ISY 994i expected life

[TCoroalles01]

Hi everyone.  I have an Insteon system powered by an ISY 994i and voice controlled by Alexa.  Everything works great.  With the Insteon debacle, I bought some spare switches and had extra PLMs in case I lost some in the next few years.  I am wondering if anyone has an estimate on the expected service life of the ISY 994i.  Mine is about 6 years old and if it dies, i guess I can go to Policy, but Polisy may not be supporting Insteon in a few years.  So am I better of trying to get a spare ISY 994i

[KeviNH]

The PLM and the SD card are the items most likely to fail, the service life of the actual ISY-994 board would be dependent on component quality and operating conditions (temperature, humidity, and power quality).

Where are you seeing them in stock other than eBay and scam sites like thebeast?

[lilyoyo1]

32 minutes ago, TCoroalles01 said:

Hi everyone.  I have an Insteon system powered by an ISY 994i and voice controlled by Alexa.  Everything works great.  With the Insteon debacle, I bought some spare switches and had extra PLMs in case I lost some in the next few years.  I am wondering if anyone has an estimate on the expected service life of the ISY 994i.  Mine is about 6 years old and if it dies, i guess I can go to Policy, but Polisy may not be supporting Insteon in a few years.  So am I better of trying to get a spare ISY 994i

Not sure why you feel polisy may not support insteon in a few years when UDI's next gen controller (eisy) supports insteon as well. The work for insteon is already done. They'd need to rework the whole system to remove insteon capability.

Maybe somewhere down the line but definitely not in the near future to worry about another Isy. Besides, you'd simply be continuing on with an obsolete device

 

Edited July 31, 2022 by lilyoyo1

[Brian H]

I would add one more item.

The power supplies used by the ISY994i have some reports of them failing.

I have had a few from the older ISY99i and ISY994i. The ISY994i has a large voltage range input. 5VDC to 30VDC. I have had original 5V DC 500mA to 5VDC 1 Amp units. UDI sells a replacement 12VDC 2 Amp on their sales site. 12VDC 1 Amp or 2 Amp should be a good way to go. Especially if you have a ZWave board installed.

[gregf]

“Isy994i expected life.”
In my case it was the next power surge. ?

In spite of everything being on surge suppressors.

Took out all ethernet ports and hdmi ports. And my coffee pot.

Wanted an excuse to get a polisy anyway.

 

[Dub]

4 hours ago, TCoroalles01 said:

I am wondering if anyone has an estimate on the expected service life of the ISY 994i.

Michel stated in a thread recently(I can't find it though) that the failure rate of their devices is extremely low(my words, his were more actual numbers).

Since you have waited and not gotten Polisy, I would probably wait and get a eisy.

1 hour ago, gregf said:

In my case it was the next power surge. ?

I see several mentions in different threads about failures, power outages, surges, etc...Several years ago when I was a lurker, probably on Insteon/SmartHome boards, I saw a recommendation of a whole home surge protector.  I had one installed and haven't looked back.  I have only had 1 failure of a device since and that was an outdoor module in my attic.  I actually consider my use as abuse with the heat in the attic.

I don't see much mention of this anymore, but my whole home surge protector has served me well.  I also have my Polisy, Router, Switch, and PLM on a battery backup, with a surge protector.  I know these devices in some cases can cause interference/noise, but I have a dual band outdoor module in the same bank of plug ins.  I don't see any consistent communication issue..maybe once in a blue moon something is missed...but not often enough to be annoying or to dig in to troubleshoot.  We don't have a lot of power outages, but we do have brief sags or brownouts occasionally and I gotta think the UPS keeps my devices healthy.