EZRAIN/EZFLORA

[marklinn]

Hi all,

I just registered, but have had my ISY-26 for years.

I hooked up an EZRain that I just bought, but I could not get it to use #8 as my pump control with the 'tapping' instructions.

 

I ran out of time, and am now in Baghdad.

I figure everything will be dead by the time I return.

If there was some way to find instructions on how to program it using my ISY,I have not found it.

 

I can control my other devices from here, remotely.

I guess on a positive note I can view all my lawns and landscaping die from here,using my cameras.

 

I tried to tell #8 to turn on when the other controls turn on,otherwise remain off.

All that happens is everything turnds on for a few milli-seconds,then turns off.

I can turn on each vave as expected, as long as #8 (pump) is off.

I can turn on the pump, as long as the valves are off.

Does anyone want to buy thousands of dollars of plants in California, cuz they will all be dead when I return.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks, Mark

[LeeG]

Setting Zone 8 as Pump Control can be done with the Set button which is not available to you. It can also be set using the free download SimpleHomeNet Utility Suite program. This program requires a PLC, PLM or EZSrve as a powerline interface to issue commands to the EZFlora. Does not seem likely this is an alternative available to you either. The Admin Console does not have an option for setting up Zone 8 as a Pump / Master Valve control.

[marklinn]

Thanks for the response,Lee.

I may still be in luck...

I can remotely log into my PC in Calif.

I do have the 2412-U or whatever that controller is, that I can have a friend connect to a USB port on the remote PC.

 

If I install the Simplenet remotely on the PC with the PLM connected,and I know the address of the EZRain device, can I set it up with the pump code, and then control the EZRain from my ISY?

 

Meaning remove the PLM from the setup, once the device is set to use #8 as a pump relay?

 

I tried to program the ISY with the commands like:"When #1 or #2 or #3, turn #8 ON, else off".

It seems it wont allow two valves at once.

I also found some goofy command like: 000xE7 or something.

I wrote whatever it was down on a piece of paper and ate it with a bowl of milk...that didn't seem to help, but it was filling and had lots of fiber.

 

I have a Vera2 also.

I bought it to mainly control my Z-wave Kwikset lock.

It claims to also handle Insteon, but not easily I suppose.

I'm in Baghdad working 12x7, and I don't have a whole lot of time to peruse the forums !

 

Sorry for the ramble...long day.

So I guess the main question is: Will the 2412-U interfere with my ISY, or can they run concurrently; and can I use only the ISY once the pump adjustment is made?

Thanks again for your time!

Mark

 

 

Now I have to remote into my Vera,then my ISY, then my CCTV, and also my PC!

 

I want a all-in-one GUI!

[LeeG]

With a 2412U USB PLM connected to the PC you can run the SimpleHomeNet Utility Suite (designed to run on XP, tested on 32 bit Vista successfully and may run on Windows 7 but not tested) and set the EZFlora Configuration register option that makes Zone 8 a Pump/Master Valve controller.

 

There are drivers available from Smarthome that are required for a 2412U PLM. Although connected to a USB port, the Smarthome device driver makes the USB connected PLM look like a Serial connected PLM and will assign it a COMx number. Usually starting with COM4 or COM5 but it can vary from system to system.

 

The ISY with its Serial PLM has no problem coexisting with another PLM on the same powerline. The ISY cannot physically connect to a USB PLM as the ISY is using a true Serial connection.

 

It is correct that the EZFlora does not allow two Zones to be turned On together. Turning on Zone x turns all the other Zones Off.

 

The initial screen of the Simplehomenet Utility accepts a COMx number for a PLM, select the Use PLM radio button and then click on Connect. If the COMx number is correct the SHN Utility will connect to the PLM with a status message at the bottom left of the SHN Utility screen saying Connected to the PLM with the device address and PLM revision level. Select the EZFlora tab, enter the device address of the EZFlora device in the Insteon ID: field which should then show a Connected message just under the Insteon address field. Click on “Zone 8 is a Pump†button. This will cause the EZFlora to energize Zone 8 when Zones 1-7 are turned On. When all Zones are Off Zone 8 will turn Off. Do not control Zone 8 from the ISY.

 

EDIT: missed one. yes, once the Zone 8 is a Pump option is Set you can use the ISY to turn each Zone On/Off and Zone 8 will turn On/Off automatically. You can also use the SHN Utility to manually turn on the Zones either for testing or for actual watering. Don't suggest trying to use both at the same time as they will not know each other is controlling the same device. The EZFlora will respond but the ISY nor the SHN Utility will be aware of the others activity.

[Goose66]

The SHN Utility Suite and SmartHome drivers run on Windows 7 just fine. However, I have a 2414 PLC and not a 2412U PLM. I do not have to set any COM port address, it justs finds the PLC and connects.

[LeeG]

The 2414 PLC uses the Smartlabs SDM3 device manager interface between the application and the PLC. The SDM3 does not use a COM port as was noted in the post by kingwr. Smarthome lists SDM3 as not supported on Windows 7 64 bit in case that is a factor. The SHN Utility works with a 2414 PLC and a 2412 PLM. It also works with the SHN EZSrve but I doubt that applies here.

[Brian H]

SDM3 can use a serial port. I used it with my 2414S PLCs all the time. You did have to tell it to use a com port the first time you used it or if you changed back and forth between USB and Serial versions.

 

Ken Millers SetSHPort could also read the registry to find port in use and change it.

 

As a test. I just used a 2414S with the Simplehomenet Utilities and it accessed an EZX10RF with no problems. I did have to make sure the SDM3-308 was set to use Com1 in my case.

[marklinn]

Thank you everybody for your help.

Time and distance have kept me from trying to solve my problem, along with some bad internet connections!

I appreciate your help, and I will respond with some feedback when I have some.

I just wanted to hop on real quick and thank you for your help!

Mark