New to Insteon

[Sidnaious1735]

I plan on getting insteon technology and products to establish an Home Automation environment in my home. I am not totall sure outside of insteon devices, what hardware (i.e., Insteon Hub, USB interface from PC to outlet, and or a ISY pro modem, Houselink, etc...) and software I need to perform the following;

 

1. Manage all insteon (and some x10) devices and scenes from my PC.

2. Have remote (internet or smartphone) access to update or change a scene (some which will include motion sensors) or turn on or off a device.

 

So my question is do I need all of the hardware mentioned above or some subset of them?

[jerlands]

I don't think you can oversell the ISY.  With networking and portal integration it's become a monster   Also with ISY you don't need additional software but it does require a PLM and the Insteon network becomes more robust as you add more devices.

 

So you need to get an ISY, a PLM and then start adding devices

 

Jon...

[oberkc]

You do not need a hub AND ISY. If you have the ISY, no hub is needed, nor additional software.

 

Remotely changing scenes that include battery devices may prove problematic since s7ch de ices must be put into linking mode to update.

[paulbates]

There are a couple of things to think about from an "infrastructure" point of view

 

1) If you have a standard 2 leg power system, most US homes do, about half the outlets are on one leg, half on the other. you'll need to make sure that both of those legs are bridged between them so the signal crosses. You need either:

 

- 2 dual band devices, one on each leg... This method is easiest because you don't have to work on the panel (or have some one do it). Because the ISY uses the 2413 PLM, that's already one of the 2 needed devices.

    ....and/or...

- A signalinc phase coupler in your electrical panel

This does require work on the panel, but bridges the signal at the panel, right in the middle of your electrical system

 

2) Whole house surge protector.  This help protect your HA devices from lightning strikes etc.   I have a much older version of this one, there are other models to consider.

[stusviews]

Without a doubt, a whole house surge suppressor is an asset. If you need an electrician to install one (most people do), then you may as well have a hard-wired phase-coupler installed at the same time.

 

I fully agree with the other posters that an ISY (plus serial PLM) is the way to go, but setting the ISY up for the first time may be intimidating. Fortunately, there are many on the forum more than willing to assist you. Probably the best smartphone app for the is MobiLinc.

 

If you want a really simple system (and many do) then the Hub will meet your needs. The Hub is capable of schedules and notifications, but not much more, no conditional (if this, the do that) and no programming ability at all. But it sure is easy and less costly.

[Sidnaious1735]

Will I need RF extenders to reach distant devices, if I am not using a insteon Hub? I do plan to have a whole house surge and phase coupler installed.

Thank you all for the responses to my initial post. A lot of good info. Thanks!

[Sidnaious1735]

Posted Today, 05:38 PM

 

First; Thank you all for the responses to my initial post. A lot of good info.

Will I need RF extenders to reach distant devices, if I am not using a insteon Hub? I do plan to have a whole house surge and phase coupler installed.

 

Thanks again!

[oberkc]

Whether or not you use a hub will have no affect on the need for extenders.  The number of insteon devices present and on what circuit and phase will be a bigger factor.  I would plan for at least two.

[stusviews]

All dual-band devices function to extend the range of an Insteon network. I'd try without range extenders and add them (or LampLincs which are Range Extenders with a controlled dmmer outlet) if and as needed. OTOH, it's handy to have a filter or two around.

[jerlands]

I do plan to have a whole house surge and phase coupler installed.

 

 

About whole house surge protector... Basically it protects your house from electrical fires but not your electronics.  Clamping voltages are around 1000v and will allow spikes up to that voltage into your line which does nothing for hardwired devices.  Still something very worth having.

 

I don't have the SignaLinc Phase Coupler but understand it works well though unless you're familiar with minor electrical work might require an electrician to install (safety first.. shut off main breaker and you'll be ok.)  I like the plug in "range extenders" cause they're a quick and easy way to test outlets / circuits for bridging.

 

 

Jon...

[stusviews]

A whole house surge suppressor will protect electronic devices. It will not protect against lightning, a major cause of fires. It will not protect against overloads, another cause of fires.

[paulbates]

A whole house surge suppressor will protect electronic devices. It will not protect against lightning, a major cause of fires. It will not protect against overloads, another cause of fires.

 

Agreed. The intermatic surge protector I bought years ago (and I'm sure others) came with a electronics replacement warranty.

 

(Just realized I am at its 15 year life expectancy, time to replace mine)

[Teken]

Surge protection in the home should always be done in layers. Regardless of the type of surge protection in use a common SPD will not protect the home from voltage sags, frequency drift, or short cycling.

 

The only thing that will protect a home in all three cases is a on line UPS system which 99.99999 of the population do not have or can afford.

 

Meaning the entire home is powered by a UPS 24.7.365 as the primary source of power and POCO power is simply used as standby power.

 

Now, ignoring the (UPS) fluff above, again no SPD installed at the meter base, electrical panel, point of use outlet will protect the home against a voltage sag (brown out).

 

Why is this important to know?

 

Because when voltage drops - current rises which is primary killer in electronics. How tightly regulated the PSU is in a device is what dictates how it will react and survive a brown out condition. This is why the latest Insteon devices which offer 100 - 277 VAC support are so great.

 

As they cover (most not all) extremes of power conditions that will be seen in the home. It goes with out saying should the home see a sag / lull of 90 volts its a 50/50 chance how it will recover.

 

Next, short cycling . . .

 

If you ever see or experience where the power comes back on-off-on-off . . . Regardless of the above wider 100 -277 VAC support you better run down and turn off the breakers!

 

Short cycling is similar but not related to a surge event and frequency drift. When the two are present and happens very quickly over a short period of time like in (seconds) either the magic smoke will appear.

 

Or the device will appear to operate just fine for awhile but later fail in a short period of time.

 

NOTE: A off the shelf UPS (name any brand) most offer modified sine wave power and also do not kick in until power (voltage) has dropped to a dangerous level. So don't count of them offering any protection against short cycling / frequency drift.

 

As I have stated many times when you have invested thousands of dollars in high tech. You should consider that your home owners insurance is in force and capable of covering any loss. As this is the only thing that will make you whole during a act of God event.

 

Keeping in mind most people for practical reasons would never engage their insurance co for damaged Insteon devices. As the loss of discounts for claims free never mind the typical deductible simply isn't wort the long term costs.

 

Lastly, as the other member indicated Type 1 & 2 SPD will not protect the home against in band generated surge events which happen hundreds a time a month from sumps, fridge, HVAC, etc. This is why Type 3 point of use SPD's should be installed and deployed.

 

These can be surge outlets, surge bars, UPS, Isolator, to AVR systems . . .

 

All of the above serve a specific purpose and goal and when used in a layered approach offer more protection for those expansive appliances and electronics in your home.

 

Regardless of all the high tech a solid, short, and direct ground that is proven to have low resistance to Earth ground is a must. Most people have absolutely no control of how, or where the house is built upon. But you do have control on validating that all connections in the service panel and ground bars are tight and secure.

[stusviews]

Without a whole house UPS ($$$$), a whole house suppressor is the only line of defense for wired in HA devices for most people. Solid grounding should occur in any case and, in some ares, lightning rods, too.