Two Electrical meters one ISY

[Ajax]

OK people just spend the morning doing some research but would like to confirm something. In the process of designing a house with an attached garage, with an apartment above the garage. The apartment would have its own meter from the transformer and own electrical panel. I will be using Insteon switches etc thru the whole house and apartment. I know I could run each electrical meter on its own Isy but would prefer to keep it as one system. 

Since range would be close enough I think the RF should be able to get the communication done between the 2 meters (House and apartment)? Or do you guys suggest something else that I can hard wire, since this is still in the planning phase

 

Thanks

[paulbates]

15 minutes ago, Ajax said:

Since range would be close enough I think the RF should be able to get the communication done between the 2 meters (House and apartment)?

While that's a reasonable conceptual approach, its a matter of the distance the rf signal has to travel, and what kind of building materials might block rf.

What would be the ~ distance between where 2 closest dual band devices would be installed?

Paul

[Ajax]

Depending on Insteon outlet or switch I would say 5'-20' at most. Walls would be 2x6 construction with blown in cellulose for insulation. 

[paulbates]

Personally I would plan on that working. If you have a couple of devices handy, test it as soon as you're able.

There are a number of "gottchas" with dual band insteon like metal j boxes blocking rf signals and switches in jboxes tend to lose range verus a plugin module. Plugging the insteon device for syncing the apartment on the circuit with a fridge, a/c, etc could have reliability problems. Point being if you're able to design around it, try to work around those problems.

Paul

[jec6613]

I'll echo others and say that it should work, but I would highly suggest putting the PLM within range of both systems individually if you can.  This keeps the hop count to a minimum, at least.

[Techman]

The most reliable way to couple the two circuits would be with plug in dual band modules. Unlike the in the wall modules which have their antennas located at the back of the device, the plug in modules have external antennas which will give you much better RF coverage.