Smartlinc Backup via Customized Controls

[Princi]

History: I had an X10 controller with phase amplifier/coupler in breakerbox. It failed to give me reliable performance. I then bought another X10 controller, changed the clock by 2 minutes and plugged it into a plug on the opposite phase, and had the same programming in it. Everything went well until I installed a variable speed pump for the pool - Hayward says in their documentation that it can interfere with "Home Automation".

 

Last year before heading to India, I installed several Insteon switches and a Smartlinc controller. It controls 2 lights in family room, kitchen light, hall lights, etc. Wanting something better, this weekend I installed the ISY-99i. It wipled out the links I had between the Smartlinc and the Insteon with the exception of the kitchen light, which gave me fits trying to get it to turn off while I was in India. (If I waited until the pump shut off, I could turn off the kitchen light by accessing it remotely).

 

I couldn't link the Insteon kitchen switch to the Smartlinc, so I used the "Customized Control" and entered in the hex address of the control.

 

This morning, when I came downstairs, none of the lights were on. The ISY had wiped out the links in the controls, which was as expected.

 

However, this evening, the kitchen light came on. I'm thinking that by entering the hex command, it is working like the X10 i.e. there isn't anything needed within the Insteon control that links back to the controller.

 

I leave the house for months at a time, and I'd like a backup to the ISY, if possible, to at least be able to turn some lights on and off at will should the ISY fail. (I'm in a high lightening stroke area, and the house has been hit before - I do have lightening arrestors on the roof).

 

Am I on the right track thinking that if I don't bind the control to the Smartlinc, but use the Customized Control, I'll be okay?

[LeeG]

Insteon Direct commands do not use links. Custom Commands that are issuing Insteon Direct commands work independent of link records.