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Trying to add Zwave switch to existing Insteon-only Scene


bertible

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I've had my ISY 994i Pro for a few years, running exclusively Insteon after giving up on X10 awhile back.   Recently after a go round with my PLM, I  decided I needed to move towards an alternative to Insteon so acquired a ZWave dongle for my ISY, and a couple of ZWave switches (GE Enbrighten)  I am now trying to add a new zwave on/off switch (with additional add-on switch) to an existing scene:

 

Insteon Motion Sensor  Controller,  Senses Person in Room in the laundry room

Insteon On/Off Switch as responder.  Turns on Laundry room lights on entry

Adding GE Enbrighten On/Off Switch as responder  Turns on Stairway lights on entry   (tried as responder to both the PIR sensor, and the Insteon switch)

I've tried adding all six Zwave nodes to the scene  (Switch On/Off, Basic Scene Ctl 1/2, Multilevel switch 2/3, and Scene button 1/2   No combination of these nodes in the scene seems to work to turn on the Z Wave Switch, only the Insteon switch responds to the Insteon PIR.

So I tried adding a program to sense either the PIR sensor, or the Insteon switches being on, then turning the ZWave on.  This didn't work either.

So, is it possible to mix Zwave and Insteon devices in a scene?   or do I need a ZWave PIR?   I have searched high and low in the Wiki, and can only find scenes with one, or the other, not both.

 

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It would help if you gave system details such as firmware and UI.

Generally yes, you can mix scenes with insteon and zwave. You just have to configure your devices within the scene and controller to do so. 

You only need the switch on/off in the scene not the other stuff

Edited by lilyoyo1
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Thanks lilyoyo1,

I am using Admin Console, and ISY version 5.3.4, Zwave version 6.82.01 , just upgraded ISY firmware in order to add ZWave.   I had already moved my ISY closer to devices with extension cords/ethernet cables, but may try moving even closer (line of sight).   Thanks for the on/off switch advice.  Will stop trying with all the other stuff.

 

Gary

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17 hours ago, bertible said:

I am using Admin Console, and ISY version 5.3.4, Zwave version 6.82.01 , just upgraded ISY firmware in order to add ZWave.   I had already moved my ISY closer to devices with extension cords/ethernet cables, but may try moving even closer (line of sight).   Thanks for the on/off switch advice.  Will stop trying with all the other stuff.

Can the ISY control the device? Have you gotten it added? 

Z-wave needs a mesh of devices.. and the ISY's transmitter doesn't reach far, the nearest device will repeat and will reach further.   You may also discover that the ISY standing on it side edge may have better reach.

see this post:

 

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Before you get into the scene, which should work, I have mixed Insteon and zwave scenes, does the GE switch work on it's own?   Can you control it from the ISY?  Does the isy see changes in the switch?

 

Sorry, didn't see MrBill's response before I posted, browser didn't refresh.

Edited by DaveF
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Thanks Mr Bill and DaveF for responding.  Answer is pretty well Yes to most of your questions:

Enbrighten switch and Add-on switch work fine physically  The main enbrighten switch is about 50 feet walking from ISY, but around some corners, so 25 feet direct with two walls between.  (I realize not ideal)

Yes, the switch (all 6 "nodes) added fine in Admin Console as you'll see below.  Some initial difficulty seeing these switches in Admin Console was overcome by firmware upgrade, exclude/include actions, and  moving ISY higher in my equipment room, and i did just try turning in on it side too.  (yesterday I actually had it running down the hall with wires with no improvement to this scene issue)

Switch works fine turning on/off from Admin Console, from Mobilinc App, and even from Alexa.  This would lead me to believe that the ISY:switch communications are fine, unless Scenes require a stronger signal than on/off commands.

 

Here is a screenshot of the Scene.   The PIR-Sensor and Laundry Rm nr Hall switch are both Insteon.     I've also tried a new scene where I let the PIR turn the insteon switch on, then try to use the insteon switch as the controller to the Zwave switch.  That didn't work either.  I've also tried a few times, moving the On setting to 100% but it keeps reverting back to the value as shown below.

image.thumb.png.c065ba7851daca64207626bed6342db0.png

 

I do have one more zwave (dimmer) switch I could install in between the ISY and this switch, but these wouldn't be my preferred location to use up a $50 switch.

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I tried writing a program again, and got this version below  to partly work, but not with the PIR sensor controlling the On/Off, only by pushing the Laundry Rm nr Hall  On/Off button in Admin Console.  The ZW switch follows the Insteon On/Off commands almost immediately.  Trying the same program but with the PIR sensor status or switching on in the IF statement and it wouldn't  do anything .

image.thumb.png.ec2aee423d7450d5a6187329cf946113.png

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Looked online for replacement insteon detectors, either 2842 or 2844.  Scarce as hens teeth and expensive when you find one.  So ordered a no-name z-wave detector for troubleshooting.  In meantime will continue to retry scene and programming fixes.  Still seems strange that the detector succeeds in sending to ISY, and ISY succeeds in sending to Zwave switches, but the two can't be combined.

Edited by bertible
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3 hours ago, bertible said:

Looked online for replacement insteon detectors, either 2842 or 2844.  Scarce as hens teeth and expensive when you find one.  So ordered a no-name z-wave detector for troubleshooting.  In meantime will continue to retry scene and programming fixes.  Still seems strange that the detector succeeds in sending to ISY, and ISY succeeds in sending to Zwave switches, but the two can't be combined.

Try removing both devices from the scene. Add the zwave device first, configure, and then re-add sensor

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Okay,  getting somewhere!    Your suggestion was good and started me on the path to success.   I ended up completely deleting the scene, resetting the sensor to factory default and writing changes to it (i.e. no scene) to get to a zero baseline.  Then I started from scratch using your suggestion to add the Zwave switch even before the sensor or other Insteon switch.    When I added the sensor,  I started getting intermittent success, i.e. the sensor sometimes turned the zwave switch on.   I kept retrying writing the changes to the PIR sensor from admin console (each time putting the PIR in write mode).  Also saving changes in the Program screen, since I know this is necessary for mobilinc, even if the change is in the Main screen.   I think the saving in the sensor was the sticky point, that the sensor was not always getting the changes.    But at this point, I now have both switches responding to the PIR sensor with no delay... Phew!   Thanks for your help.

 

 

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