2420 Issues

[JodyO819]

I'm trying to set a new 2420. It seems to work fine when linked in a scene. However, if I try to use the Control ON command in a program it doesn't seem to work. I've set jumper 5, I'm only receiving ON commands, and they are set for day and night.

 

I'm using the following program as a test to set it up before mounting.

 

If

Control 'Test Motion-Sensor' is switched On

 

Then

Set 'Office Lamp AL 7' On

 

Else

- No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

It seems simple enough but I can't seem to figure it out. What am I doing wrong?

 

Also, the current state is always blank.

 

JODY

[LeeG]

You are not doing anything wrong in the Program as far as the If is concerned. Make sure the Program was Saved and that it is Enabled. Check the Sensor node under the Admin Console so see if it changes state from On to Off to On as the Motion Sensor turns On and Off. If the Motion Sensor is operating in On Only the Sensor will not switch to Off but If Control should trigger when an On commmand is received.

[LeeG]

Also note that unless running in Occupancy mode the Motion Sensor will send only 1 Motion On message until the timeout interval has expired. Once the timeout interval has expired another Motion On will be received when the next motion is sensed.

[JodyO819]

Thanks for the quick answer. The program is enabled but I'm not getting any updates on the node. I've done a factory reset and it still hasn't helped. Odd that it works in a scene though.

[JodyO819]

Just to make sure I'm doing it right, how do I put it in occupancy mode?

[LeeG]

Put the Motion Sensor into linking mode with the Motion Sensor Set button. Click the Motion Sensor -Sensor node which displays the Senser node in the right pane. At the bottom of the right pane is a Set Options button. Put a check in the Sensing Mode check box and click Ok. This must be done within 4 minutes. Otherwise the Motion Sensor will exit linking mode.

[JodyO819]

I've done that. It seems that I've tried everything. I had another new 2420 so I opened it and set up. I still get the same thing. No status updates.

 

Can anyone help?

[LeeG]

Was the motion sensor added to the ISY using New INSTEON Device with the Device Type pulldown indicating Motion Sensor?

 

Move the Motion Sensor closer to a Dual Band device.

[JodyO819]

I added it with the pull down menu. There were two 2420s. I tried them both. I have a dual band device that I've put in the same room.

 

 

JodyO

[LeeG]

Does the motion sensor Red LED flash when something passes through the motion sensor field of view?

 

Is the Set Options Night Mode check box checked?

 

Does the motion sensor - sensor node show On or Off? Does it ever show On if currently Off?

 

Under Programs | Summary does it show the posted Program as having run? The Last Run Time column and the Status column (True/False) show what if anything the Program has done.

 

Were there any errors when the Set Options button was used?

[JodyO819]

Thanks for the help.

Does the motion sensor Red LED flash when something passes through the motion sensor field of view?

Yes it does flash red. It will even trigger lights, turn them on and off if it is part of a scene.

 

Is the Set Options Night Mode check box checked?

Yes

 

Does the motion sensor - sensor node show On or Off? Does it ever show On if currently Off?

The Sensor Node is blank. It was this way on my old motion sensor but I just thought it was the sensor. Now I see that it is blank on my new sensors.

 

Under Programs | Summary does it show the posted Program as having run? The Last Run Time column and the Status column (True/False) show what if anything the Program has done.

The program is showing false with a run time of early this afternoon. It looks like it ran once when I first began testing.

 

Were there any errors when the Set Options button was used?

There were no errors. I was able to set parameters, take it out of linking mode, put it back in linking mode and the parameters were still set.

[LeeG]

With Night Mode checked the Motion Sensor has to be in a dark environment to send Motion On messages. The ambient light level must exist for at least 3.5 minutes to be effective. That is, it must be dark for a full 3.5 minutes before it starts to work in Night Mode.

 

EDIT: actually I have that backwards. Night Mode when checked is in Always mode which is the best mode to test in.

 

With the Sensor node blank the ISY has not had any command from the Sensor since the ISY was booted up.

[LeeG]

"Yes it does flash red. It will even trigger lights, turn them on and off if it is part of a scene."

 

I assume you mean the motion sensor is directly turning On/Off lights that have been linked as responders to the motion sensor as part of an ISY Scene. That means the On/Off commands are being sent but not reaching the ISY PLM. Move an Access Point next to the PLM and move the motion sensor near the Access Point.

[JodyO819]

Yes, that's what I was trying to say.

I'm really at a loss here. I've put all three of them in the same room.

PLM

Access Point

Sensor

 

It's even the same room as the ISY. I had everything in my office for testing.

 

What's baffling me is that I can get status /current state on everything else but not motion sensors.

 

JODYO

[LeeG]

Is the PLM a 2412 or 2413?

[JodyO819]

It is a 2413. What is the difference?

[JodyO819]

It is a 2413 oops replied twice.

[LeeG]

The 2413 is a Dual Band device that should be able to receive the RF from the motion sensor directly. The 2412 is a powerline only PLM.

 

Run a Show Device Links Table for the motion sensor and when the display is complete click the Compare button. Are the link records as expected? Remember to put the motion sensor into linking mode before running the Show Device Links Table.

 

Do you have a large Insteon installation? Perhaps the PLM link database has overflowed but that would be very odd to happen just at the time the motion sensors are being tested.

[JodyO819]

I ran the Device Links table. There was a communication error on the first run. I was able to do it successfully several times afterwards. It looked good and the compare showed up as identical.

 

I only have about 20 devices so far. It's not large at all.

 

JODY

 

The 2413 is a Dual Band device that should be able to receive the RF from the motion sensor directly. The 2412 is a powerline only PLM.

 

Run a Show Device Links Table for the motion sensor and when the display is complete click the Compare button. Are the link records as expected? Remember to put the motion sensor into linking mode before running the Show Device Links Table.

 

Do you have a large Insteon installation? Perhaps the PLM link database has overflowed but that would be very odd to happen just at the time the motion sensors are being tested.

[LeeG]

We are running out of candidates. What ISY firmware level is being used?

 

Are there any Venstar tstst adaptors at the 2.1 level in use?

[JodyO819]

I'm running 3.1.17, the latest.

I don't know what that device is so I'm certain I don't have one.

 

Should I add a few more dual band devices? I've never been able to get the motions sensors status but I've been able to get everything else. The only difference is that the motion sensors are ONLY RF. I don't understand why the RF would not be working. Maybe it never did. I'd never know in that everything else has a power line connection.

 

Yes, I know. We are running out of options. I suppose I could reset the PLM or replace it.

 

JODY

[LeeG]

That is the last option. Power cycle the PLM and run Restore Modem(PLM). It should not take long with that many devices. Basic RF communication is working for the Set Options and Show Device Links Table to work. Motion On messages require link records in both the motion sensor and the PLM for the messages to be received and processed by the PLM.

[JodyO819]

Lee

 

Thanks. I know it is logical that it's always in the last place you look but this time it was. We were out of options and that seemed to work.

 

I can now see the motion sensor status as on. I can see it update also.

Thanks for sticking with me on this one.

 

One final question. What should I be seeing for dawn to dusk status? It is still blank. It's not that much of a concern but I noticed it.

 

JodyO

[LeeG]

That is fantastic. We sure were running out of things to do.

 

Dusk/Dawn node is affected by the Set Options "Darkness Sensitivity" value. This specifies the ambient light level at which point the motion sensor will signal a change from dusk to dawn or dawn to dusk. The lower the number in Darkness Sensitivity the darker it has to be to signal dawn (light) to dusk (dark). This ambient light level must exist for at least 3.5 minutes before the motion sensor will signal the change. This avoids false changes due to car lights or clouds (but not always successful with clouds).

 

This can be tested by putting a dark opaque cloth over the motion sensor to simulate night light level. It must be covered for at least 3.5 minutes.

 

EDIT: the Dusk/Dawn node will show On when dark and Off when light. There has to be a transition from light to dark or dark to light before either command is sent. Until then the Dusk/Dawn node will be blank

[dano]

I too have a blank on the dark/dawn status. I've tried to move the MS to a complete dark envirnoment and a bright light environment. Both with no change. I've also adjusted the dark sensitivity levels from 255 to 0 also without any change (still blank). Any advice?