PLM Failure

[smokegrub]

For what it's worth, I am reporting another PLM failure. This one lasted, guess what, a bit more than two years! The cost, no big deal. The nuisance factor, enormous. The location is a considerable distance from my primary residence and failure of the PLM leaves me "blind" until I can travel to that location and effect the repair. Also, I have several battery devices at that location, each of which has be placed into linking mode followed by "Write Updates". Generally speaking, I am well-pleased with my large investment in Smarthome devices in two homes but my longterm allegiance to the company is being strained by their failure to make this critical system component "bullet proof". I understand some degree of obsolescence as a corporate planning strategy but not in a component of such critical importance. C'mon Smarthome!

 

[Brian H]

Sad to read of your PLM failure.

I have seen some changes over the years but seems their guesses have not worked well.

I know my recently purchased PLM V2.4, maybe higher revision now.  Has a redesigned serial port daughter board. Serial interface chip now one with an ESDI rating and two three pin diodes {maybe a spike suppressor} with resistors on the serial signal pins.

Lets hope they may have finally gotten their act together. Past performance don't give my much confidence going forward on a decent fix.

[smokegrub]

1 hour ago, Brian H said:

Sad to read of your PLM failure.

I have seen some changes over the years but seems their guesses have not worked well.

I know my recently purchased PLM V2.4, maybe higher revision now.  Has a redesigned serial port daughter board. Serial interface chip now one with an ESDI rating and two three pin diodes {maybe a spike suppressor} with resistors on the serial signal pins.

Lets hope they may have finally gotten their act together. Past performance don't give my much confidence going forward on a decent fix.

That is promising. Thanks for sharing. Time will tell.

[mwester]

Z-wave, smokegrub, z-wave.  Given the reliance on the device, I'd suggest you have a second ISY at that location as well.  As a simple solution, make that second one do only z-wave, and add only the critical sensors/devices for it to handle.  That way you do not "toss out" your investment in Insteon, but instead you can move into a more reliable technology slowly, as the Insteon devices fail.  Plus you'll have two ISY units, so even if the ISY (or its power supply) fails, you have another that can make life a little less stressful until you can get up to the remote location to service it all.

[smokegrub]

10 minutes ago, mwester said:

Z-wave, smokegrub, z-wave.  Given the reliance on the device, I'd suggest you have a second ISY at that location as well.  As a simple solution, make that second one do only z-wave, and add only the critical sensors/devices for it to handle.  That way you do not "toss out" your investment in Insteon, but instead you can move into a more reliable technology slowly, as the Insteon devices fail.  Plus you'll have two ISY units, so even if the ISY (or its power supply) fails, you have another that can make life a little less stressful until you can get up to the remote location to service it all.

I have a second ISY at that location. It had never crossed my mind, however, to begin a technology shift at that location. I have been somewhat biased against Z-wave because of my lack of familiarity and a desire to standardize on technology insofar as possible. First question, does Z-wave have any reliance on the PLM?

[larryllix]

10 minutes ago, smokegrub said:

I have a second ISY at that location. It had never crossed my mind, however, to begin a technology shift at that location. I have been somewhat biased against Z-wave because of my lack of familiarity and a desire to standardize on technology insofar as possible. First question, does Z-wave have any reliance on the PLM?

No. It relies on a Zwave modem that is a plug-in Zwave board for  inside ISY.

[Brian H]

You do not need a PLM if you only have Z-Wave. If you have a mix of both Insteon and Z-Wave or only Insteon then a PLM is needed.

If you have Z-Wave only. There is a version of the firmware that does not go into safe mode if no PLM is found. There should be a link on each firmware  versions release pages on the forums here. You can also use the one with no PLM check and still have a PLM. Just if it dies you will not know it.

[smokegrub]

 This old home has three ceiling fan/light combos. I recently purchased 4 FanLincs, but I can use those in my primary residence, if necessary. I did a bit of research for z-wave controllers that will control both the light and fan. All I found were controllers of either the fan or night but not both. Is my assessment correct? If so, changing this remote location to z-wave will mostly entail replacement of existing Insteon devices.