I have an old security system as well as many Insteon modules.

The security system has died.  

I don’t really need the full security system but would still like to be notified if someones comes into my house when I am not there.

I am looking at the ISY994i to do this as well as control my insteon modules.  I currently have the Insteon Hub.

From my old security system I have three wired door sensors and three wired motion sensors that I would like the ISY system to know when they are opened/closed and to alert me about via text message.

The door sensors are two wire and the motion is four wire to supply power to them.

I assume I could get an I/O Linc for each sensor but seems clunky because I  would have to figure out how to get six electrical outlets in the location the sensors terminate or re-route them.  Plus I would have to figure a way to get the correct power to the motion sensors.

I am guessing it may be cheaper and less of a hassle to pull out the existing wired sensors and go with the Insteon sensors. I just don’t like the idea of changing batteries in them every 6 months.

Has anyone else found an easy way to use wired sensors with the ISY994i or is just best to go with Insteon ones.

Thanks for the feedback.

Ron

There is no way to connect a wired sensor to the ISY. The only way to have the ISY aware of your sensor(s) is to connect the sensors to an ISY compatible device such as Insteon or X10 or to a Z-Wave or ZigBee device if you have either module. Or you could connect the sensors to an Elk security system which is ISY compatible. Then you'll need the Elk module.

Or use one of the several inexpensive web control boards that you can wire the sensors to and have it set and under ISY State variables based on the state... Or a team of iolinc devices (one for each wired sensor)...

Or maybe this (assuming it works with ISY Zwave) http://www.thesmartesthouse.com/collections/aeotec-by-aeon-labs/products/aeotec-by-aeon-labs-z-wave-plus-dry-contact-sensor-gen-5

Or a RaspberryPi with a PiFace IO Board.  I do this for my wired door sensors and will for wired PIR's as soon as I find a wired PIR that I like.

 

-Xathros

I think I'd install a new control panel ($48 http://www.amazon.com/VISTA20P-Ademco-Zone-Control-Panel/dp/B000H05W9C ,) a hardware interface ($119 EnvisaLink 3 http://www.eyezon.com/?page_id=176 ) and then use HonLink (courtesy of io_guy) http://forum.universal-devices.com/forum/80-honlink/ to communicate with ISY.  With a new control panel I think you have more future options.

Edited September 2, 201510 yr by jerlands

Or a RaspberryPi with a PiFace IO Board.  I do this for my wired door sensors and will for wired PIR's as soon as I find a wired PIR that I like.

 

-Xathros

 

Hello Xathros,

 

I liked your idea with Raspberry Pi and went that direction.  I wanted an excuse to play with a Raspberry Pi.

I have it all setup with a PiFace and a Python code I wrote.  It is hooked up to three hard wired door sensors.

It has been running for the past day and working just as I expected.

 

Today I noticed something looking at the log from the Python program.  A couple of doors started reporting open and then closed very quickly for a couple of minutes, each door at different times.

One of the doors is one we do not use often and was not used today.

 

Have you seen this?  

I am wondering if it is a timing issue and maybe I need to recheck the status before telling ISY the door is open.

 

Thanks for your help.

Ron

Hello Xathros,

 

I liked your idea with Raspberry Pi and went that direction.  I wanted an excuse to play with a Raspberry Pi.

I have it all setup with a PiFace and a Python code I wrote.  It is hooked up to three hard wired door sensors.

It has been running for the past day and working just as I expected.

 

Today I noticed something looking at the log from the Python program.  A couple of doors started reporting open and then closed very quickly for a couple of minutes, each door at different times.

One of the doors is one we do not use often and was not used today.

 

Have you seen this?  

I am wondering if it is a timing issue and maybe I need to recheck the status before telling ISY the door is open.

 

Thanks for your help.

Ron

Hi Ron,

 

Glad I could provide some inspiration.

 

I have had no such issues with my setup.  I wonder if your picking up some noise on the wire between the sensor and the PiFace.  What are you using for sensors?  Mine are just some cheap miniature reed switch/magnet combos that I picked up on eBay a while back.

 

-Xathros

Thanks for making this statement.....

"I wonder if your picking up some noise on the wire between the sensor and the PiFace. "

A light bulb came on when I read it.

 

I am a Ham Radio operator and made a couple of contacts today on the HF band around the times it was happening.  Hmmmmmm

I confirmed this by doing a tail -f on the log file and did a transmission on my radio and open and close statements started scrolling across the screen until stopped transmitting.

The wire from the sensors to the PiFace is a long antenna.

 

I will see if I can put some filter on the sensor wires but in the mean time I guess I don't use the radio when my system is "Armed".    Should not be a problem for now.

 

Thanks for your help.

Ron

Thanks for making this statement.....

"I wonder if your picking up some noise on the wire between the sensor and the PiFace. "

A light bulb came on when I read it.

 

I am a Ham Radio operator and made a couple of contacts today on the HF band around the times it was happening.  Hmmmmmm

I confirmed this by doing a tail -f on the log file and did a transmission on my radio and open and close statements started scrolling across the screen until stopped transmitting.

The wire from the sensors to the PiFace is a long antenna.

 

I will see if I can put some filter on the sensor wires but in the mean time I guess I don't use the radio when my system is "Armed".    Should not be a problem for now.

 

Thanks for your help.

Ron

Or, you could use shielded cable to make the runs to the door sensors and tie to a good ground at the Pi end.

 

-Xathros