EZswitch30 - how to monitor if it loses power?

[tahoe]

I am planning to use the ezswitch30 to control roof heat tape to melt ice. The problem is that heat tape will sometimes trip the GFI breaker when energized due to the initial power surge.

 

If I install the ezswitch30 downstream of the breaker, is there a way to have it send a notification if it loses power? Would a query return "OFF" when it was called to be "ON".

 

Now that I think about it, could I test this on almost any insteon device by pulling the power and then sending a "ON" command?

 

hmmm...

[Brian H]

If it is after the breaker and the breaker trips. It has no power and will not answer at all.

 

Maybe the lack of response could be used some how.

[tahoe]

I just tried it at home and you're right, it reports the last state before failure. I tried to write a query program to start queries if the switch is on and repeat every 30 minutes. I added a second program to notify all if a query reported back as OFF but it's the same issue - no response at all so it is still reporting ON even though the breaker is tripped.

 

I'm stuck - anyone have a solution?

[Brian H]

If it has no power. It can't report anything as it is dead.

Not sure where the last state before failure is coming from.

 

Did a test. Query my Kitchen ApplianceLinc. Showed ON. Unplug ApplianceLinc and query My Lighting. Kitchen give communications error but uses the last knows state of ON.

 

I am hoping that others may have a solution for you test of is the power on to the EZSwitch30.

[kclark]

Wow! You must have to melt some heavy snow!

I just use several ApplianceLinks for mine.

 

The approach I would take is to turn an Insteon device connected to the GFI off and on and see if it responds. Since the turning off and on thing is what's tripping the breaker, you probably don't want to switch the EZswitch30 any more than necessary.

 

So what you can do is wire any other Insteon device to the line-in side of the EZswitch30. Then use a program to see if that unit responds. The easiest to connect would probably be something like an In-LineLinc Relay. You could even use an old Switchlink where the toggle is broken and you haven't gotten around to returning it.

 

What we really need is another condition in the programs for a status of "No Communication". Then you could query the EZswitch30 directly and test for that status just as you'd test for on or off.

 

And while we're at it, we should ask for a condition test for Disabled.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi,

 

Condition test for communications errors is on our list. I am not sure why we would need conditional for disabled: commands sent to disabled devices are ignored by ISY.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[TJF1960]

I am planning to use the ezswitch30 to control roof heat tape to melt ice. The problem is that heat tape will sometimes trip the GFI breaker when energized due to the initial power surge.

 

If I install the ezswitch30 downstream of the breaker, is there a way to have it send a notification if it loses power? Would a query return "OFF" when it was called to be "ON".

 

Now that I think about it, could I test this on almost any insteon device by pulling the power and then sending a "ON" command?

 

hmmm...

 

How about a relay and I/O Linc? Relay coil wired to load side of GFI. Relay contacts connected to I/O Linc sensor input. When the relay de-energizes the I/O linc sends an Off or On depending on how you want it to report the GFI trip.

 

And, if you want to get a little MacGyver-ish - wire a solendoid actuator to the I/O Linc output. Write a program where if the GFI trips the I/O Linc energizes the solenoid which presses the reset switch on the GFI!!!!

(just kidding).

 

Tim

[tahoe]

Thanks for all the replies!

 

Yes, we melt a lot of snow and ice up here. I regularly install multiple 220v 20 amp circuits on a single house. It's like running your dryer and over around the clock but the alternative roof damage and leaks are much worse. Now I've given away my secret as to why this circuit will be popular for vacation home owners. Last year, I installed 14 systems on the roof of a condo complex in Kirkwood. The resort is so remote they run on generator power year round and charge the residents 50 cents a kw/hour for power! It's easy being green when you pay 5o cents for power.

 

kclark,

The ezswitch30 is an insteon device so I can already tell that it's not responding but that's not good enough for customers. Is there a way to write better code like I noted above? Is there a way to write a set of programs such that once it's turned ON, a sub program runs to turn it off and check status. Then, notify me if the off command returns an ON status. If the off status returns an OFF status, turn it back on. It's clunky but at least it would be a test of response. I could repeat that OFF ON subprogram every hour to test it. I know it runs the ezswitch contacts over and over but it's better than no heat tape.

 

TJF,

Thanks for the idea. However, I have an IOlinc and some ct's from brultech but when I put all of those items together, the cost is too high and it seems too complicated.

 

Michel,

 

"Condition test for communications errors is on our list". Does that mean it's available now or it's on the list of future enhancements?

 

Thanks again everyone. I could use some help quickly on the programming.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi tahoe,

 

It's not available now but it's on the list of those requirements which we are hoping to have included in the next releases (2.8+).

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[tahoe]

That's great news. Do you have a guesstimate date for 2.8?

 

Can you comment on the validity of my proposed program to switch it off after switching it on to test if it is responsive? Will it work?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi tahoe,

 

The date for 2.8 depends on when we will have the official release for 2.7.7.

 

Yes, your program will work.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

That's great news. Do you have a guesstimate date for 2.8?

 

Can you comment on the validity of my proposed program to switch it off after switching it on to test if it is responsive? Will it work?