Garage Door opens at least once a day

[EddieRock]

For the last 3 days, my garage door has opened on it's own (4 times total). I've checked the logs around the time and I don't see any logs indicating that it was triggered by the ISY. The second time, I tried to shut the door with the HAD and it wasn't responding. I had unplugged the garage door relay for about 10 minutes and plugged it in. The door didn't respond after but is now working fine.

 

The only change I've made is that I've switched over to Pushover for my notifications which is working fine so I don't think it's related.

 

Could this be a failing relay or could there be something else going on that I can troubleshoot.

 

I would like to sniff the network if possible to see if there is any other noise or things that could be causing this. is there a way to do this and log to a file for review later?

 

ISY 994i

ISY Firmware Version 4.6.2

ISY UI Version 4.6.2

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

EddieRock

[paulbates]

Eddie

 

Any chance there is something going on (short, etc) with the wiring on the output contact side from the iolinc to the door..causing it to open?  I had a physical related issue when mine false indicated an open when the door would travel a little further away from the contact sensor. 

 

Paul

[EddieRock]

I can check. This has been installed for a few years and I've strung my wires with care Did you're actually open if the door traveled away from the sensor? I was thinking that part would be just "sensing" and the relay was simply acting like it was pressing the button.

[paulbates]

I can check. This has been installed for a few years and I've strung my wires with care Did you're actually open if the door traveled away from the sensor? I was thinking that part would be just "sensing" and the relay was simply acting like it was pressing the button.

 

No, it didn't actually get a true open. The door was down, and had been down. Over time it slowly, and only a little, traveled from right to left. It waited until we were 90 miles away at my daughters college to trigger a phantom "up".  I guess the point is I spent some time chasing an Insteon phantom that didn't exist, is it was a physical problem. I eventually nailed a shim in so it wouldn't move around. I could see that potentially if something got into the wiring.

 

Paul

[elvisimprsntr]

I moved my GD control/status from an IOLinc to an Elk relay output and zone input. The IOLinc has a high failure rate and random all on events people have reported make the IOLinc not suitable to control something which could cause damage or personal injury.

[stusviews]

Send yourself a notification each time the garage door opens. That'll at least give a time to search the logs or provide a clue if the time is relatively consistent.

[MWareman]

This can happen if you use an iolinc in certain modes and have trigger reverse enabled. When the 'query all' runs the iolinc will flip state if trigger reverse is enabled.

 

Best solution is to not use an iolinc to control a garage door. It's neither secure or reliable. I also use my Elk, but there are some secure zwave options as well...

[EddieRock]

Send yourself a notification each time the garage door opens. That'll at least give a time to search the logs or provide a clue if the time is relatively consistent.

I already have notifications setup. Yes, the do tell me via pushover. I was using email to txt and that was simply unreliable. I checked the time from the messages, I also checked my video (I use Milestone Systems if anyone is interested) of my garage to get the exact time. Nobody around, it just opens.

[EddieRock]

This can happen if you use an iolinc in certain modes and have trigger reverse enabled. When the 'query all' runs the iolinc will flip state if trigger reverse is enabled.

 

Best solution is to not use an iolinc to control a garage door. It's neither secure or reliable. I also use my Elk, but there are some secure zwave options as well...

MWareman said:

"It's neither secure or reliable"

 

Can you be more specific? mine has been almost 100% reliable. Why do you say it's not secure? I'm looking at Elk but I have to do some renovation of my house before I put it in so I don't have to do it twice. I think this has happened once before but for some reason, it's happened 3 or 4 times this week so something went wrong. I'm trying to figure out what it is. I don't like to not know why...

[MWareman]

Insteon is not encrypted, and messages can be spoofed and/or blocked. It requires the attacker to be nearby, but I would never advise trusting Insteon with securing your house or garage.

[stusviews]

I already have notifications setup.

 

Do the times provide any clues. And to you have a way to close the garage door when you get a notification?

[EddieRock]

Do the times provide any clues. And to you have a way to close the garage door when you get a notification?

No clues in the logs. I have a secure (https) rdp session that I can log into my computer (Sophos UTM9) and then run HAD (The Home Automation Dashboard) to close the door. In one case, the HAD would send commands to the IOLinc and it wouldn't respond. Later, it did.

 

I have a hunch that the IOLinc is starting to fail and this is a side effect. Thoughts? Any way to test or get logs? I feel that these events could be phantom noise that is causing it to open...

[apostolakisl]

Add me to the list of people who would not use Insteon to control a garage door.  I would not use Insteon to control anything that really matters.  

[EddieRock]

so... let's say, it's not worth the time to investigate why the garage door opener is faulty and let's not get into the security war/discussion at this time

 

What ZWave door opener is the best (for security and reliability) and works with the ISY ZWave module? So then I gotta ask, is the ISY ZWave module reliable and secure? 

 

It sounds like ELK is the way to go but I don't want to go there now.

 

Actually, as I write this, Really, I don't use anything to open/close my GDO. I really only use it for the notifications. If I disconnect the wires to the GDO, I should simply get the open/close alerts. Right?

 

All relevant and productive replies are welcome

[dbuss]

I have three of the GoControl/Linear GD00Z-4 Z-Wave Garage Door Opener Remote Controllers and about to install the fourth. I've been very happy with them.

 

 

 

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[stusviews]

I'm using two of the Z-Wave Multi-Input/Output Dry Contact Bridge. At $60, it's among the lowest cost garage door controllers and has both controller and sense connections, same as the I/O Linc.

 

Actually if notification is all you really need/want, then the Insteon Open/Close sensor will fill the bill. A perusal of the SH web site indicates that you can get two for only twice as much as one: https://home-automation.smarthome.com/search?w=insteon%20open%2fclose%20sensor

[KeviNH]

My goal is to convert over to using ESP32 for both control and status. I just need to get a few more low-current relays.

 

if notification is all you really need/want, then the Insteon Open/Close sensor will fill the bill.

I picked up a spare Open/Close sensor last time they were on sale at $20 (Amazon, free prime shipping). Instead of using the magnet, I wired a mercury tilt switch to the screw contacts, and attached the whole unit to an upper panel of the door.

 

I set the angle of the tilt switch so the sensor is "closed" when the garage door is down, or at least mostly down. I like this solution better than using the reed switch and magnet because it still reads closed even if the door is open a couple of inches, as happens sometimes in winter when ice builds up in the opening.

[Bumbershoot]

I have three of the GoControl/Linear GD00Z-4 Z-Wave Garage Door Opener Remote Controllers and about to install the fourth. I've been very happy with them.

 

 

 

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

+1.  I have two of these, and they've been flawless so far.  They also act as secure repeaters for my Z-Wave door locks.

[Jimbo.Automates]

The mimolite works great and is a direct swapin replacement for a iolinc with relay and sensor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Teken]

I've been using the Insteon Open - Close (Trigger Linc) sensor and conducting long term Arctic cold weather testing for almost eight years. The addition of the open - close sensor has enabled me to have a secondary confirmation while offering fail over.

 

 

 

This version simply uses a $0.55 cent double swing hinge. Due to magnetic strength of the opposite part you'll notice I affixed a counter weight to ensure no matter how cold it gets *Old Man Gravity* will force the Open - Close sensor down.

 

 

The second generation like the other member uses a encapsulated tilt sensor. Using this method reduced costs, parts count, and allowed more flexible *Tuned* mounting. Regardless of what anyone says a OEM GDO's have never been items that should be interfaced with 3rd party hardware.

 

Yet we as a community do so ~ Because there is a need and we can. Unlike probably 99% of the population here and around the world I never have to worry about X vs Y opening the largest door in my home. That's because when ever the system is armed the GDO is disconnected and the door is physically locked down with four dead bolt solenoids.

 

No power, no movement . . .

 

4 points pinned, impossible to lift the door . . .

 

During long term absence bollards are inserted into place which guards against someone trying to ram the door. Considering three cars are parked outside of the main door that makes it near impossible for someone to move three vehicles and breach the garage door.

[stusviews]

Wow, you'd sacrifice three vehicles to secure your garage!

[stusviews]

The mimolite works great and is a direct swapin replacement for a iolinc with relay and sensor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

That's the device I referred to in post #16. Thanks for the easier search term

[Brian H]

What hardware revision is your 2450 I/OLinc?

I did some snooping in a few revisions. The original 1.0 has a very wimpy power supply. 1.8 was better and  2.3 was beefier.

So if yours is an older one it maybe failing hardware wise.

http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/21417-io-linc-hardware-differences-between-revisions/

[Jimbo.Automates]

I actually had one of mine start opening randomly a few years ago. After a lot of debug it turned out to be an issue with the remote receiver, genie agreed and sent me a replacement board.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[larryllix]

I actually had one of mine start opening randomly a few years ago. After a lot of debug it turned out to be an issue with the remote receiver, genie agreed and sent me a replacement board.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Good point!

We are all so quick to blame Insteon for everything, now. I had a lot of this problem on the job. When an alarm went off it was usually the alarm equipment that was immediately blamed, rather than the device that was being monitored.