New 2413S PLM vs. 2412S PLM

[rhughes]

Hi,

 

I have an Insteon setup with about 80 devices so far, including switches, lamp lincs, 9 keypads and miscellaneous wireless devices. I've noticed that when I add additional devices, it seems to cause random problems that required me to fiddle around reprogramming, removing/adding devices, etc. I rely on a fair number of scenes as well as programs (which require status updates). This weekend I finally had the ISY refresh all the device link tables, including the PLM link table. That seems to have stabilized things considerably, except for one keypad linc that I had to reload again. That got me to thinking that maybe my system was getting too big for the PLM. I checked and the ISY shows the PLM has about 950 links. No problem, thought I, since the 2412S should support >2000 links. But then I started checking all the posts related to the new 2413S PLM which I am thinking about changing to since it is dual mesh. Here's what I found:

 

1) The old 2412S PLM has a link table capable of supporting >2000 links, but only the first 800 support reporting status changes(!!)

2) The new 2413S PLM has a link table capable of supporting 1026 links, but all links support reporting status changes

3) Also, the new 2413S PLM doesn't power the ISY, so a separate power supply is needed

 

Given this, it seems some of my problems are that I'm outgrowing the capabilities of the 2412S PLM. It looks like I should move to the new 2413S PLM and ensure I don't grow beyond its capabilities. I should be able to simplify a bit to keep the link count under the magic 1023 limit, at least until Smarthome comes out with a new "PRO" version PLM

 

Does anybody see any faults with this logic?

 

Thanks.

[LeeG]

Per a post by SLee (Smarthome/Smartlabs rep) on the Smarthome forum the 2413 Dual Band PLM supports substantially more than the 1000+ links indicated in the sales page. The 2413 Dual Band PLM has a faster processor so it may run faster than a 2412. There have been some anecdotal posts on the forums about seeing faster powerline communication with the 2413 when heavy device query activity is done such as querying the entire installed inventory. Smarthome/Smartlabs has discontinued the 2412S PLM so it has a limited existence. Only 2412SR refurbished PLMs are now available.

 

I had not seen any the statement about the 2412 PLM only supporting 800 devices for status. Not even sure what that means. Can you indicate where you saw that.

 

In general it is a good idea to eliminate unnecessary links. The fewer that have to be managed the better but I would not eliminate desired function simply to reduce the number of links.

[Brian H]

LeeG; There are some threads here on the >800 links in a 2412S missing things. Even though it can have >2000 links in it.

[LeeG]

Thanks Brian. I'll search for that discussion. Almost a mute point now since the 2412S is discontinued. SHN has started selling a 2412S equivalent, EZICOMM. I received my first last week but have not done any testing with it as yet.

[Brian H]

Just curious if you got the RS485 option?

I finally found the pin outs for it and I like the fact you can get the option and RS232 and power are still on the normally used pins.

[LeeG]

I got the RS232 version this time as I want to test it for compatibility as a standard 2412S equivalent. No reason to think it is not a direct swap for a 2412S. The RS485 version should provide the added distance I need to connect to a remote pump house but have no Serial port that supports RS485 at this point. Hope to put an EZFlora with a pulse water meter on the subdivision well to track water consumption.

[rhughes]

Hi,

 

Just to follow up, I received my new PLM, installed it, and used the ISY to update it as well as all the devices (I have around 70). This seemed to clear up all my program/reporting/linking problems I've been having over the past year or so. My guess is that I was at some limit on the old PLM that the new PLM got past; probably the >800 links limit. I've lived with it now for a couple of weeks with no problems.

 

I'm sure this isn't a panacea and your mileage may vary.

[Brian H]

Thanks for the update.

Sounds like it may have been the old PLM.