IOLinc Options Matrix

[Wingsy]

This is one big can of worms, figuring out that IOLink. I don't know why they designed it the way they did. It seems that they had only 2 objectives in mind - a garage door opener and a projector screen (like in their examples). And the documentation is sorely lacking in clarity. Anyway, here's the combinations of options (as shown in the admin console) and inputs that create a relay output: (x = don't care)

A few things to note: Once triggered in any momentary mode the IOLink relay will close for the set duration and then open, even if triggered again during the timeout. You cannot extend the time by re-triggering prior to timeout. And during the timeout period any OFF command will immediately open the relay (the exception is when a controller is specifically configured to trigger on OFF and turn off on ON)..

The label for the checkbox "Relay Follows Input" is misleading. I think it should be labelled "Input Triggers Relay", because the only time the relay follows the input is in Latching mode and in all other modes it triggers the momentary functions. You could say the relay actually does follow the input because if the input goes OFF prior to timeout, the relay will open. But their terminally certainly threw me for a loop. When "Relay Follows..." is NOT checked, the Sense input has absolutely no effect of the IOLinc relay.

When you read "Triggered by either.." or "Triggered by both...", don't even think that it applies to the Sense input or an ISY program. It only applies to a linked controller. The manual's example of how to set up "either" or "both" seems to be accurate; the example shows when the IOLinc is linked to a controller. The Sense input and ISY programs can only trigger an IOLinc with an ON command.

In the documentation is says: 

Momentary A

Either an ON or OFF command can be programmed to trigger the I/O Linc relay. The other command will be ignored. For example, if an ON command is programmed to trigger the relay, an OFF command will be ignored.

Not true. An OFF command from anywhere will turn the relay OFF immediately (the exception is when a controller is set to trigger on OFF - it will go off when an ON command is received).

There's probably a mistake up there somewhere and I've possibly left some stuff out, like more info on the effects of a linked controller. Comments welcomed, let's beat this horse to death.

Edit: Well, right off the bat I see where I should have included "UNCHANGED" in the relay column in rows 1 and 2 in all images, since in those cases the relay isn't OFF, it's Unchanged.

IOLinc Options Matrix.pdf

Edited March 16, 2018 by Wingsy

[larryllix]

This is awesome work Wingsy!
IMHO you should mention upfront that this is a result of your testing (maybe a brief description of technique)  so people don't think you just translated the manual.

My confusion needing clarification: Momentary A "ISY Off command does not ever trigger the IOLinc   but a linked controller can trigger with Off command". I believe ISY would be a linked controller or the same as a linked module. No? I know you are fairly adept so I am confused about that one.

[Wingsy]

Good point. Yes it was from testing. I had an IOLinc in front of me with a switch connected to the Sense input, a plug-in dimmer linked as a controller to the IOLinc, and the ISY admin console running so I could send ON and OFF commands from the ISY. Each time I would change an option I would run through my 3 sources of ONs and OFFs to see their effect.

And I was surprised to see that a linked ISY-IOLinc behaved quite differently from any other linked controller. Confusion was present here too, for the umpteenth time. I believe that where the manual talks about configuring the various ways to control an IOLinc, they target an IOLinc linked to something other than an ISY. In fact I think all the Insteon manuals have little or nothing to say about the ISY, since they don't make it (?). 

For the benefit of any newbies reading this, the IOLink options can be set while running the ISY994 Admin Console app, and then selecting your IOLinc device (after linking the IOLinc to the ISY) and then clicking the "Options" button at the bottom of that window. The IOLinc manual also describes how to set some options manually without using the admin console. 

[Brian H]

I agree . Since the UDI ISY994i  is not there product. The manual only gives the manual Set Button sequences. For Linking, Unlinking and options settings.

We see users here and on their Forums trying to use  an ISY994i with manual Set Button links in them.  With strange happenings. 

Common reply is with an ISY994i. Ignore what is in the modules full users manuals. Factory Reset use the ISY994i to do everything.

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by Brian H

[larryllix]

I don't know how the ioLinc can tell the difference between ISY and any other Insteon module. This makes me wonder if UDI has created some workround to a protocol problem that causes different responses to be encountered.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Wingsy,

This is wonderful. May I have you permission to put a link to the PDF on our Wiki?

With kind regards,
Michel

[Wingsy]

3 hours ago, Michel Kohanim said:

Hi Wingsy,

This is wonderful. May I have you permission to put a link to the PDF on our Wiki?

With kind regards,
Michel

Well, no.  

Not yet anyway. If you want to do that, let me expand it to include a linked controller and correct the result that I mentioned earlier, from OFF to UNCHANGED. Without the full post no one would know that that item is a bit off and I'd hate to be the source of even a tiny piece of misinformation. 

[Wingsy]

OK, I've modified the pdf to include a linked controller.

Michel - let's wait a few days before you link the pdf and see if anyone has any corrections or suggestions.

Stepping back and looking at the combinations it's no wonder there are so many people confused over the IOLinc (me included).

 

IOLinc Options Matrix.pdf

Edited March 18, 2018 by Wingsy

[Wingsy]

On 3/17/2018 at 6:18 AM, Brian H said:

Common reply is with an ISY994i. Ignore what is in the modules full users manuals. Factory Reset use the ISY994i to do everything.

 

That would be the ideal solution in all cases except where you needed fast response. Using just a program in the ISY is how I initially set up my stairway lights, but soon discovered that sometimes the lights didn't come on until seconds after being triggered. Not good if there's something on the 2nd step. Same for my driveway lights, triggered by a buried coil. Sometimes they didn't come on until 1/3 the way down the driveway.

[larryllix]

21 hours ago, Wingsy said:

OK, I've modified the pdf to include a linked controller.

Michel - let's wait a few days before you link the pdf and see if anyone has any corrections or suggestions.

Stepping back and looking at the combinations it's no wonder there are so many people confused over the IOLinc (me included).

 

IOLinc Options Matrix.pdf

There doesn't seem to be logic shown for ISY operating the IOLic under the Momentary B condition.

You have a note that ISY cannot operate the relay at all but IIRC some garage door users make it work from ISY. Being that it was designed to be used in that weird alternating lockout logic mode,  was something missed in your testing for that mode? The combination isn't shown on the chart from ISY, but only from another linked controller.

[Wingsy]

16 minutes ago, larryllix said:

There doesn't seem to be logic shown for ISY operating the IOLic under the Momentary B condition.

I don't understand. Isn't the highlighted areas showing it?

16 minutes ago, larryllix said:

 

You have a note that ISY cannot operate the relay at all but IIRC some garage door users make it work from ISY. Being that it was designed to be used in that weird alternating lockout logic mode,  was something missed in your testing for that mode? The combination isn't shown on the chart from ISY, but only from another linked controller.

The note says the ISY "OFF" command doesn't ever trigger an IOLinc. An ON command does. The ISY can't trigger based on Sense input, it always triggers when the ISY sends an ON, and turns off the relay when it sends an OFF. It seems this is always the case no matter what mode the IOLinc is in. 

[larryllix]

3 hours ago, Wingsy said:

I don't understand. Isn't the highlighted areas showing it?

The note says the ISY "OFF" command doesn't ever trigger an IOLinc. An ON command does. The ISY can't trigger based on Sense input, it always triggers when the ISY sends an ON, and turns off the relay when it sends an OFF. It seems this is always the case no matter what mode the IOLinc is in. 

No. The bottom four truth table lines show '--' for the sensor input. The manual seems to explain that the relay responds differently for each sensor state. Since we are beating the manual to a pulp it would be good to show those combinations not working if  they actually don't. Due to this mode being one of the primary design application features of the ioLinc, I believe the manual could be correct and your table doesn't show the combinations with the changing logic for each input.

I only use one to indicate garage door position and do not control mine so I have no experience with the manual shown hookup and alternating logic based on sensor input.

Edited March 19, 2018 by larryllix

[Wingsy]

15 hours ago, larryllix said:

No. The bottom four truth table lines show '--' for the sensor input. The manual seems to explain that the relay responds differently for each sensor state. Since we are beating the manual to a pulp it would be good to show those combinations not working if  they actually don't. Due to this mode being one of the primary design application features of the ioLinc, I believe the manual could be correct and your table doesn't show the combinations with the changing logic for each input.

I only use one to indicate garage door position and do not control mine so I have no experience with the manual shown hookup and alternating logic based on sensor input.

I thought you were talking about Momentary B where the relay responds to both an ON and an OFF.

In Momentary C where the relay is triggered based on the state of the Sense input:

I'm showing where an OFF command from the ISY always turns the relay OFF regardless of the state of the Sense input (--), and likewise an ON command always turns it ON regardless of Sense state. A linked controller does trigger the relay based on Sense input (like the manual says) but an ISY doesn't. Is that what we're talking about?