TriggerLinc 2843-222 - Events Not Detected by ISY

[BTFU]

Good Afternoon,

 

I have a Insteon Open/Close Sensor (TriggerLinc 2843-222).  I'm trying to configure this sensor to monitor my Doorbell for rings, so that I can kick off other actions through programs running on my ISY-994i.  I essentially followed this tutorial posted on Youtube to set this up.

 

Setup is:

1. TriggerLinc 2843-222 w/ Reed Switch connected to external terminals.
2. Reed Switch placed inside doorbell next to coils.

 

ISY Program currently is:

IF
   Status 'Doorbell-Opened' is Off

THEN
   Send Notification to '***' content '***'

This works as expected when i use the included magnet w/ the TriggerLinc (Green LED flashes, and notification is sent).  When I have the TriggerLinc connected via external terminals to the Reed Switch in the doorbell, the Green LED also flashes, but no notification is seen.

 

I tried ringing the Doorbell while monitoring the ISY Event Viewer, and when the Doorbell is triggered, i see events related to my TriggerLinc sensor.  The only thing that I can think of is that the duration in which the switch is closed is too short for the ISY to pick it up as a change?

 

Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

 

 

[Teken]

Some thoughts and consideration if you decide to go this route.

 

1. You must use *Control* as the condition.

2. The gap distance between the reed switch and the solenoid must be very close and affixed securely.

3. To avoid duplicate emails / SMS insert a wait statement prior to the email.

4. The N.O. sensor should have a large gap distance specification this will ensure the reed always trips open a magnetic field being generated.

5. Ensure you have a strong dual band Insteon network in place.

 

Using 3M double sided tape wasn't enough because the surface area was not flat.

 

 

To ensure the reed sensor stayed in place I inserted some foam along with the 3M tape.

 

 

Once the case is in place the entire Insteon / Door bell integration is well hidden and stealthy.

 

[BTFU]

Some thoughts and consideration if you decide to go this route.

 

1. You must use *Control* as the condition.

2. The gap distance between the reed switch and the solenoid must be very close and affixed securely.

3. To avoid duplicate emails / SMS insert a wait statement prior to the email.

4. The N.O. sensor should have a large gap distance specification this will ensure the reed always trips open a magnetic field being generated.

5. Ensure you have a strong dual band Insteon network in place.

 

Using 3M double sided tape wasn't enough because the surface area was not flat.

 

 

To ensure the reed sensor stayed in place I inserted some foam along with the 3M tape.

 

 

Once the case is in place the entire Insteon / Door bell integration is well hidden and stealthy.

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply, Teken.

 

I was using these reed switches I picked up from Amazon, wired up to the external connectors.  I wasn't able to find a gap distance spec for this particular switch, but i had it pretty close (~1 cm).  The fact that the light on the TriggerLinc flashed lead me to believe it was close enough.

 

I may try picking up a different N/O switch from Amazon...something like this.  However, i still am not sure why the current setup isn't working, considering the light is flashing on the sensor and i see traffic in the ISY debug output.

[stusviews]

Will the Doorbell Kit work for you? I'm using the kit for two telephones.

[BTFU]

Will the Doorbell Kit work for you? I'm using the kit for two telephones.

 

Thanks, stusviews.  I think the Doorbell Kit would work for me.  I may give that a shot if this doesn't work out.  I already had a TriggerLinc laying around, so I was trying to make that work before spending any more money.

[Teken]

Thanks for the reply, Teken.

 

I was using these reed switches I picked up from Amazon, wired up to the external connectors.  I wasn't able to find a gap distance spec for this particular switch, but i had it pretty close (~1 cm).  The fact that the light on the TriggerLinc flashed lead me to believe it was close enough.

 

I may try picking up a different N/O switch from Amazon...something like this.  However, i still am not sure why the current setup isn't working, considering the light is flashing on the sensor and i see traffic in the ISY debug output.

 

The first thing I would do is stick to the basics and complete the following.

 

1. Where ever the open-close sensor is press the white set button. Does the ISY Series Controller see it and is there a follow up email? If yes go to step 2

 

2. Take the two wires leading out of the open-close sensor and touch them. Do you see the green LED blink and do you receive an email in the same spot? If yes go to step 3.

 

3. Reattach the reed switch and pass over a magnet and confirm you see the LED blink and receive a follow up email. If yes go to step 4.

 

4. With the system configured using the reed switch ensure the reed is mounted to the door bells solenoid. Ring the door bell and confirm the LED blinks and you receive a follow up email. If no the gap distance is too far, reed switch requires a stronger magnetic pull, the magnetic field isn't strong enough.

 

This is why the most sensitive reed switch with a wide gap distance is normally employed because they will active with the slightest magnetic field measured in milli heneries.  

[stusviews]

What if the answer to any of steps 1, 2 or 3 is No? Just asking

[Teken]

What if the answer to any of steps 1, 2 or 3 is No? Just asking

 

LOL . . .

 

I was cut off during the *NO* steps had to recharge my iPhone.

 

IF NO: 

 

1. If the LED blinks and you don't receive an email where the door bell is located. Its assumed the RF signaling isn't being received by the Insteon network. The only solution is to install a dual band device like a plug in device.

 

2. Same as step 1 - Poor Insteon RF coupling.

 

3. Same as step 1 - Poor Insteon RF coupling. 

 

4. If RF coupling has been confirmed in steps 1~3. Press and hold the door bell for several seconds and advise what the results are. Based on my field tests and hooking up more than seven Insteon door bells. If the system operates if the door bell is held down longer than a simple push and go. The solution is to purchase a more sensitive N.O. reed switch because the magnetic field isn't strong / too fast to pull the reed switch. 

 

P.S.

 

I forgot to state the obvious because this was done by a friend. Ensure the reed switch is attached to the correct solenoid!! As you can see there are two in my door bell one for the front and one for the rear. In my home I only have a front door bell. That is the one on the right and the left solenoid is for the rear which isn't attached to anything.

 

Best to have someone ring the door bell and watch the plunger move up and down and confirm the reed is on the correct unit! 

[BTFU]

The first thing I would do is stick to the basics and complete the following.

 

1. Where ever the open-close sensor is press the white set button. Does the ISY Series Controller see it and is there a follow up email? If yes go to step 2

 

2. Take the two wires leading out of the open-close sensor and touch them. Do you see the green LED blink and do you receive an email in the same spot? If yes go to step 3.

 

3. Reattach the reed switch and pass over a magnet and confirm you see the LED blink and receive a follow up email. If yes go to step 4.

 

4. With the system configured using the reed switch ensure the reed is mounted to the door bells solenoid. Ring the door bell and confirm the LED blinks and you receive a follow up email. If no the gap distance is too far, reed switch requires a stronger magnetic pull, the magnetic field isn't strong enough.

 

This is why the most sensitive reed switch with a wide gap distance is normally employed because they will active with the slightest magnetic field measured in milli heneries.  

 

1.  Pressing the button on the TriggerLinc resulted in an email notification, as expected.

2.  Touching the wires together that are connected to the external connectors resulted in an email notification, as expected.

3.  Passing magnet over reed switch resulted in an email notification, as expected.  I also confirmed that the switch was near the "Front" door solenoid and was positioned as close as possible.

4.  When i press the doorbell, it rings and the LED flashes on the TriggerLinc.  However, there is no email notification.

 

I've noticed that, even when using the standalone magnet, if i very quickly move the magnet across the reed switch, I'll get a green LED flash, but it doesnt trigger the program.  Additionally, as i mentioned before, when I look at the logs in the ISY event viewer, it does show activity from that device when the LED flashes...for some reason, it just doesn't trigger the program.

[Teken]

Is the program set to control vs status?

 

 

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[BTFU]

Is the program set to control vs status?

 

 

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Yes.  Here is the program.

 

Doorbell Ring

If
        Control 'Doorbell-Opened' is switched Off

Then
        Send Notification to '6' content [Entry 6]

Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[Teken]

Why is it off instead of ON?

 

 

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[BTFU]

Why is it off instead of ON?

 

 

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Because the sensor shows "on" when its open and "off" when its closed.  Closed would be when the bell rings.

[Teken]

What happens when you press and hold the door bell down longer?

 

 

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[BTFU]

What happens when you press and hold the door bell down longer?

 

 

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I will have to test that tomorrow afternoon...my 1 year old is in bed and my wife wouldn't be too pleased with me waking her up w/ the doorbell right now

 

I have a Ring Video Doorbell Pro as my doorbell, so there is actually no way for me to "hold it down longer".  The signal from the doorbell goes to a small device thats mounted inside the doorbell ringer, and that controls sending the voltage to initiate the doorbell ring.  I think my next step will be removing the Ring Doorbell and trying manually to remove that from the equation.

 

The thing that still doesn't make sense to me is why I see activity from the open/close sensor on the insteon network when the LED flashes, but the program doesn't run.

[BTFU]

I had a chance today to remove the Ring Video Doorbell Pro from the equation.  No matter how long I left the switch engaged, i wasn't able to get the ISY to pick up the ring.  I still have no idea why its not working...but I've had enough messing with this configuration.  I'll probably take stusviews advice and get one of the doorbell ring kits.

[Teken]

You confirmed when you rang the door bell the reed is on the correct solenoid? If it is than as I said a wider gap reed would help.

 

 

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[BTFU]

You confirmed when you rang the door bell the reed is on the correct solenoid? If it is than as I said a wider gap reed would help.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yes - i confirmed that previously, and it was still the case during the recent test.  

 

I never really got a good answer on why a wider gap reed would fix the issue, since the ISY activity log showed activity from the open/close sensor when the bell rang, and the LED lit up as well.  Overall, the setup didn't seem very reliable so hopefully the Doorbell kit is a better long term solution.

[Teken]

Yes - i confirmed that previously, and it was still the case during the recent test.

 

I never really got a good answer on why a wider gap reed would fix the issue, since the ISY activity log showed activity from the open/close sensor when the bell rang, and the LED lit up as well. Overall, the setup didn't seem very reliable so hopefully the Doorbell kit is a better long term solution.

Just to be clear when I say wider gap I'm referring to the physical gap distance from magnet to reed switch not the internal reed gap. Regardless, a reed switch that is super sensitive to the magnetic pull is the result of a closer reed gap and thinner plate material.

 

If you already ordered a replacement reed switch you might consider giving it another go. As stated early on I've installed many of these without too much issues for friends, family, clients.

 

Circle back and let us know what you end up doing and the final results.

 

 

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[JackP]

Hi,

 

My ISY says it cannot find engine to Leak Sensor 285-222. This has been working for years. Since last ISY update,v.4.6.2 it is not seeing the sensor or able to reattach. What's up?