New User - Basic Question

[brock.travis]

I am about to start building my INSTEON network using the ISY-99 PRO as my primary controller.

 

My question is, can you program all of your devices (linking, multi-linking, cross-linking) from the ISY interface and never have to do any manual linking what so ever? If the ISY is removed from the network, will those devices remain linked and still function as though you never had the ISY in the first place? Can I do all of my programming without any manual linking and use only the INSTEON addresses?

 

The reason I ask is that I will most likely be installing a few devices out of reach where it would be a near impossibility to press the set button and run to another device in order to link them.

 

I'd like to program my entire system from the ISY alone, but not have my system fail should the ISY no longer be available to each device.

 

I believe I read that the ISY writes configuration to each device individually rather than hosting the "running" config on its own internal database.

[LeeG]

brock.travis

 

You can link almost all the Insteon devices without physical access. The exception is the battery operated RF devices such as motion sensors, triggerlincs and remotelincs. These devices sleep to conserve battery power and have to be put into linking mode for the ISY to write link records into them.

 

If Programs are not used the PLM can be removed but there is no need to do that. Unless ISY Programs are used the ISY is not a required element if all activity is done by linking device to device. The problem with removing the PLM is that every device has a link record pointing to the ISY PLM and this has to be removed if the PLM is removed. The ISY does this but it takes some time and is really not necessary.

 

"Can I do all of my programming without any manual linking and use only the INSTEON addresses?"

 

Not sure what you are asking here. If you do not want to link devices you can do all with ISY Programs but then the ISY must be present which seems contrary to one of the initial objectives. Unless you mean by manual linking Set button linking and Set button linking is not to be done anyway. All linking (Scene creation) needs to be done through the ISY.

 

Lee

[brock.travis]

When you link these devices through the ISY, (for example a switchlinc and lamplinc) is that relationship stored within the switchlinc, the PLM or the ISY?

 

Are scenes stored in the devices that are members of the scene or in the PLM when the scenes are created though the ISY?

 

I plan on setting up a keypadlinc and IOLinc to operate a garage door. Can I set up this relationship so that the button LED informs me of the IOLinc status using just the ISY? I understand how to do this already with the set buttons on each device, but I want to know if it can be done through the ISY and still respond accordingly if the ISY or PLM were removed.

 

All in all, I don't want to handicap my entire network should the PLM or ISY malfunction. I would also assume the commands would execute more quickly if the linking information was stored in the devices rather than the PLM as every command would have to go through the PLM first.

 

I'll be setting up programs for more advanced operations such as sprinkler control.

[LeeG]

brock.travis

 

When you link these devices through the ISY, (for example a SwitchLinc and LampLinc) is that relationship stored within the SwitchLinc, the PLM or the ISY?

Linking the SwitchLinc as a Controller with the LampLinc as a Responder is done through an ISY Scene. Define the ISY Scene. Then add the SwitchLinc to the Scene as a Controller and the LampLinc to the Scene as a Responder.

 

The ISY writes link records in the SwitchLinc and LampLinc such that turning the SwitchLinc On/Off turns the LampLinc On/Off directly. This relationship is totally independent of the ISY/PLM once the link records have been written. The ISY also writes link records in both the SwitchLinc and LampLinc so that the Scene can be turned On/Off using an ISY Program or ISY Admin Console. This later activity does require the ISY to be present. If this Scene control is not exercised the ISY/PLM plays no role in the SwitchLinc controlling the LampLinc.

 

When the SwitchLinc and LampLinc are added to the ISY as devices, link records are written in the SwitchLinc and LampLinc so that the ISY is aware of manual SwitchLinc/LampLinc activity. These are the link records I was referring to in my initial post. It is these link records that have to be removed should the ISY PLM be unplugged. Unplugging the ISY PLM is not necessary. Normally this is done by an installer that used an ISY to set up an Insteon installation and then removes the ISY and PLM from the premises.

 

Are scenes stored in the devices that are members of the scene or in the PLM when the scenes are created though the ISY?

 

The Scene link records that allow the SwitchLinc to control the LampLinc are stored in the respective devices (standard Insteon stuff). A record of these Scene link records is maintained in the ISY configuration data. The link records that allow the ISY to be aware of manual switch activity are stored in the respective device and ISY PLM (standard Insteon stuff) and a record of the link records is also stored in the ISY configuration information.

 

Insteon device response is the fastest when devices are linked (scenes) to each other directly. The ISY and PLM are very reliable. Over time you will find that the automation capability of the ISY is well worth the exposure of another device failure. I link as many of the Insteon devices to each other as possible as I do not want to be dependent on any HA for basic light control. However, some things such as the use of motion sensors is much more user friendly when taking advantage of the extensive ISY HA capability. Also things such as turning lights On/Off at Sunset/Sunrise, automatically turning Off lights after midnight to insure nothing is accidently left on, etc is well worth the exposure of another device failure. The ISY is an industrial strength device and the PLM is no different than the PLMs that are built into all the Insteon devices. Of course they can fail but it is rare.

 

Lee

[brock.travis]

That answered all of my questions. I really appreciate it!

[LeeG]

Happy to help.

 

I've been using an ISY for more than a year now but have been using Insteon almost from the beginning of Insteon itself. I think you find the ISY a great device from both a reliability and functional perspective.

 

They UDI folks are the best in the business for supporting their product.