Bought house with isy/insteon installed and need help!

[dannyk65]

I would NOT unplug the EZflora and hold the Set Button while plugging it back in.

That will do a Factory Reset and all links will be gone and all built in preset safety timers set to default.

 

Here is the EZflora Quick Guide if you need it.

http://sandbox.smartenit.com/downloads/EZFlora_Quick-Start.pdf

 

The ELK module sounds like the 24 Volt AC supply for turning the valves On and Off.

 

Gotcha.  Thanks.  I was considering it, then I grew up and decided to wait for feedback here.  I'm just blown away as everything was great until the plm died.  Now only one irrigation program runs and the others don't.

[Brian H]

You may want to look at the section on the EZflora here.

I had added it while you where replying to my post.

 

It does sound like somewhere the ISY link table got messed up or the new PLM was not detected during the exchange.

You have to power down both the PLM and ISY controller. Then exchange the PLM powering it up first. Then the ISY controller or it will not see the new PLM ID and a restore sill put all the old PLM ID links in the Insteon modules.

[dannyk65]

You may want to look at the section on the EZflora here.

I had added it while you where replying to my post.

 

It does sound like somewhere the ISY link table got messed up or the new PLM was not detected during the exchange.

You have to power down both the PLM and ISY controller. Then exchange the PLM powering it up first. Then the ISY controller or it will not see the new PLM ID and a restore sill put all the old PLM ID links in the Insteon modules.

 

Thanks, Brian.  I've tried rebooting them a bunch of times and it doesn't seem to affect the links issue.  In admin console PLM status is good.

[apostolakisl]

I know there's a hefty white adapter that says 'ELK' on it plugged into the EZrain controller in my garage.

 

What I meant was in Configuration in the ELK M1XEP section, all fields are blank.

 

I think three years is a bit much to ask the previous owner if he has an update.  Is that being a bit lame on my part?  

 

I guess that depends on what you consider asking too much.  In short, he probably has a folder on a computer that has all of the backups he ever did.  It would be a simple matter of attaching the most recent backup to an email and sending it to you.  I have a folder on this computer that has 7 years of backups and other ISY/Insteon files.  They are tiny files so it is not like they would have been deleted to save space.

 

You should make a backup of you ISY right now, just so you at least have the current setup no matter what.

 

If the old owner sends you a backup, you can simply go to "restore isy" and tag the file.  A minute later it should be done and then you do a "restore plm".

 

You could also try factory resetting the new plm and then trying a restore again, though I doubt that will fix it.

 

The ELK white thing is almost certainly a 24vac transformer.  The sprinkler valves use 24vac to open and close.   There is no "smart" about a transformer and thus no integration with ISY.

[dannyk65]

I guess that depends on what you consider asking too much.  In short, he probably has a folder on a computer that has all of the backups he ever did.  It would be a simple matter of attaching the most recent backup to an email and sending it to you.  I have a folder on this computer that has 7 years of backups and other ISY/Insteon files.  They are tiny files so it is not like they would have been deleted to save space.

 

You should make a backup of you ISY right now, just so you at least have the current setup no matter what.

 

If the old owner sends you a backup, you can simply go to "restore isy" and tag the file.  A minute later it should be done and then you do a "restore plm".

 

You could also try factory resetting the new plm and then trying a restore again, though I doubt that will fix it.

 

The ELK white thing is almost certainly a 24vac transformer.  The sprinkler valves use 24vac to open and close.   There is no "smart" about a transformer and thus no integration with ISY.

 

Yep, you're correct.  It's a 24v transformer.  Although in the UD ajax I get an error for the ELK, but whatever.

 

I made a backup of ISY a few days ago...just in case it hits the fan.

 

But since the irrigation worked fine until the PLM died, and now only one program (2 irrigation stations) works properly (3 stations do not) I feel like my lack of experience with all this automation stuff is keeping me from the easy fix.

[apostolakisl]

Yep, you're correct.  It's a 24v transformer.  Although in the UD ajax I get an error for the ELK, but whatever.

 

I made a backup of ISY a few days ago...just in case it hits the fan.

 

But since the irrigation worked fine until the PLM died, and now only one program (2 irrigation stations) works properly (3 stations do not) I feel like my lack of experience with all this automation stuff is keeping me from the easy fix.

 

I doubt it is your lack of experience.  It really is looking like a corrupt links table.  Only a backup made prior to the corruption or rebuilding the links table from scratch will fix that.

 

If it were me, I would ping the old owner with a friendly request to send you any backups he may have.  This is by FAR the easiest fix.  In a matter of 2 or 3 minutes your system will be working exactly as it was the day that backup was made.

[larryllix]

IIRC The weather module source has been changed to a new supplier network about a year ago. Your settings may not function without a paid subscription.

[dannyk65]

IIRC The weather module source has been changed to a new supplier network about a year ago. Your settings may not function without a paid subscription.

 

Does that apply even if it worked until a few weeks ago?

[paulbates]

Does that apply even if it worked until a few weeks ago?

 

No, that should not be the weather module. 

 

Here is a suggestion. The folks at UDI are very good at problem solving over the phone. I would turn in a support ticket, write a basic description and post a link to this thread so you don't have to type a lot in. They are great at responding and will set up time to walk you through this.

 

http://www.universal-devices.com/contact-support/

 

Paul

[apostolakisl]

Here is the other thing.  How big is your Insteon setup?  So far, we have only talked about an ez flora.  If you only have a handful of items, then just factory reset the whole lot and start over.  Now if you have 50 plus devices, dozens or more scenes, hundreds of programs, etc, then that would suck.

 

UD is very helpful, but I fear they will say "your links table is corrupt, do you have a backup?"  

 

So it all comes back to, does the previous owner have a backup he can send you?  If no, then you probably should just factory reset and start over.

[dannyk65]

No, that should not be the weather module. 

 

Here is a suggestion. The folks at UDI are very good at problem solving over the phone. I would turn in a support ticket, write a basic description and post a link to this thread so you don't have to type a lot in. They are great at responding and will set up time to walk you through this.

 

http://www.universal-devices.com/contact-support/

 

Paul

 

Thank you, Paul.  I'll do that.  Much appreciated!

[dannyk65]

Here is the other thing.  How big is your Insteon setup?  So far, we have only talked about an ez flora.  If you only have a handful of items, then just factory reset the whole lot and start over.  Now if you have 50 plus devices, dozens or more scenes, hundreds of programs, etc, then that would suck.

 

UD is very helpful, but I fear they will say "your links table is corrupt, do you have a backup?"  

 

So it all comes back to, does the previous owner have a backup he can send you?  If no, then you probably should just factory reset and start over.

 

There are four irrigation programs and the rest is thirty or so lights.  I'm not at all concerned with the lights...it's just me and my Russell Terrier and we don't need lights on timers or anything.

[apostolakisl]

There are four irrigation programs and the rest is thirty or so lights.  I'm not at all concerned with the lights...it's just me and my Russell Terrier and we don't need lights on timers or anything.

 

Then either 

 

1) Ditch the ISY/Ez Flora and go buy a regular old sprinkler system controller

2) Factory reset the ISY/EZ flora and re-program it.

[larryllix]

Then either 

 

1) Ditch the ISY/Ez Flora and go buy a regular old sprinkler system controller

2) Factory reset the ISY/EZ flora and re-program it.

Seems he already has the programs that he can read / copy. Factory reset keeps looking better.

The nicely ask for a backup is still the best, first.

[dannyk65]

Seems he already has the programs that he can read / copy. Factory reset keeps looking better.

The nicely ask for a backup is still the best, first.

 

Sent him an email (my only contact info for him) and was pleased to at least not receive a notification the email address doesn't exist.

Fingers crossed.  At least I'm learning a good deal about how this stuff sort of works.  A couple days ago I was confused by isy 991-pro vs. isy 994 admin console vs. the ajax UD panel.  At least I'm making progress.

 

Also, I ran a query on the sprinkler valve that seems to be the main one for the rest and the event viewer (level 3) showed the isy/plm/ezrain is definitely communicating.

[dannyk65]

For some glorious reason, one of the programs ran in the wee hours this morning for the first time since my old PLM failed.  Besides going to the Programs/Summary tab in the admin console and giving this program a 'Run Then' to make it 'True', the only significant thing I tried was unplugging the Ezflora unit and plugging it back in. 

 

No idea.