PLM Lifespan

[MarkJames]

I've had my ISY for a couple of years now. My first PLM was a 2412S rev 3.3. It started acting quirky a year or so ago and I was getting poor communication and failed writes. I bought a new 2412S which turned out to be a rev 3.1 (don't ask me - must have been old stock?) It worked fine until last week. Last week that one failed completely to the point where ISY only starts in safe mode.

 

I've reverted to my old PLM to get up and running again. To be honest I'd forgotten it wasn't working right so I pulled my hair out for a couple of days trying to troubleshoot the problems. I remember now, though, that it was fubar so I've given up on using it.

 

Has anyone else had issues with PLM failure/bad PLM function?

 

I know they've dropped the 2412S in favor of the 2413S now. I'm hoping it's more reliable as 2 PLMs in 2 years seems unreasonable. I haven't read the specs on the 2413 but I remember when they first came out they were capable of far fewer links than the 2412. I hope that's not the case now as my 2412 had well over a thousand links in it.

 

mark

[Brian H]

The 2413S has a 1023 link database. According to the web sales page.

The later 2412S models where more than 2000. I can't find the exact number in my archives.

 

Also the 2413S does not have power on the serial output connector to the ISY99i like the 2412S did. So you also need the optional external power supply when using a 2413S. To power the ISY99i.

 

Simplehomenet makes a EZIComm module that is supposed to be a 2412S equivalent.

http://www.simplehomenet.com/proddetail ... od=EZIComm

 

I have had a few 2412S PLMs get flake along with 2414S/U PLC {same basic main board. Different daughter card and firmware}.

The 2413S/U have a completely different main board so they maybe better.

[MarkJames]

The power supply issue looks pretty trivial - the ISY looks to have a standard plugin for a 9V wall-wart. I'm actually kinda looking forward to that change as I can plug the ISY into a UPS. It's a shame there's no way to filter the power to the 2412 or 2413 as I suspect it's surges that are taking their toll on the units.

 

Thanks for the tip on the simplehomenet version. I think I'm gonna try the 2413 first, though. I suspect I can reconfigure my network to reduce the number of links. The advertising for it claims faster writes (though I would think there's a lot more involved in write speed than the qualities of the PLM). Mostly it kinda chokes me that I've had two of them fail already. When the PLM goes flaky all the scenes start to act up and I chase my tail for a week or two reestablishing links both through ISY and manually until I finally clue in to the 'real problem'.

 

As I'm in Canada the warranty is all well and good but by the time I pay shipping and taxes for the bad one going back and the replacement coming here I may as well just buy a new one.

[ergodic]

Exactly like you, I'm on my 3rd PLM in about 3 years.

 

The first two failed in those strange ways -- unable to connect to devices at random, scenes failing, that sort of thing. The first failure was the real hair-puller since it wasn't at all obvious to me at first that it was the PLM causing all the problems. Eventually I tumbled on the idea to look at the link database in the PLM and that's when it became clear that things were not at all well in there.

 

And that doesn't count the recent failure of a EZX10-RF which was obviously a modified 2412S (mine still had the "2412S" sticker on it). And which failed in the same sort-of-incoherent way, with corrupt link tables. This may be the reason SHN started producing their own PLM.

 

I replaced my last 2412S with a 2413S a few weeks ago. So it's too early to say if it is more reliable.

 

But I kind of suspect you are right that regulation was the problem with the 2412S. The 2413S seems to be missing the big, nasty transformer inside so it's a lot lighter, and hopefully more sophisticated power regulation will make it more dependable. Just guessing, and I'm still keeping a spare PLM around anyway.

 

I will say the 2413S seems a little faster on communication. I use a whole-network query as a sort of overall health indication of the Insteon network and for whatever reason that's about 20% faster now with the 2413S in there.

 

As noted, you will need a separate P/S for the ISY with the 2413S. I've been using the Radio Shack universal that is suggested in the wiki and it's been fine, although I'd suggest if you use that you cut off and/or wrap up all the exposed, unused connectors that dangle around.

[MarkJames]

The quirkiest thing that really set me looking more closely was when the lights in my son's bedroom wouldn't turn off. You'd flip the switch and they'd turn off but within 5 seconds they'd turn back on. There were no motion sensors related to the room and no programs that could be doing it so it was a real hair-puller. At first I attributed it to the fact that those are among the only 'Icon' switches I have. I thought perhaps I'd 'gotten what I'd paid for' as I've noticed that the quality of Icon is considerably less than that of the Smartlinc switches.

 

I've also noted that the ISY interface would crash quite regularly when the PLM was acting up. It 'looked' ok but many devices would sit there with the pending write icon beside them but I couldn't get them to write and when I'd try to close the interface it wouldn't close.

 

I think I'll order a spare PLM this time as it's a real headache when things go for a dump like this.

 

mark

[wrj0]

I've had the same 2412S PLM V2.9 in operation continuously since Dec 2008 without any noted problems. However, I already had an Intermatic power line surge suppressor installed prior to setting up the PLM/ISY. That may have helped with the longevity of this PLM. Still, it seems a great idea to have a spare PLM on hand.

[MarkJames]

Well, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the service I got from Aartech here in Canada today. They offered to replace both my PLM's with new 2413s even though the warranty was up on one of them.

 

I wanted to post this because I know that I wouldn't hesitate to post if a supplier screwed me over. It seems only fair to post when one treats me nicer than I expected.

 

mark

[oskrypuch]

I've also had a no-nonsense RMA authorization and trade out of DOA units. aartech.ca are a good outfit, nice to have it on this side of the border, carrying virtually the full SmartHome line, as well as a bunch of other stuff.

 

* Orest