Program to control recirc pump

[jmed999]

I'm trying to turn the hot water recirculation pump on when a kitchen, or bathroom light is switched to on and turn the pump off when the light is switched off. The Insteon switchlincs work fine but the Z-Wave switches not so much. I can control the zwave switches just fine from the admin console so it's not a comm issue with them. When I press the switch in the upstairs bath to the on position the pump will turn on and when I press it off the pump turns off most of the time and it's a zwave switch. SO that switch activates the program about 80% of the time. The 2 master bath light switches are also Zwave but they are not turning the pump on and off at all (I think they did once but that's it). This is the program I'm using...

 

If
       Status  'Guest Bath Light' is not Off
    Or Status  'Kitchen Lights' is not Off
    Or Status  'Master Shower Light and Fan' is not Off
    Or Status  'Master Bath Light' is not Off
    Or Status  'Upstairs Bathroom Light' is not Off

Then
       Set 'Pump Power' On

Else
       Set 'Pump Power' Off

 

The odd thing is I can control all the zwave light switches with the admin console just fine and when I do they then activate the program correctly. The problem is when I try to do it locally.

 

Any ideas on how to correct this?

 

Thanks!

[Xathros]

jmed999-

 

There have been some recent posts that indicate that many zwave outlets and switches (certain brands) do not update their status in the ISY unless they are communicating directly to the ISY. If they have to use a repeater, the ISY can't see the change. This is also dependent in the ISY firmware version as well. I believe there was something added in 4.2.1 or 4.2.2 to get the status from those devices in direct comm with the ISY.

 

You can check this by watching the status of the various devices in the ISY while operating them locally. If the ISY status does not update, then the program will not work as you want.

 

A possible solution would be to write a program to query these devices once a minute. That may sort of fix the problem at the cost of added zwave traffic.

 

-Xathros

[jmed999]

Thanks for the reply!

 

The zwave switch that does locally activate the program (sometimes) is the closest to the ISY so this does make sense! Hmmmmm...A program to run once per minute wouldn't work here since the pump needs to be turned on immediately after the switch has been toggled. Ie. I walk into the bathroom to wash my hands. A program to query 1/min would run the program after my hand are washed.

 

I just had pretty involved and costly recirc system installed but it's going to cost me about $50 per month to run it 24/7. I need a way to get the benefits out of it while minimizing the electric cost. Therefore, the time between turning the switches on and the pump turning on needs to be very minimal. Any thoughts on how to accomplish this? Thanks!

 

BTW, I'm running 4.2.2.

[Xathros]

Other options that I can think of would be:

 

A) Use Insteon switches for the affected areas.

 

Use the right brand of ZWave switches that DO report status on local control (Leviton maybe? NOT GE or Intermatic for sure).

 

-Xathros

[jmed999]

Thanks Xathros!

 

#1 isn't an option as I'm trying to build my zwave mesh. I guess I'll have to go with #2 unless there's plans to fix this soon in a future ISY firmware update. I was trying to offset issues such as this with this thread...

 

http://forum.universal-devices.com/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=14722

 

I guess I got my answer to what the best switches to use. I'll just have to send them back.

 

Can anyone confirm Leviton does support status change on local control???

 

Thanks guys!

[Xathros]

Just to be clear, I don't believe the lack of status on local control from these devices is a failure of the ISY but rather a limitation of the z-wave devices due to a patent issue if I remember correctly.

 

-Xathros

[jmed999]

Just to be clear, I don't believe the lack of status on local control from these devices is a failure of the ISY but rather a limitation of the z-wave devices due to a patent issue if I remember correctly.

 

-Xathros

 

Oh ok...got it! Thanks again!