Busflier Posted March 29, 2015 Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Hello, I searched with a fine tooth comb...on this forum and internet-wide, but could not find even a question about this...let alone an answer. I would like ISY to notify me if it loses communication with a device. Specifically EZFlora in my case. It happened a few times already and my lawn turned brownish. The first few times EZFlora came back to life after unplugging it, but this last time it finally died (waiting for replacement to arrive). Any way to accomplish this? I tried: If EZFlora Zone XX Status IS Not Responding...but it does not seem to work. When I turn the zone XX On, I do not get notified, even though it is not responding... Thanks! Edited March 29, 2015 by Busflier
paulbates Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) This is a tough one, and I would be interested in this too. The EZFlora is not a traditional Insteon link controlled device. The ISY contains special programming to control the EZFlora and other EZxxx devices, and they don't follow the same exact rules that a switchlinc or keypad would. I have an idea that needs to be tested on your existing 'bad' controller to see if its viable, if you are game. Have 2 programs, 'A' and 'B'. 'A' turns zone 1 on, queries it, and calls 'B'. 'B' looks to see if Zone 1 is really on. If not, send a notification Program A If time (is when you want to verify) then Turn a Zone 1 on (Insteon Zone 1 on) wait 5 seconds Query Zone 1 (Insteon Zone 1 Query) Run If Program B Turn Zone 1 Off else Program B If status Zone 1 is off then Notify (whatever notification you want, text, email) else Edit: Use the admin console to 'right click' on program B and disable it. We don't want an alert after that Zone is turned off, if its a zone that waters and is part of an irrigation program. ________________________________________________________________________ The assumption I am making is if you turn a zone on, and query the status, you get an "on" back. If the unit is damaged, you'll get "off" back. This needs to be tested on your bad controller I'm not sure this will always find a problem. It also will turn a zone on an sprinkle for 5 seconds every time you run it if the controller is good and responding. But it shouldn't take long to see if it really works or not. Probably we need to turn in an enhancement request for better status response from Ezfloras. Paul Edited March 30, 2015 by paulbates
stusviews Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 I'm not sure this will always find a problem. It also will turn a zone on an sprinkle for 5 seconds every time you run it if the controller is good and responding. I don't have an EzFlora, so I can't test. But, if all 8 zones are not in use, would the program work on an unused zone?
paulbates Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 Stu Good point, if the concept proves out on the bad controller, it could run off of an unused zone of a good one. I have 2 easy floras, 14 zones plus 2 master valves... I could probably run it off one of the masters.
LeeG Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 "not responding" depends on the device not ACKing a command. If the EZFlora ACKs the command but has a problem with the 24v supply to drive the valves that would not show as a "not responding" Suggest running Tools | Diagnostics | Event Viewer at LEVEL 3. Turn On a Zone and post the event trace.
Busflier Posted March 30, 2015 Author Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks a million PaulBates! it works perfect... Program A tries to turn a zone On to no avail...program B notifies me that the zone is OFF. Before this, I would get a notification that the irrigation cycle was completed...even though the actual sprinklers never turned ON...the irrigation program ran fine . My grass thanks you too!
paulbates Posted March 30, 2015 Posted March 30, 2015 Glad it worked! I will be putting it in soon too!
paulbates Posted August 19, 2015 Posted August 19, 2015 I had this on my list to go back and implement checks for ezflora HW failure, here are some notes on how it really worked for me: This is my mainline sprinkling programThen $Spinklers_Sprinkling_Now = 1 Send Notification to 'Default' content 'Sprinkler Cycle run' Set 'Yard / Sprinklers / Zone 01' On Set 'Yard / Sprinklers / Zone 01' Query Wait 5 seconds Run Program 'Sprinkler - 8 - Ezflora 1 Malfunction Check' (If) Wait 22 minutes Set 'Yard / Sprinklers / Zone 02' On ..... When the Ezflora is working, 5 seconds is needed between the query and running the checking program (Program B ) to get a good confirmation back. Less than that, and the query isn't complete and it executes the 'then' in Program B falsely. No wait was needed between turning the zone on and querying. I was able to add the checks inline with my programs that do the sprinkling. If it finds a problem, it shuts down the sprinkling programs at the first use of that Exflora, turns off the valves and sends an alert. I have 2 Ezfloras, so I repeated this process and have a similar program to check at Zone 8, the first zone of controller 2. I use all of my zones, so it makes sense to test inline with sprinkling, its going to open a valve anyway. An alternative, As Stu pointed out above, if you have a zone you don't use, you could do this with a separate time of day program, turning on and checking a valve that isn't in use. Remember to disable your program B that takes action on failure As pointed out, there are other possible failure modes this might not catch, but its fairly fast and easy to do
bryand7 Posted June 26, 2016 Posted June 26, 2016 I have a GFI breaker that keeps tripping that shuts off my Sprinkler system and I don't know about it until the grass is brown and I have no idea how long the system has been off. This article was exactly what I needed to monitor the Ezflora to be sure it is responding. PS I am going to replace that flaky GFI soon as well. THANK YOU!!!! Bryan
Michel Kohanim Posted June 26, 2016 Posted June 26, 2016 Hi Bryan, You need two programs: 1. A program that queries the EZFlora either regularly OR during some certain times that you think it should be on 2. Another program as follows: If Control "EZFlora" is not Responding Then Send an email When you query a device - and if ISY cannot communicate with it - the Responding condition turns false and the 2nd program will run. With kind regards, Michel
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