in the bug log then immediately show dry. Events were not triggered from this brief wet detected state. Well see what happens with the replacements. I do have one that seems to work fine. Considering the isy again since I may have time over the holidays to set it up. E
haroldunger Posted December 8, 2013 Posted December 8, 2013 I purchased several sensors a few months ago and had the same problem with the sensors showing "dry" even though they were still sitting in water. I called Insteon and they told me to unistall the sensors from the ISY and then reinstall them manually. I did just that and now they seem to indicate "wet" until removed from the water. BTW, my water is conditioned. That would normally makes matters worse.
ih574 Posted December 8, 2013 Posted December 8, 2013 That's interesting. I made my own water leak detectors back in 2010 using what were called "TriggerLincs" and the $11 water sensors (http://www.smarthome.com/79633/United-S ... sor/p.aspx). I wired the sensors to the little I/O port inside the Trigger Link. It worked well, except had exactly the same behavior as the OP mentioned above. For the TriggerLinc (now called a "Wireless Open/Close Sensor"), the ISY defined the states as Open and Closed. Out of water, it showed as Closed. In water, it would momentarily go to Open and then back to Closed. So I watched for the change and took action on that. Here is a picture: http://www.outcropacres.net/images/ha-watersensor.jpg. r- Tom C. http://www.outcropacres.net/pasttimes/homeauto.htm
Teken Posted December 8, 2013 Posted December 8, 2013 That's interesting. I made my own water leak detectors back in 2010 using what were called "TriggerLincs" and the $11 water sensors (http://www.smarthome.com/79633/United-S ... sor/p.aspx). I wired the sensors to the little I/O port inside the Trigger Link. It worked well, except had exactly the same behavior as the OP mentioned above. For the TriggerLinc (now called a "Wireless Open/Close Sensor"), the ISY defined the states as Open and Closed. Out of water, it showed as Closed. In water, it would momentarily go to Open and then back to Closed. So I watched for the change and took action on that. Here is a picture: http://www.outcropacres.net/images/ha-watersensor.jpg. r- Tom C. http://www.outcropacres.net/pasttimes/homeauto.htm Tom C, It was your sharing of the home brew water sensor that got me started! Much thanks for that and your personal web site is also outstanding! Teken . . .
ih574 Posted December 10, 2013 Posted December 10, 2013 Teken, Thanks for the shout out. Didn't think anyone ever saw that stuff. Thanks for noticing. r- Tom C.
Xathros Posted December 10, 2013 Posted December 10, 2013 I also enjoyed your site and the bits of humor sprinkled about therein. -Xathros
Teken Posted December 10, 2013 Posted December 10, 2013 Teken, Thanks for the shout out. Didn't think anyone ever saw that stuff. Thanks for noticing. r- Tom C. Anything worthy I always notice! As a inside joke I was going to paint the base green to mimic your original unit in the link. Just to pay homage to the creator! Teken . . .
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