Pre purchase question

[kharless]

Greetings,

 

I have been searching for a solution to a problem and these devices may solve it.

 

Problem: Elderly parent living alone and I am worried that something could happen to her between her daily phone calls.

 

Proposed Solution: Using a series of motion detectors, bath room & kitchen, determine that there is motion in her house every x amount of hours. If no motion for longer than the defined time, trigger an alert (email or SMS).

 

Is this a doable solution with this platform? How much custom SDK development would be required or are the embedded scenes capable of something like this?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Kurt

[LeeG]

No special SDK programming is necessary. An ISY Program can monitor all the Motion Sensors and if no motion is sensed within whatever time you define, the Program can send an email.

 

If Control 'motion sensor 1' is switched On

or Control 'motion sensor 2' is switched On

or Control 'motion sensor 3' is switched On

 

Then

Wait 1 hour

Send Notification to ..........

 

Else

 

Each time a motion On message is received the Wait timing starts over from the beginning. If no motion is sensed within 1 hour is this example an email is sent.

 

As many Motion Sensors as needed can be added to the If section.

 

Note that Insteon is not rated for life monitoring activity. A Security system has battery backup and is rated for the higher protection.

[kharless]

Awesome, thanks.

 

Now I need to determine the appropriate products. Any recommendations, keeping costs down but not limiting future growth too much.

[LeeG]

Either is expensive when starting from scratch.

 

ISY with PLM and external power supply

At least two Access Points (2443) - perhaps more to give coverage to the wireless motion sensors

As many motion sensors as needed to cover the areas to be monitored

Maybe some FilterLincs depending on whether the powerline needs filtering

 

Also note that the Insteon Motion Sensors (as well as the security motion sensors) sense motion not presence. If someone sits in a chair or naps on the sofa the sensors will not detect that.

 

This also assumes there is a permanent Internet connection available. The ISY has no dial capability.

 

I don't have the background to define a security system to do what is needed. Smarthome carries the ELK M1 which many folks like but they are not cheap.

[Vyrolan]

Now I need to determine the appropriate products. Any recommendations, keeping costs down but not limiting future growth too much.

Well, you'd need the ISY+PLM and the motion sensors to do what you want to do. To make sure there's RF coverage for the motion sensors, you'd need to install some dual-band devices or use the Access Points.

 

As LeeG points out, the sensors only detect motion. Another thing you could maybe do is install Insteon switches or LampLincs for some of the lights so that the ISY can detect them being turned on and off. That would give another indication of activity. You could also use SynchoLinc to detect power is on to a device...so like if the TV is on at an odd hour, you could be notified (likely meaning something happened and so the TV was left on). There are lots of options.

[kharless]

Fantastic input. Thanks all. I will keep the forum posted on my status. I'm thinking of building up two systems, one for home, development environment, and one for mom. Who knows, could be a market for the aging population of unmonitored sensing.

 

Thanks again.