blueman2 Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 I have been having issues with KPL LEDs that are controlled by ISY programs not always being in the correct state. I tried replacing the KPLs with no improvement. Also, I am starting to notice that light being controlled by my ISY (through programs) are not turning on or off as reliably as I am used to. Could this be a symptom of a failing PLM? I was not sure what their failure modes are. Do they fail DEAD (no lights on the unit, no nothing), or can they also fail with intermittent communication?? Secondly, I was going to buy a new PLM, but I understand that UDI is creating their own which sounds interesting. Any idea on release date? If they are doing their own and it provides features that are useful, I might just try re-cap'ing my existing PLM and wait rather than buying a second 2413S. Advice?
LeeG Posted February 17, 2015 Posted February 17, 2015 (edited) The older PLMs (before PLM hardware v.20) had power supply problems (bad capacitors) that had various symptoms. Smarthome is shipping PLMs with the corrected hardware. UDI has 5 PLMs ready to ship but has to wait for All On symptoms to be corrected with new PLM firmware (PLM firmware comes from SmartLabs) or it is proven that the PLM is not the cause. If your PLM is failing get a new one from Smarthome. The problem is your symptoms could well be Insteon network related rather than PLM. Edited February 17, 2015 by LeeG
blueman2 Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 So the PLM that is to be sold by UDI is just a regular PLM with better caps, or is it one with different features and capabilities? If the latter, I might wait to get a new one and get it from UDI.
LeeG Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 It is much better engineered and it supports a wider voltage range for use outside of US. However, the functional aspects are the same as the SmartLabs as the firmware comes from SmartLabs.
blueman2 Posted February 20, 2015 Author Posted February 20, 2015 OK, well I did go ahead and order a new PLM from Smarthome. In the mean time, I am seeing lots of "could not communicate with xxxx" every time I log into my ISY. I can query the device and it does respond, but clearly I am having either PLM issues or network issues. If the latter (network), what could be causing this?? I did just add the Z-wave module to my ISY and added several Z-wave devices, but that should not cause this issue should it?
LeeG Posted February 20, 2015 Posted February 20, 2015 ZWave is not causing Insteon comm issues. ZWave does not use the PLM nor the powerline. If an Insteon network problem all the normal possibilities exist. Something absorbing the Insteon signal, something adding noise to powerline. All the issues that are covered in the forum. Look for patterns on the same electrical circuit.
mangler Posted February 22, 2015 Posted February 22, 2015 Blueman - not an expert here, but that sounds a lot like the symptoms I was having. Things were great for a long time (couple years 'ish), and then the symptoms you mentioned. Intermittently I would get "could not communicate with ..." errors. After a while of that - the PLM fully cratered. I got a new PLM and it started working again right away. I can't tell you sustained that was - because I also ordered a new ISY with ZWave and such, and have made the jump (needed to add ZWave devices anyway). Working ISY99IRPRO for sale now though comes with brand new PLM!
Banichi Posted March 4, 2015 Posted March 4, 2015 It sounds like issues that I was having with my PLM awhile back. After power cycling both units, (PLM first then the ISY) the ISY would go through each of my insteon devices and return the "could not communicate" error. The PLM was not acknowledging the commands so there was definitely something up with the PLM. A factory reset on the PLM had no effect either. So I called up smarthome and they sent me a new one. They figured it likely either needed to be re-cap'd or re-flashed. This exact thing has happened twice to me. It took about a little over a year for the PLM to fail. This last one is going on 11 months now so we'll see if it makes the cut.mangler: why wouldn't you just purchase the zwave upgrade kit? So much less expensive.
Xathros Posted March 4, 2015 Posted March 4, 2015 mangler: why wouldn't you just purchase the zwave upgrade kit? So much less expensive. He upgraded from a 99 to a 994. ZWave is not available for the 99. -Xathros
mangler Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 Thanks, Xathros. Yup - added zwave door locks in the house. Who knows where to next
Banichi Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 I guess that 4 was important to pay attention to eh? Oops.
LeeG Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 The issue has not been resolved. Because the PLM firmware comes from SmartLabs and cannot be updated in the field the problem has to have a firm solution first.
Michel Kohanim Posted March 15, 2015 Posted March 15, 2015 Hello everyone, Just a quick update on our PLM: we are still negotiating with SmartHome vis-a-vis flashing INSTEON chips. Furthermore, we are working with SmartHome to see whether or not we can address the All On issue once and for all. Unfortunately I really do not have an ETA. So very sorry. With kind regards, Michel
jwf Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I too had to replace my PLM from SH. Just like everyone else said. It worked for years just fine. Then all of a sudden comms problems. Got a new PLM and everthing is fine again.
grumpy Posted March 24, 2015 Posted March 24, 2015 My PLM lasted 3 years, it just went dead.Got myself a new one the V2. Some people using the HL software are going to have problems with the new PLM's unless smarthome pushes a new update on the HL software,.If not that's good news for UD.
Brian H Posted March 24, 2015 Posted March 24, 2015 Smarthome released a updated devices.xml file for Houselinc. I believe the 2413 V2 PLM's ID was one of the updated devices.
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