Advice on

[fitek]

I need to monitor a new home remotely and am looking for recommendations on equipment. My primary goals are:

Control door locks so I can assign temporary codes for people to enter for maintenance.  

HVAC - don't waste energy when house is empty.  We will likely rent a portion of it out as corporate housing for the time being, so it wont be occupied full time.

water sensors - it would be a disaster if a toilet or something leaked while no one is around for a couple months.

 

Am I missing anything else that would be really handy? 

 

I've already purchased a 4x PoE camera security system w/ DVR.  It's similar to what I already use at home.  

 

Looks like ISY994+Zwave module is the way to go.  But reading the forums, it sounds like I might also need to buy range extenders since almost all door locks seem to be Z-Wave and the range isn't so good? 

 

The house is 700 miles away and I am flying there in 2 weeks and staying for one week to fix things up.  So I need to figure out exactly what I'll need beforehand and have it shipped there pretty darn soon.

 

The house is two storey, 2000sq ft, on a hillside, so it has an entry door on the first and second floor.  

 

Researching HA has my head spinning!

[Xathros]

Start with:

ISY994 with ZWave and the external antenna

Add Digital Loggers web power switch: http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html

Depending on placement of the ISY and considering that you have no other ZWave devices, at least two ZWave range extenders to extend the mesh.

If you are planning on Insteon devices as well, then a pair of Insteon range extenders that will also provide phase bridging.

 

Set up the web switch to ping the router/gateway, ISY and other critical gear and power cycle on failure.

 

I'm sure others here will have additional useful ideas to add.

 

Hope this helps.

 

-Xathros

[Teken]

To add from what Xathros has indicated to protect the home against water damage. I have been using the following water sensing and motor valve assembly to protect my home with great results.

 

The company is called Onsite Pro and makes the Floodstop in various forms to protect the washer, hot water tank, main water line, toilet, dishwasher, etc

 

This is demo video I made testing the unit prior to deployment: 

 This is one of the units fully deployed and working to protect the Clothes Washer: 

 

All of the units are coupled to various other Insteon devices to help broadcast the water leak condition and also turn off the electrical power to various devices.

[oberkc]

I see no mention of anything insteon.  Is it your intention to use insteon components?

[fitek]

I see no mention of anything insteon.  Is it your intention to use insteon components?

 

I don't really care whether the devices are Insteon or Z-Wave.  Maybe I don't know enough about the differences yet to care.  Doesn't seem to make a difference in price in the end.  Seems like door locks are all Z-Wave soooo...

 

Thanks for the tips Xathros!  I was wondering what happens when something needs a reboot.  My IP cam system froze up just this week and needed manual intervention.

 

I suppose if Z-Wave repeaters are necessary, maybe I should just install some additional Z-Wave hardware instead of repeaters  I see how this snowballs...

[apostolakisl]

You should put in a whole house powered water valve.  Elk makes a very good one, it is pricey.  You can control with Insteon IO linc.  I would just shut the water off when you are not there.  If you are going to be away for extended periods of time you can't trust leak detectors because they can't be everywhere.

 

An appliance linc can be used to power cycle your DVR or anything else for that matter.

 

I have never ever had to power cycle my ISY.  Unfortunately, if you have an issue with your modem/router you won't be able to talk to your ISY.  I suppose you could figure a way to program the ISY to power cycle the modem/router if it fails to communicate with the internet.  Just quick thinking it might involve having a REST command sent to your ISY daily via internet that sets a variable at some regular interval.  Then a program in ISY looks for that, if it doesn't see it, then it power cycles the modem/router.  That is just a thought.  For example, it sets a variable to 1 at MN and 0 at noon, then a program on ISY runs a program at 12:01 am that looks for 1 and one at 12:01pm that looks for it to be 0.  If not, reset the modem.

 

EDIT: Or I suppose use the web-power switch.  Hadn't seen one of those.  Don't know what it costs, it might be more cost effective to use appliance lincs, especially if all of your power cords aren't in the same place.

Edited August 22, 2014 by apostolakisl

[oberkc]

I don't really care whether the devices are Insteon or Z-Wave.  Maybe I don't know enough about the differences yet to care.  Doesn't seem to make a difference in price in the end.  Seems like door locks are all Z-Wave soooo...

 

The reason that I ask is as a factor in your controller decision.  The ISY-994 is, in my estimation, the absolute best insteon controller available.  I understand (have yet to add any Z-wave to my house) that it controls some Z-wave devices, including door locks, but I am not sure that one could make the claim that it is the best Z-wave controller (at least, not yet).  Perhaps others would disagree?  Fortunately, there are lots of insteon devices available.  If you are willing to go with Insteon devices where available, then go with the ISY, no question.

 

There is an insteon-compatible lock set (Morning Industries).  Unfortunately, it does not transmit status...only responds to commands.  This can limit its usefulness, but it may be sufficient for your needs.

[raymondh]

I'm in the same situation only my second home is 2000 miles away.

 

I have all the lights on insteon. All the doors on z-wave. Security through Elk. Cameras are all a pro install and on a seperate system that I VPN into to see.

 

The Elk controls the garage door. Insteon controls the Elk water valve and monitors through insteon leak detectors. I would just turn the valve off when I'm not there but it's the main valve and it also shuts off the irrigation.

 

The refrigerator is on a Z-wave energy monitored switch so I can tell if there are any issues with that.

 

I use insteon thermostats for both zones.

 

I use various away programs that send me updates on various run times and sensor status during the day and a summary at midnight. As I was typing this, I got a notice that it turned the front porch light on. Mobilinc tracks my location and puts the house into "hibernation" mode once I'm gone for a while. Random lighting, etc. takes place.

 

My router and cable modem are on a web switch and it power cycles if there's a problem.

 

It's been running great since March. I would like to web enable the irrigation at some point and also set the water valve to open only when I need to irrigate while away.

[fitek]

The reason that I ask is as a factor in your controller decision.  The ISY-994 is, in my estimation, the absolute best insteon controller available.  I understand (have yet to add any Z-wave to my house) that it controls some Z-wave devices, including door locks, but I am not sure that one could make the claim that it is the best Z-wave controller (at least, not yet).  Perhaps others would disagree?  Fortunately, there are lots of insteon devices available.  If you are willing to go with Insteon devices where available, then go with the ISY, no question.

 

There is an insteon-compatible lock set (Morning Industries).  Unfortunately, it does not transmit status...only responds to commands.  This can limit its usefulness, but it may be sufficient for your needs.

 

I spent a week poking around and the ISY994 seems like the one controller everybody likes.  I know it's meant for Insteon, but I really couldn't find anything that else that was 1) reasonably priced 2) did not have a cloud service you have to use 3) made by a company with positive reviews.  One of the first controllers I came across was the MiCasaVerde, but some of the Amazon reviews are epically bad.  It's a fun read if you have some time to kill!

[fitek]

I'm in the same situation only my second home is 2000 miles away.

 

I have all the lights on insteon. All the doors on z-wave. Security through Elk. Cameras are all a pro install and on a seperate system that I VPN into to see.

 

The Elk controls the garage door. Insteon controls the Elk water valve and monitors through insteon leak detectors. I would just turn the valve off when I'm not there but it's the main valve and it also shuts off the irrigation.

 

The refrigerator is on a Z-wave energy monitored switch so I can tell if there are any issues with that.

 

I use insteon thermostats for both zones.

 

I use various away programs that send me updates on various run times and sensor status during the day and a summary at midnight. As I was typing this, I got a notice that it turned the front porch light on. Mobilinc tracks my location and puts the house into "hibernation" mode once I'm gone for a while. Random lighting, etc. takes place.

 

My router and cable modem are on a web switch and it power cycles if there's a problem.

 

It's been running great since March. I would like to web enable the irrigation at some point and also set the water valve to open only when I need to irrigate while away.

May I ask which thermostat?

 

Same web switch as earlier in the thread?

 

The lights are a good idea.  Maybe I'll control a couple just to make it seem like someone's home!

 

Re; the Elk water supply cutoff... $500, yikes!  I automated a brewery once and the device sure looks familiar.  We used similar equipment to control the flow of water in a brewery (well, we had to use pumps as well since only the city water feed is pressurized).  The actuators+valve *are* quite expensive new, but we were able to find used ones on ebay and control them w/ logic level MOSFETs and 24vdc supply.  About $150 a pop.   Thanks to the magic of ebay, we ended up with a dozen extra that we resold, but still have a box of spares, suppose I should lug one along and see if it fits...

[apostolakisl]

I was able to get an Elk valve for $300 a few years back.  If you poke around this forum or maybe cocoontech, I believe there are some threads where the OEM was identified and alternative sources for purchase were found at a better price.  I use my Elk security panel to control the valve.  It is a very good valve that in my case actuates multiples times every day and is now 5 years old.  I have my water turn off every time the alarm arms away.  I also have about 25 water sensors scattered about the house.  But like I said, you can have leaks anywhere and you can't put the sensors everywhere.

 

I have seen devices that monitor flow for suspicion of leak.  They have an algorithm built in which mostly can tell the difference between actual purposeful use and a leak.  But just plain turning the water off never fails.  This assumes you don't have some appliance that must have water while you are away.  Also, my Elk valve is after the split off to the outside hose bibs.  They don't shut off.  My irrigation is on a well.

 

I don't know if you plan on security, but Elk and ISY integrate very well (requires Elk module for ISY).

[raymondh]

May I ask which thermostat?

 

Same web switch as earlier in the thread?

 

The lights are a good idea.  Maybe I'll control a couple just to make it seem like someone's home!

 

Re; the Elk water supply cutoff... $500, yikes!  I automated a brewery once and the device sure looks familiar.  We used similar equipment to control the flow of water in a brewery (well, we had to use pumps as well since only the city water feed is pressurized).  The actuators+valve *are* quite expensive new, but we were able to find used ones on ebay and control them w/ logic level MOSFETs and 24vdc supply.  About $150 a pop.   Thanks to the magic of ebay, we ended up with a dozen extra that we resold, but still have a box of spares, suppose I should lug one along and see if it fits...

I'm using the Insteon thermostats.

 

This is the web switch I am using. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K36JLL0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

$500 may sound like a lot but when you consider what it does, the quality, and how much repairing water damage would cost, it's a steal!