Device already added, how to identify?

[HTTRC]

I’m doing a “Start linking” then holding down my Insteon paddle for 5 seconds and I get a popup saying “device already added” and showing me the address.  How can I find which node in the ISY tree that address belongs too?

[HTTRC]

Is it supposed to appear under lighting?  Funny, it didn’t show until I rebooted the ISY.

[Geddy]

@HTTRC are you holding the set button? Why 5 seconds? What kind of device (model #) are you adding? Typically a very short set button push - at most 2 seconds - I think would initiate the link. Holding for longer was done to direct link with another device. Be sure you're starting the linking process in admin console first. And don't do more than a few at a time so you know what you're adding!

Glad it appeared after a reboot, but it shouldn't need a reboot or even a reload of the admin console. Linking should put the new device in the device tree/folder. Be sure all folders are expanded. 

I believe when new devices are added they are added with their address showing. You can then rename them. 

[HTTRC]

After last weeks lightning strike fried my ISY or PLM (or both) I managed to restore an old backup of my network.  All of my switches appear and they seem to have the proper links on the ISY side of things, however it seems I have a lot of switches that are not physically in my network.  Thats simply due to me having replaced dead switches a time or thousand.  I’ve replaced a lot of Insteon dimmer switches.  Burned out / bad design, who the F knows why but it’s just the truth.

So I have a lot of switches that appear to be installed but are not.  I used to have to take the plates off the wall if I didn’t have a picture of the addresses, but using the original Insteon linking method by holding the paddle down will be caught by the ISY if you do a link management | start linking. A hell of a lot easier than taking plates off

[Techman]

If the switches that are installed don't appear in your device tree after you restored an ISY994 backup it's most likely due to the the fact that the backup wasn't current, and that the switches were installed after the backup was made.

[apostolakisl]

On 7/16/2025 at 5:36 PM, HTTRC said:

After last weeks lightning strike fried my ISY or PLM (or both) I managed to restore an old backup of my network.  All of my switches appear and they seem to have the proper links on the ISY side of things, however it seems I have a lot of switches that are not physically in my network.  Thats simply due to me having replaced dead switches a time or thousand.  I’ve replaced a lot of Insteon dimmer switches.  Burned out / bad design, who the F knows why but it’s just the truth.

So I have a lot of switches that appear to be installed but are not.  I used to have to take the plates off the wall if I didn’t have a picture of the addresses, but using the original Insteon linking method by holding the paddle down will be caught by the ISY if you do a link management | start linking. A hell of a lot easier than taking plates off

Yes, if you can't find a switch:   use the swirly arrows to put ISY into INsteon linking mode then push and hold the set button.  If it is already added, it will say so and show you the Insteon address.  Then click on "home" in your tree of devices and in the right pane it will show all your devices.  Click on "address" to sort by address then you can scroll down to the device and see what it is named and what folder it is in.