Scene Test

[matapan]

If a scene test fails for all scenes consistently, what does this mean?

 

After reading a recent posting regarding the scene test, I thought I'd try the diagnostic out. I was surprised at how all of my scenes were failing this test.

[LeeG]

matapan

 

Assuming there is not a general powerline problem the first thing to consider is the PLM has lost its link database. It could be a defective PLM in that it cannot communicate over the powerline but there would be other symptoms. Device Direct commands from Programs and the Admin Console do not use the PLM link database. Set Scene On/Off activity from Programs and the Admin Console require some link records in the PLM to make the initial Scene command valid. The Set Scene is a different command sequence from the Scene test.

 

There are some basic things to look at beyond the PLM link database.

 

Are the Scene failures limited to certain devices?

 

Are the devices on the opposite 120V phase from the ISY PLM?

 

The Scene test should be one of the most reliable activities as Insteon hardware will automatically retry commands to devices that do not respond. More often a Scene test will work when a Set Scene will fail intermittently.

 

Lee

[oberkc]

it seems to me that a failure of all scenes suggests a failure (not necessarily an actual device failure) of the one device in all scenes: the PLM. Do you have your PLM plugged into a surge supressor or UPS? Into the same outlet as one?

 

Do you have any programs active which may be triggered by a change in status of your devices?

[matapan]

Turns out that the scene test was identifying a problem with v35 Switchlincs, which I replaced. Now, I have no issues with scene tests for scenes containing a small number of devices.

 

For large scenes with 15 or more devices, the scenes don't always report success. Is there a limit to the number of devices that can be handled reliably on an Insteon network?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello matapan,

 

There's really no limit to the number of devices in a scene as long as the number of links in the PLM does not reach the threshold of not being able to respond (between 600 to 800).

 

With kind regards,

Michel