INSTEON Smart Homes For Everyone
INSTEON Smart Homes For Everyone
INSTEON Smart Homes For Everyone
to yourself how well INSTEON works and be certain that it will meet your
requirements before you spend a lot of money on it.
Te next few sections cover a number of situations where installing
just a few INSTEON devices makes sense.
Lamp control
Te simplest problem INSTEON will help you solve is automating the control
of lamps in your living room. By purchasing an Access Point, a RemoteLinc,
and a LampLinc dimmer for each of your lamps you can remotely control
each lamp in your living room from wherever you sit, without retroftting
anything in your home or touching your electrical wiring in any way. If you
are looking for an easy and convenient way to test INSTEON, this is it.
Wired Lamp Control
What You Need
One ControlLinc plug-in Insteon controller (#2430)
A LampLinc Lamp dimmer for each lamp you wish to control
(#2456D3)
What To Do
Link each LampLinc Dimmer to the ControlLinc plug-in Insteon
controller.
Link to diferent buttons to control lamps individually, or link multiple
lamps to the same button to control them as a group, creating scenes.
Wireless Lamp Control
What You Need
An INSTEON Access Point (#2443) (Not necessary if you already have
Access Points as phase bridgeshowever, Te RemoteLinc does not work
with SignaLinc RF phase bridges)
One RemoteLinc Wireless remote control (#2440)
A LampLinc Lamp Dimmer for each lamp you wish to control
(#2456D3)
What To Do
Link the RemoteLinc buttons to each LampLinc.
Link to diferent buttons to control lamps individually, or link multiple
lamps to the same button to control them as a group, creating scenes.
Creating a virtual multi-way switch
Te simplest wired-in INSTEON problem to solve is the multi-way switch.
All you need to do is replace the light switch for the light(s) you want to
control with an INSTEON SwitchLinc, and replace the light switches that
you want to use to control it with SwitchLincs.
If all you want to do is create a virtual three-way switch in a single
room, its likely that all your circuits will be on the same phase and you
can get away with not installing a phase bridge. However, if any of the
devices doesnt seem to work when you try to link it, youll need to install
a phase bridge to solve the problem. Also be aware that you wont get away
with expanding your INSTEON system much beyond one room without
installing a phase bridge.
Be aware that installed INSTEON switches always control their local
loadthe light or appliance that the original switch controlled. For example,
lets say you have a long hallway that has only one light switch at one end.
But theres a room with a center light fxture at the other end of the hallway,
and you would like to use that switch to control the hallway light. If you
replace the room light with a SwitchLinc, you can confgure that SwitchLinc
to control both the room light and the hall light, but you cannot confgure it
to control the hall light alone.
Te correct solution in situation is to use a 6-button KeypadLinc
to control the room light fxture. Tis way, the primary load (the room
fxture) can be controlled using the on/of buttons, and the hall light can
be controlled using one of the A/B/C/D buttons (or two of them if you want
to create separate on/of buttons rather than a toggle button).
Multi-Way Switches
What You Need
An INSTEON SwitchLinc (#2476D) to replace the switch for each light
you wish to control
An INSTEON KeypadLinc 6-button Dimmer (#2486DWH6) for each
switch location you wish to control the light from.
What To Do
Replace the switch that currently controls the light with an INSTEON
SwitchLinc dimmer (for incandescent lights) or relay (for forescent
lights).
Replace each switch at locations where you would like to control the light
with an INSTEON KeypadLinc 6-button Dimmer. If you want this switch
locations local load to also come on, you can use a typical SwitchLinc.
Program the A, B, C, or D accessory button on each KeypadLinc to
control the SwitchLinc attached to the light. Now the KeypadLincs on/of
buttons will control their local light, and the accessory button will control
the multi-way light.
Moving a switch
A common problem with electrical installations in a home is that switches
ofen wind up where they would be convenient for the original builder rather
than where they would be convenient for the user. In my house, we have a
light switch below a wall sconce, but the switch is placed next to a door that
nobody will ever use because it goes out to a small balcony.
By linking that switch to the main living room recessed lights, we
can use that light without having to walk across the living room to it all the
time.
Placing a KeypadLinc next to the primary entrance to a room is a
great way to control all the room lighting conveniently irrespective of where
the wall switches are actually located. You can put lamps and other movable
lights on them as well.
One INSTEON ApplianceLinc #2456S3 installed between the fan and the
outlet.
What To Do
Install the KeypadLinc at the entry to the room.
Unplug the fan, plug it into an ApplianceLinc Relay, and plug the
ApplianceLinc Relay into the wall.
Link the ApplianceLinc relay to an accessory button on the KeypadLinc.
Controlling Holiday lighting with INSTEON
Te typical way to control holiday lighting is with mechanical plug-in timers.
You put one on everything you plug in, and the lights come on and go of at
the time specifed on their individual timer.
INSTEON gives you a lot more control. Using either a TimerLinc
plug-in timer or the Events feature of HouseLinc in combination with an
ApplianceLinc or LampLinc plugged in to each of your lighting displays,
you can customize the timing of your display to come on at sunset or to fade
on and of slowly. You can also easily override your timers from any switch
in the house to bring the lights on instantly when guests arrive or turn them
all of manually at night.
If you celebrate Christmas, set the Christmas tree lights to come on
based on a motion sensor for Christmas morning so the tree lights up when
the little ones enter the room. You can set the motion sensor to bring up
your bedroom lights as well, so you know when theyre up and about.
Whatever you decide to do, the ability to extend lighting control to
all of your holiday lighting displays and managing them as a single group
will make your life easier and save power.
Control Holiday Lighting
What You Need
TimerLinc
ApplianceLinc relay for outside lights or lights that dont require
dimming
What To Do
Setup the TimerLinc to send an ON command at sundown, and an of
command at midnight or an appropriate time to turn holiday lights of.
Connect the frst string of lights to the TimerLinc, and each subsequent
string of lights to an ApplianceLinc.
Link each Appliance Link to the TimerLinc by pressing the TimerLincs
set button for three seconds, and then pressing the set button on the
ApplianceLinc. All the ApplianceLincs will now come on in unison with
the TimerLinc based on its timer programming.
Control Christmas Tree Lighting
What You Need
LampLinc dimmer for lighting displays you want to fade on or of
An INSTEON motion sensor
What To Do
Plug your Christmas tree lights into a LampLinc and link it to an
INSTEON motion sensor.
Set a custom ramp rate on the LampLinc by dimming the LampLinc
(with dimmer corresponding to a slower ramp rate) and then pressing
the set button on the LampLinc twice. Te return to the motion sensor
controller and press its set button for three seconds. Now your tree lights
will fade on when someone enters the room.
Link your bedroom lights to the same INSTEON motion sensor.
Security with INSTEON
INSTEON I/O Controllers and motion detectors or EZSnsRF bridges from
SimpleHomeNet are all you need to create a simple security system that
can be retroftted into any home. Using wireless battery operated motion
detectors and door closure detectors, the EZSnsRF turns security events into
INSTEON commands that you can use to turn on a warning light, buzzer,
patio light, or buzzer.
You can use EZIO outputs or an I/OLinc to sound an electric chime,
direct a pan-tilt-zoom camera towards detected motion, or trigger the
inputs on any traditional alarm panel. EZIO devices can also be wired to a
To correctly ventilate, you cant simply put a fan inside the cabinet.
You need to exchange the hot air inside the cabinet with ambient air and
ensure that air fows past all of the heat generating components. I recommend
using low wattage 4 computer fans to move air past each hot component
and one to pull air into the cabinet. By pulling air in, you can put a 4 flter
on the inbound fan to trap dust. If you reverse the fow to pull air out of
the cabinet, you create low pressure inside the cabinet and cause air to be
pulled in through all the nooks and crannies and cannot control dust, which
will wind up being pulled through your components leaving them coated in
dust.
Im going to recommend using A/C fans because they are powerful,
even though they are noisy. Use a LampLinc to reduce the voltage to the fans
to the point where they no longer make noise. Adjust the dim level until
the resonant buzz caused by driving an inductive load is minimal, which
indicates that the fan rotation is sympathetic with the duty cycle produced
by the LampLinc. You can silence the fans by mounting them with foam so
that the fans do not directly contact a hard surface.
You could also perform the same ventilation with 4 DC fans,
using either an EZIO capable of driving low wattage DC loads or a 12-volt
transformer and a LampLinc Relay.
Ventilate an A/V Cabinet
What You Need
A number of 4 (120mm) A/C fans typifed by Digi-Key part number
259-1389-ND, and a matching number of A/C power cords that you can
connect to the fans using wire nuts.
A passive power splitter.
One LampLinc V2.
What To Do
Cut a 4 round hole in an appropriately hidden area of the A/V cabinet
that vents to ambient air. You may need to get creative with 4 fexible
dryer ducting to make this work.
Mount one of the fans and a matching flter to the vent hole such that the
direction of airfow pushes air into the cabinet.
Place a fan next to each of the heat generating components such that it
draws air out past the components heat vents.
Plug each fan into a passive splitter, and plug the splitter into the
LampLinc. Do not plug the LampLinc into a fltered splitter, as flters
attenuate INSTEON signals.
Using HouseLinc or any other INSTEON dimmer controller, reduce
the voltage to the fans until they are silent and the inductance buzz is
minimized.
Link the LampLinc to your IRLinc to automatically turn the fans on and
of with youre A/V components.
Te Green Smart Home
A properly confgured INSTEON smart home has the potential to cut your
electricity usageand billssubstantially by helping to eliminate the waste
associated with lights lef on in unoccupied spaces, by truly turning of
sleeping appliances at night, and by reducing HVAC usage through smart
management of fans and window closures.
Remember that INSTEON systems do require power
to operate, so you will have to save a moderate amount
of power in order to achieve a net positive energy
savings. Reducing A/C usage, heavy use of timers,
and all of paths to make sure lights are not lef on
is the easiest way to accomplish signifcant energy
savings.
Turning of lights
INSTEON is the perfect solution for people who want to make sure that
theyre minimizing their power draw for lighting. From a wide array of
timer-based lights to the ability to integrate motion sensors with lighting,
INSTEON allows you to minimize power draw throughout your home easily
and with minimal inconvenience.
Set the thermostat to the mode and temperature that you want to associate
with an INSTEON controller.
Set the INSTEON controller to SET mode.
Return to the thermostat and press the SET button on the side of the
thermostat for six seconds. Te thermostat will now go to this mode and
temperature when you press the ON button for the INSTEON controller.
OFF commands are ignored.
Repeat this sequence for each controller/temperature setting you want
to make.
Garage Door Control
Tere are numerous ways to control your garage door using INSTEON
technology. From opening the door itself to triggering lights when the door
opens to remotely closing your garage door over the Internet, INSTEON can
make coming home really easy.
Never remotely close your garage door unless you can
be certain that it is safe to do so. Ensure that you have
beam-breaker interlocks working at that the garage
door will stop at a safe pressure.
Detecting Garage Door opening
Te earliest easy signal you can provide when youre arriving home is the
signal you send from the garage door opener in your car. Tere are numerous
ways to detect garage door opening and trigger an INSTEON response:
With a garage door signal receiver and an I/O Linc
With an EZX-10RF and your HomeLink compatible car
With a door contact closure sensor and an I/OLinc
With a wireless door contact sensor and an Access Point
With an INSTEON compatible motion sensor
For the best reliability, security, and lowest cost youll want to avoid
wireless signals completely and use a simple garage door contact closure and
an I/OLinc plugged into a nearby outlet.
You then have three options for each of the remaining switches:
Replace them with INSTEON switches that have no wired load and
which are linked back to the primary load switch to match your
current functionality.
Plate them over if the switch location isnt needed.
Convert them to outlets.
You cannot leave them wired as multi-way switches because that will
interrupt power delivery to the other INSTEON switches in the multi-way
circuit.
Building for INSTEON
If you are building a new home, you can save yourself some money and
efort by eliminating the wiring of multi-way switches. Depending on the
size and complexity of your installation, you may save enough in simplifed
runs and lower labor costs to pay for the cost of your INSTEON switches.
Tell the electricians to wire the home with a single
switch per fxture (no multi-way switching), from
switch to fxture.
Wiring in a switch-fxture pattern will allow you to use two-wire
romex cable throughout. If you wire fxture-switch, you will have to use
three-wire romex cable from the fxture to the switch.
You can also eliminate exterior switches for patio lighting and deck
lighting. Exterior switches are subject to a lot more weather related corrosion
and fail earlier than interior switches even when they are enclosed in proper
weatherproof enclosures. Wire switches for exterior fxtures to the interior
of the home in convenient locations such as near backdoors or in utility
rooms, and then use Access Points and a RemoteLinc to control them when
youre outside.
Have electricians leave a breaker slot open so you can have a
hardwired phase coupler installed at the panel. Better yet, hand them a hard-
wired phase bridge and have them install it.
INSTEON Switch Types
In this book, I use the term SwitchLinc to refer to any INSTEON controlled
switch. In practice, youll need to determine exactly which INSTEON switch
you will use at each location.
Te criteria are:
Te load type (on/of relay, 600w dimmer)
Te switch type (paddle, toggle, keypad, or none)
Te installation type (plug-in or wired-in)
Color
You can use table 5.1 to quickly identify which switch you want based
on these criteria.
Type Wired On/Of Wired Dimmer Similar plug-in option
Paddle SwitchLinc Relay SwitchLinc Dimmer ControlLinc
Toggle ToggleLinc Relay ToggleLinc Dimmer ControlLinc
Keypad KeypadLink Relay KeypadLinc Dimmer KeypadLinc Tabletop
Low cost ICON Relay ICON Dimmer ControlLinc
Outlet OutletLinc LampLinc (plug-in) ApplianceLinc
Timer SwitchLinc Timer (none) TimerLinc
Hidden InLineLinc Relay InLineLinc Dimmer ApplianceLinc
Table 5.1: INSTEON switch selector
Chapter 10 details INSTEON switches and other
devices.
Determining the load type for switches
Most INSTEON devices come in two types based on the load they control:
On/Of non-dimming Relay switches
Dimmer switches
All electrical appliances and lights can be controlled by relays. A dimmer
can control only incandescent lights.
If you dont know what the load type is or the load
type may change, use a relay.
Relays
Switches for typical on/of switched loads use the term Relay or ON/OFF
in their name to refer to the electrical component that actually causes the
switching: A relay.
Relays are on/of devices that can be used to control any device.
Tey use the same mechanism as an ApplianceLinc. You must use relays
on fuorescent and fan loads because the way dimmers rapidly switch
the electrical power interferes with their operation. Teyre safe to use
everywhere, but they cant be dimmed. Relays can also provide more power
to the load than a typical dimmer.
If the switch controls fuorescent lighting or a fan, you should use a
SwitchLinc Relay.
Relay devices typically have the term Relay in their name, such as
the SwitchLinc Relay. Te exception to this is the ApplianceLinc, which is
also a relay-based device.
Dimmers
Switches for dimmable loads use the term dimmer in their name. Dimmers
rapidly switch the electrical load to reduce the amount of power that reaches
the device. Incandescent lights use less power and become dimmer when
this happensbut dimmers can only be used on incandescent loads.
Putting a dimmer on other types of loads can cause the dimmer or the load
device to rapidly wear out or make a noticeable humming noise. Dont put
a dimmer on fuorescent lights unless the lights specifcally state that they
work with electronic dimmers. INSTEON (and my electrician) both state
that dimmers should not be used on ceiling fans because the rapid electronic
switching method used by the dimmer to reduce power can cause the fan to
buzz. Ive done it anyway, and while it does work, the hum is quite noticeable
at certain speeds and unnoticeable at others.
Typical fan controls look almost exactly like typical dimmers, but
they operate completely diferently. Fan controls are variable resisters that
dissipate excess power as heat, whereas lighting dimmers are semiconductor
high-speed switches that are much more efcient and do not heat up. Tere
are no INSTEON fan controllers made as of the publication date of this
book.
INSTEON says that its electronic dimmers can drive magnetic
transformers for low-voltage lighting. Ive wired one up and while it works
just fne, the dimmer does make a slight buzzing sound that I dont hear on
typical incandescent loads.
Typical INSTEON dimmers can handle up to 600-watt loads.
INSTEON makes a more robust dimmer that can handle up to 1000-watt
loads, but it costs a bit more.
When you perform power calculations for dimmers, remember to
add up the values of all the light bulbs that the switch operates. For example,
If you have four recessed lights in the living room that are dimmed by a
single switch, add the wattage of all four lights to determine the total wattage
for the dimmer. Be sure to drive no more than 75% of the rated load to be
safe in case higher wattage lights are installed in the future as well. Finally,
the National Electric Code requires that you do not go over 80% of the rated
load if more than one dimmer is installed in the same junction box.
For example, I have a chandelier with 12 lights, each using a 40W
light bulb. Tis totals 600W. If I used a 600W dimmer, there would be no
margin at all, and would be illegal to install in a junction box with another
dimmer. Te solution is to use a dimmer rated for 1000W.
INSTEON devices that control incandescent loads usually use the
term Dimmer in their name, such as the ToggleLinc Dimmer. Te exception
is the LampLinc, which is the dimming version of an ApplianceLinc.
Determining the key type for switches
Most of the switches in your home will be replaced by SwitchLinc or
ToggleLinc single-switch devices. But at major entryways and high-use
locations, consider using KeypadLinc switches so that you can enable path
and scene lighting easily.
Its not always easy to tell where youre going to want to put
KeypadLincsbut you can always swap them around afer the fact if you
fnd youre not using them in a certain location.
In my home, we have KeypadLinc switches in the following locations:
In the entryway at the front door and garage door.
In the garage
At the top of the stairs to the second foor
At the back door
In the master bedroom
On the wall next to my chair in the living room
At the end of a hallway whose actual switch is at the other end
Of these locations, we predicted the frst four correctly, but the
second three came afer-the-fact when we were in the home and realized
we wanted more control from specifc areas or where we had a problem to
remediate.
In general, you can fgure that 10% to 20% of your switches will be
KeypadLincs and the remainder will be either SwitchLincs or ToggleLincs.
SwitchLinc and ToggleLinc
SwitchLinc and ToggleLinc switches are direct replacements for a typical
solitary light switch. SwitchLincs are Decora style paddle switches, and
ToggleLincs are traditional toggle switch style switches. Otherwise they are
the same.
Use SwitchLinc or ToggleLinc switches to control a single light or
appliance Load.
KeypadLinc
KeypadLinc switches can be confgured as six or eight button single-gang
keypadstheyre actually the same device but come with two diferent
keypad overlays and are confgured in sofware to work in six or eight button
modes.
In six-button mode, the upper large On button and the lower large Of button
control the primary load, and the four center buttons only send INSTEON
signals to other devices.
In Eight button mode, the A or top-lef button is a toggle button that controls
the primary load, and the remaining seven buttons only send INSTEON
signals to other devices.
Use a KeypadLinc in six-button mode to replace a switch in your
house and add buttons to control other individual devices. Tis is a great
way to put other controllers of a particular light or device at an entryway to
a room for example, without making it difcult to determine which buttons
take the function of the original switch.
Use a KeypadLinc in eight-button mode as a main control panel for
lighting scenes and paths at major entryways such as the front and back
door, and in places where you naturally want the ability to control a number
of devices because you spend a lot of time there. For example, you might put
one in a master bedroom, at the front and back doors, and in the garage.
Put a plug-in KeypadLinc Tabletop on your
nightstand in your bedroom for a simple, small, and
inconspicuous way to turn lights of when you go to
bed and turn them on when you wake up.
Laser etched KeypadLinc buttons
Smarthome ofers laser-etched buttons for both KeypadLincs. Teyre very
well made and look greatthey put a very elegant fnishing touch on your
switches.
But dont order them in advance of moving in if youre building a
home new construction. When we planned our house, we planned where we
would put the KeypadLincs and defned what we thought would make good
lighting paths. But small changes to the house electrical layout occurred
afer we made our order, and once we moved in, we found that we didnt
use everything the way we thought we were going to in advance. Te way
we referred to rooms changed afer we moved in as well. KeypadLincs were
also moved around, from locations where a simple switch was all that was
necessary to locations where we discovered that we wanted more control.
Te end result was that about 50% of our pre-planned keys are now
completely obsolete and had to be replaced. Save yourself the planning and
waste by ordering your etched buttons once your system has settled.
Use a post-it note above your KeypadLincs prior
to ordering etched keys to keep track of their
purpose. You can re-write them frequently as your
programming changes, and then order your etched
keys once your system has settled.
InLineLinc
InLineLinc switches are responders without buttons on themthey are
designed to be linked to another INSTEON switch to be controlled and
either hidden in the wall or ceiling or plated over if they replace a switch.
Use InLineLinc switches to eliminate hard-to-reach switches, and to
add control to individual lights in the ceiling at the light fxture. For example,
you can use InLineLinc relays to add individual control to lights that have
been placed on the same circuit and are controlled together, such as a line of
ceiling cans, or to put switched control on an outlet inside the wall.
Once linked, you rarely need to see or update an InLineLinc device
again, so you can feel free to put them inside walls and ceilings. Te only time
Ive needed to un-plate them was to link them to an INSTEON SmartLinc
network controller.
TimerLinc
TimerLincs are regular SwitchLinc and KeypadLinc hardware but with
diferent frmware that gives them the capability to automatically turn of
afer a period of time. Use TimerLincs to control devices that shouldnt
remain on for long afer a person leaves a room, such as on bathroom lights
and fans, closet and attic lights, hallway lights, garages, laundry rooms,
and anywhere else that lights are routinely lef on because the room isnt
typically occupied.
INSTEON Planning
If you are performing a whole-house electrical remodel or building new
construction, you can save yourself both hassle and over-purchasing by
performing some up-front planning.
Use your electrical system blueprints as a basis for INSTEON
planning. Tese prints will show the locations of all the switches in your
home. If you dont have a set, use a 2D layout program such as Visio,
ConceptDraw, or OmniGrafe to create a rough map of your home and all
the current switch locations. Draw a line from the switch locations to the
fxture that they control as shown in fgure 5.x below.
Initial Whole-House Switch Layout
On your plans, place a switch symbol ($) at each switch location. Draw a
curved arc to the fxture controlled by each switch.
Once youve laid out your switches and fxtures, mark each fxture type
as L for incandescent light, S for Relay controlled forescent, F for
inductive load fans, V for low-voltage, and A for a switch that controls
an appliance outlet.
Mark each switch location with a KL for KeypadLinc if it is near a major
entryway, or SL for SwitchLinc otherwise. Sufx them with a D for
Dimmer if the connected fxture load type is L Incandescent, or with
R For On/Of Relay otherwise.
For lamps and other plug-in appliances that you wish to control, mark the
location of the outlet with AL for ApplianceLinc or LL for LampLinc
as appropriate.
Keep your plans handy as you proceed through the remainder of
this chapter. When youve fnished, youll have a complete count of all the
devices you need to purchase to create your system.
Its easy to tell where you should use KeypadLincs
Anywhere you currently have a gang of more than
two switches is an ideal location.
Make choices that allow you to defer as many of the system devices
as possible. Tis way, youll have a basic system up and running and will
have learned how you will use the system before you spend a lot of money
on esoteric devices that you may fnd you dont need.
means that you can use it to do things on a whim that you havent planned
in advanceand quite a tool for discovering what you do want to be able
to do. For example, my kids were in the habit of turning their lights back
on and playing in their bedrooms afer bedtime, which I was able to put an
end to by simply turning their lights back of whenever they came on. Tis
wasnt in my original planning, but it revealed a very typical use case that I
subsequently programmed into my web-based controller.
HouseLinc is detailed in Chapter 8.
Simple Web Controllers
Web browsers are becoming more common all the time. If you have a
Windows Mobile, Palm Treo, Apple iPhone or similar full web smart
phone on your person most of the time and you already have a network in
your home, a web-based controller will turn it into an easy-to-use remote
control for you. Be sure that youre taking all the occupants of your house
into account, however. If youre the sort of person that has a web browser
handy most of the time, a web-based controller may be your best solution.
Te EZServe and a small mobile web browser such as an iPhone
or iPod Touch makes a very fexible remote control solution, although it is
quite a bit more expensive than a RemoteLinc unless you already happen to
have one. Youll also need a WiFi network to connect the dots. Te EZServe
website is a bit clunky on smartphones, however.
Te SmartLinc is quite similar to the EZServe with a user interface
designed specifcally for smartphones, and is less expensive.
You neednt purchase a web-controller up-front. Tey
are easy to add to your system at any time.
Carrying a remote on your person makes these simple web controllers
far more useful in my opinion than sophisticated home automation
controllers. But if you dont have remotes on your person or within easy
reach, youll rarely if ever use this type of controller.
Many home automation controllers, including the
ISY-99i, also provide web interfaces for use from
mobile devices.
Decision Point: Web based controller
If you will be purchasing a web-based controller up-front, mark WEB
on your plans next to the location of your wireless base station or cable/
DSL router that the device will plug into.
Home Automation Controllers
Choose a home automation controller when you have multiple home
automation systems to bridge between (such as Z-Wave and INSTEON) or
when you want to integrate multimedia systems such as ambient music or
home theater in complex ways. Home automation controllers interface with
the INSTEON system using either a serial or USB PowerLinc power-line
controller.
If you have decided to use a home automation
controller, you should select it up front and use it to
program your system rather than manually creating
links.
Keep in mind however that sophisticated home automation controllers
create a single point of failure in your system. Tey are very expensive, and
they dont make the programming or confguration of your system any easier
than a good link manager like HouseLinc. Te core problem is that making
good defnitions of what you want to have happen is difcult, and while
home automation controllers can technically do anything you want, they
cannot make intelligent decisions about how to react to numerous inputs
to create a response that is always appropriate. And when the response
isnt appropriate, youre going to be confused about why strange events are
occurring.
If you are leaning towards a home automation
controller, check out the ISY-99 from Universal
Devices frst. It works well, is the only home
automation controller designed specifcally for
INSTEON, is compatible with the widest array of
INSTEON devices, and is remarkably inexpensive.
It is far simpler to tell your smart-home system what you want than to
program it to fgure it out. Choose simple command systems over predictive
or intelligent systems that might be right 80% of the time and leave you
annoyed 20% of the time.
I havent met a person yet who has truly confgured a home
automation controller completely to the point where they (and their spouse)
is happy with it.
Decision Point: Home Automation Controller
If you will be using a home automation controller or a computer running
home automation sofware, mark PLM on your plans near your wireless
network hub or Cable/DSL Router where it will be installed.
Will you integrate INSTEON with your home security system?
You have four options when it comes to security and INSTEON:
Dont integrate security.
Use the Elk M1 Gold security system.
Use SimpleHomeNet EZIO devices to integrate with an existing
alarm system.
Create a simple INSTEON security system from scratch using all
INSTEON devices.
Non-integrated security
Do you need to link your security system with INSTEON? Te primary
reason for connecting the systems is to perform actions other than alarming
on security events, such as automatically bringing up exterior lights or
master bedroom lights when a security event occurs. Tis is a good reason to
integrate a security system, but its pretty much the only one. If this isnt what
you intend to have happen, theres little reason to integrate your security
system with INSTEON.
Integrating with Elk M1 Gold
If you intend to integrate INSTEON with your home security system and
you are acquiring a system, you should look into the Elk M1 Gold security
system. It is compatible with INSTEON, meaning that it can control
INSTEON devices based on security events. However, INSTEON devices
cannot control the security system. You can program lights to come up when
security systems trigger using this system.
To be frank, however, the INSTEON compatibility is rather tacked
on and not very simple to accomplish. Security systems can be difcult to
program and confgure, and there are a number of frmware updates youll
have to do to get the security system confgured correctly for INSTEON.
When completed, it does work well and you can confgure the security
keypads to control INSTEON paths, eliminating the need for a KeypadLinc
anywhere that you have an Elk security keypad. Its much easier to simply
use a KeypadLinc in my opinion.
Specifcs on how to integrate Elk M1 Gold with INSTEON are
provided in Chapter 9.
Decision Point: Elk M1 Gold Security System
If you will be installing an Elk M1 Gold, mark ELK on your plans in the
location where you will put the security panel, and mark ESK on your
plans where you will put Elk Security Keypads.
By establishing a set of sensors and a set of responders, you can easily create
a security system ad-hoc.
Tere are three ways to create security sensors for INSTEON:
Using the SimpleHomeNet EZSnsRF Dakota bridge for INSTEON.
Tis device maps existing Dakota compatible sensors such as
driveway/vehicle sensors, wireless motion detectors, and liquid level
sensors.
SimpleHomeNet EZIO devices can be used to integrate just about
any typical wired sensor, such as window and door closures, motion
detectors, glass breakage sensors, etc. With a large number of sensors
(more than a dozen or so), it will be cheaper to use an inexpensive
alarm system to handle the sensors and connect the alarm system
alarm outputs to a single EZIO device.
Use INSTEON Wireless motion sensor, wireless door closure sensor,
and an INSTEON Access Point. Tis is the least expensive option
over-all.
Te other piece of the puzzle in an INSTEON only alarm system is
the alarm outputs. Tis solution is simple: Simply plug an alarm light or AC
siren into an ApplianceLinc, link it to the sensors, and it will go of whenever
the sensors trip.
You can create an INSTEON based security system at
any time, and neednt plan for it in advance unless you
want to. Te security system should be the last phase
of your INSTEON deployment if you do integrate it
in the beginning.
Decision Point: Wireless Motion Sensors
Mark MS next to each area in your house where you will place a wireless
motion sensor. Mark SNS at an outlet central to the motion sensors
youve placed if you will be using EZSnsRF devices, or AP if you will be
using INSTEON motion sensors. Bear in mind that Access Points only
have an efective range of about 50 feet through indoor walls and you
will likely need more than one. EZSnsRF devices should require only one
receiver per home, as they are considerably longer range.
Will you integrate INSTEON with your environmental controls?
It is possible to integrate INSTEON with your environmental controls,
to handle thermostat settings, casement window closure, irrigation, and
ventilation.
Actually getting these systems to work well in an integrated fashion
is a fairly expensive proposition, however, and its generally less expensive to
simply use a good controller designed for the problem.
What INSTEON could potentially provide is a way to schedule times
when the home is typically unoccupied and a mechanism for the occupants
to indicate that they are leaving or have arrived home. In these cases,
INSTEON can provide energy savings by not running HVAC systems when
nobody is home.
But thats really about all of the advantage that environmental control
integration can provide at this point, and unless your home runs by a fairly
regimented schedule or is typically unoccupied for long periods of time
during the day, theres little advantage to be had by integrating INSTEON
compatible environmental controls.
I recommend holding of on environmental controls until youve got
your INSTEON system deployed and you know how youre using it. With a
little forethought, you can plan for them now and integrate them later.
Decision Point: Environmental Controls
Mark TS next to each thermostat that you will be INSTEON enabling.
RemoteLinc
For most people, the RemoteLinc is the lowest-cost, simplest, and most
convenient solution to the remote control problem. Its wireless so it works
through walls and has a range large enough to cover most homes. Like most
remotes, it always seems to be somewhere else when you need it, and it is
limited to six switches, which means your choice of any six devices, scenes,
or paths.
I use the RemoteLinc to control the outdoor lighting
on our deck when were outside. I can bring it back
in the house, and we avoided installing outdoor
switches.
If you have Access Points in your INSTEON system for phase bridging
or for receiving wireless motion sensor signals, you should strongly consider
adding a RemoteLinc to your system. Teyre simple to use and very handy.
Decision Point: RemoteLinc
Mark RL in your living room area. Also mark AP somewhere nearby
the living room an in any other distant area you intend to control with
RemoteLincs.
Kitchen
Te primary use for INSTEON in the kitchen is lighting control. Kitchens
typically have a number of utility lights, so consider putting KeypadLinc
controllers nearby your counters so you can easily control any of them from
wherever you work.
Tink about your use cases before you purchase automation devices.
For example, while you could use a TimerLinc to control a cofee maker to
automatically turn on and begin brewing cofee at sunrise, it would be far less
expensive to simply get a cofee maker that has a timer. Use INSTEON when
you cant get appliances that have superior automation functionality built in,
or when you need the automation to work together with other devices.
One nice thing you can do with INSTEON is easily retroft lighting
where you want it. For example, you probably have counter-level outlets in
your kitchen, but you may not have under-counter lighting. Running a circuit
through walls to a switch would be expensive and would mean repairing a
considerable amount of drywall.
But you can easily install under-counter lighting and connect them
to near-by outlets that would typically be so close you could simply fsh the
wiring behind the drywall from the counter lights to the outlet. To control
the lights, install an InLineLinc relay in the wall behind the outlet and link
it to any KeypadLinc.
You can also use this technique to gain more control over a string
of lights that are all currently controlled via a single switch. For example, in
our kitchen we have a set of six fuorescent recessed lights (cans) on a single
switch, which lights up the kitchen quite a bit more than we usually want
later in the evening. So I removed a can cover and discovered that I could
easily place an InLineLinc relay in the ceiling in series with the last three
cans to control them separately. Now we can turn on three of the cans or an
additional three with separate buttons on a KeypadLinc.
Decision Point: Adding lighting control with InLineLincs
Mark your plans with ILR or ILR at each fxture on a loop that you
would prefer to directly control with a switch button. You can also replace
existing gangs of switches with InLineLincs and a single KeypadLinc if
you have switches in poorly planned areas. Consider plating over exterior
switches and installing InLineLincs in those locations as well, with a
RemoteLinc to control lighting when you are outside.
Ofces
Ofces typically have a considerable number of devices that either dont
sleep or continue to draw a considerable amount of power while in sleep
mode. You can use an ApplianceLinc to cut power to these devices when not
in use can lower your energy use if their sleep mode power draw exceeds six
watts in sum. Linking the main light switch to the ApplianceLinc to light up
your ofce when you enter.
You cant just arbitrarily cut power to your computer using an
ApplianceLinc, nor should you cut power to many directly attached
peripherals or the devices involved in creating your computer network.
Some devices, such as printers and monitors, are safe to automatically shut
of when youre not using them.
Saving Power in the Office
Office Equipment that should not be power interrupted
Home Computers or Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).
USB Connected peripheral devices such as External Hard disks
DSL/Cable Routers, Wireless Access Points, and your DSL/Cable
modem
Ethernet hubs and switches
Devices you can safely cut power to when unused
Printers and multifunction devices, even when USB attached
Monitors
Scanners
Fax machines
Split the devices between diferent power stripsone for devices that
remain on, and one for devices that can be switched of. Put the ApplianceLinc
on the power strip powering devices that can be turned of.
Decision Point: Saving power with ApplianceLinc
Mark AL on your plans in your ofce area.
Bedrooms
INSTEON is especially convenient in the bedroom. Being able to light up
areas outside the bedroom at night is a nice convenience. Path lighting is
also especially important in bedrooms both as the end-point to turn paths
of and to light paths if you have to get up in the middle of the night. Being
able to bring up all your external lights from bedside if you hear something
outside provides peace of mind.
One non-obvious issue with installing INSTEON devices in
Bedrooms is the amount of light generated by LEDs and keypad backlights.
When I setup our Master Bedroom, I didnt give any thought to the LED
issue. In most of the house, the LEDs from INSTEON Devices make for nice
ambient night lighting, but the frst night that my wife and I tried to sleep
in the Master bedroom the lights kept waking both of us. Our room was lit
up like a Christmas scene with light from four SwitchLinc Dimmers, two
KeypadLincs, an ApplianceLinc, and an Elk security keypad.
Te next day was spent covering LEDs with electrical tape and
confguring brightness levels in the security keypad device frmware. I
ordered black opaque key change kits for the KeypadLincs to dim them
(which worked perfectly). You may also want to consider ICON INSTEON
switches which have only a single amber LED for bedrooms.
Master Bedroom
Master bedrooms typically dont have light switches installed near the bed.
Using a plug-in INSTEON controller such as the ControlLinc, a KeypadLinc
in a tabletop enclosure, or a IES TouchScreen in a tabletop enclosure provides
a very simple plug-in controller that can be used to turn of all the lights in
the house, control lights in childrens rooms, turn of all the lights in the
room, control television lights or any appliances that leave annoying of
lights on at night.
Decision Point: Bedside Lighting Control
Mark KLE on your plans for a KeypadLinc with Enclosure, or CL for
ControlLinc, near an outlet by a bedside table.
for very long. Also, you probably dont want guest lights to go of when you
issue all of group commands.
Because guests have a large degree of autonomy in their actions, it is
probably best to leave guest rooms out of your INSTEON design.
We have an accessory unit in our home, with no
INSTEON devices installed. Tis prevents strange
behavior from misunderstood or mis-programmed
switches or lights from afecting our guests.
Passageways & Halls
Although passageways and halls might not seem particularly important for
lighting, they are places where lights typically are lef on because theyre
ofen not wired conveniently. Putting INSTEON switches on hall lights also
allows them to be incorporated correctly into path lighting.
Entries and Exits
Entries are the perfect place to put KeypadLincs in place of typical switches.
By providing a number of control buttons, you can enable path lighting, turn
on interior scenes, and shut of all the exterior lights from a single location.
Garage
Garages are ofen the most common entryway to the house. As with other
entryways, you will probably want to put a KeypadLinc at the doorway
between the Garage and the house. You should also consider putting the
garage lights on a timer.
You can use driveway sensors or motion sensors to pick up the
presence of an incoming car. Youll have to think about how to tell the
diference between an arriving car and a departing car, however.
Chapter 4 highlights a number of ways to detect the
garage door opening.
Decision Point: Lighting from the Car
Mark IO on your prints at an outlet inside your garage.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are simple: Put the fan on a SwitchLinc Timer, and put the light(s)
on a typical SwitchLinc. Ten Link the fan to the Light. Tis way, when you
turn the light and fan on using the fan switch, they will both turn of afer 15
minutes or some other programmable time. When you turn only the light
on, the timer is not enabled and the light will stay on indefnitely. Remember
to tell everyone how that simple system works.
Decision Point: Bathroom Timers
Mark SLT next to the fan light switch for a SwitchLinc timer (or KLT
for an eight button timer)
Mark SLR (relay) or SLD (dimmer) as appropriate for the bathroom
light(s).
Utility Rooms
Utility rooms that are not normally occupied should all be place on either
timers or motion sensors to ensure that lights are turned of throughout the
house.
Utility rooms include:
Closets
Attics
Utility rooms
Storage Rooms
Laundry
Save money by putting lights in rooms that are not
normally occupied on typical timer or motion sensors
rather than INSTEON switches. Tere is very little
gain to using INSTEON in rooms where lights are
normally of.
low cost embedded web controllers in this planning chapter because those
devices change very rapidly and because I strongly believe that you should
establish your INSTEON system and get your basic links programmed prior
to deciding that you need a home automation controller.
Code Device Cost Qty Total
KLR KeypadLinc Relay $70
KLD KeypadLinc Dimmer $70
KLDE KeypadLinc Dimmer with Enclosure $80
SLR SwitchLinc Relay $46
SLD SwitchLinc Dimmer $46
SLDK SwitchLinc Dimmer, 1000w $70
AL ApplianceLinc $35
LL LampLinc $35
HPB Hardwired phase bridge $25
PPB Plug-in phase bridge $40
PLM Powerline Modem, Serial $60
PLC Powerline Controller, USB $70
WEB SmartLinc $120
IO I/OLinc (cost per each I/O) $46
MS Motion Sensor $35
SNS EZSnsRF $135
AP Access Point (need 2 to bridge) $40
TS Termostat $160
WC Window Controller $350
IRL IRLinc $100
RL RemoteLinc $60
ILR InLineLinc Relay $46
Code Device Cost Qty Total
ILD InLineLinc Dimmer $46
CL ControlLinc $35
EZX EZX-10RF $125
EZS EZSrve $210
SLT SwitchLinc Timer $60
KLT KeypadLinc Timer $65
EZ3 EZSwitch 30 $115
EZF EZFlora $125
ISY ISY-99 $400
Budget Total
Table 5.x: Calculating an INSTEON system budget
Te prices in the following table were valid at the
time of this writing, but are for budgetary purposes
only and will change without notice or modifcation
of this book.
Budgeting and Ordering
Taking your device counts and budgets and converting them to an order online is easy.
Most of the devices are sold at smarthome.com. Te remainder of this chapter gives advice
on ordering strategies and tips to reduce your overall cost.
Order and install in small batches and a number of increments
By making your frst order rather small and specifc in purpose, you can
be absolutely certain that everything works they way you want before you
make an entire order. Youre also far less likely to accidentally over-order
this way, and you can take advantage of deals that appear periodically on the
smarthome.com website.
When you order from Smarthome.com, they frequently send out follow
up e-mails with a coupon code to save 10% or so of your next order. By
ordering incrementally, you can take advantage of these deals. Youll also
want to confgure your orders in increments of $200thats the price point
at which Smarthome.com frequently ofers free ground shipping.
Hold of on high-cost devices until you know you need them
Install the basicslighting and appliance controland get them confgured
before you invest in expensive devices like LCD keypads, web controllers, or
a home automation controller. Youll likely fnd that you wont need the more
expensive controllers afer all, or that low cost devices such as an EZSrve or
SmartLinc will do what you need.
With any large installation, you will want to use SmartLabs HouseLinc
sofware to manage links between devices more easily than manual linking.
While HouseLinc is great for programming, its also possible to use it for
direct light control, although the user interface is not built for that purpose.
Look for lower cost versions
SmartLabs occasionally makes lower cost versions of their devices. For
example, theyve periodically released batches of KeypadLinc keypads that
use lower cost amber LEDs rather than White and are 25% less expensive. If
you want amber anyway or youre going to put opaque keys over the device,
you can save money by looking for these kinds of deals.
Minimize the number of devices in your plan
You dont necessarily have to use INSTEON to control every light in your
house. Outside lights, bathroom lights that are already on motion-sensors or
timers, closet and utility room lights, and bathroom fans are all examples of
devices that you would probably not include in a path or scene for lighting.
Tink of it this way: If you wouldnt want to turn the light on when
you arent actually in the room, you probably dont need INSTEON control
over that light or device. A simple and less expense timer or motion sensor
switch will do to ensure that the light isnt lef on.
ICON
ICON switches and appliance controls are lower priced INSTEON devices.
Tey typically cost 25% to 33% less than their Linc counterparts, and they
achieve this cost savings by using less expensive components: Magnetic
relays rather than silicon controlled relays, lower cost amber LEDs rather
than white, and no pass-through power outlet. Teyre a great way to reduce
the cost of an INSTEON project without sacrifcing functionality.
You wont want to mix ICON installed switches and
INSTEON switches in the same room. Te style and
light colors do not match, and it gives the room a
random electronics look rather than a coherent
design.
Summary
While INSTEON is simplest for specifc purposes, its easier than competing
technologies to plan for the entire home as well. Whole home planning
and budgeting for INSTEON requires a copy of mockup of your electrical
blue-prints, and some thought about the automation problems you want to
solve.
You should perform your installation in an initial phase consisting
of installed switch devices, and then individual purchases of the additional
devices you want to add for particular purposes and more complex
automation.
Save money by limiting the rooms in your house where you use
automation, growing your installation over time, and selecting lower cost
devices.
Chapter 6
Installation & Troubleshooting
INSTEON is a highly reliable system designed with numerous resiliency
and fault tolerance measures built in. Amongst its primary fault tolerance
features is its distributed naturethere are no single points of failure, so
theres literally no possibility that an entire INSTEON deployment will fail.
At worst, only parts of an INSTEON system will fail to function.
But as with any complex system, failures occur.
Tis chapter provides generic troubleshooting advice
for all INSTEON devices and installations. You
should also follow the specifc troubleshooting steps
provided in the users guide for the INSTEON device
you are having trouble with.
Ive presented the troubleshooting measures in this chapter in the
order that you should perform them for an arbitrary problemnot in
order of how common the failures are. Te most common failure in a new
INSTEON installation is failure to couple phases properly. But once phase
coupling is done, its done; there are rarely future problems with phase
coupling, especially in systems that use hardwired phase couplers.
Terminology: Installing INSTEON devices
2-Wire SwitchA junction box that contains only LINE and LOAD
wires with no NEUTRAL wire.
Fixture-SwitchA circuit wired such that the power travels from the
circuit panel to the fxture, and from the fxture to the switch.
Inductive LoadA magnetic load such as a low-voltage transformer or
a ceiling fan.
Null SwitchAn INSTEON switch that controls no load, because the
switch location was originally a traveler from a three-way switch or a
switched outlet.
Switch-FixtureA circuit wired such that the power travels from the
circuit panel to the switchbox, and from junction box to the fxture.
Switched Outleta power outlet that runs through a switch because it
was originally designed to switch a lamp.
Wiring for INSTEON
Many INSTEON devices require no installation at allthey are plug and
play. You can do a lot with INSTEON without touching your electrical
wiring at all, but if you want to control installed fxtures, you will have to
install wired in INSTEON devices.
Insteon SwitchLinc and InLineLinc switches have three wires: HOT,
NEUTRAL, and LOAD. In all cases you simply wire the corresponding
NEUTRAL, HOT, and LOAD wires in the junction box to the switch. It can
sometimes be difcult to determine which wire is hot and which is load, but
a voltage tester can tell you with certainty.
INSTEON OutletLinc devices are wired simply to NEUTRAL and
HOT, because theyre switched load is the outlet itself. Tey are a simple
replacement for traditional outlets.
INSTEON operates over typical house wiring. Even in the case that
you have two-wire switch-legs with no neutrals, SmartLabs has switches that
will work for you.
Te biggest change most people will have to make to their wiring is re-
wiring three-way switches. Because there are many diferent ways that a
three-way switch might be wired, correctly wiring them for INSTEON can
be confusing. Tis section demystifes the three-way wiring problem and
provides detailed instructions for identifying and correctly wiring three-
way switches for INSTEON.
Identifying neutrals
Typical switches are not wired to neutral, but INSTEON switches have to
be. When you open the switch junction box, remove the screws from the
switch and pull it out. Behind the switch, youll see multiple white (typically)
wires twisted together with a wirenut on them. Tese are the neutrals in
your switchbox. To install an INSTEON switch, remove the wirenut from
the bundle, add the white wire from the INSTEON switch to the bundle, and
screw the wirenut back down onto the bundle.
If the bundle of neutrals becomes too large for a single wirenut, get
another wirenut, split the bundle of wires into two equal groups, and cut
a 3 length of white 14-gauge solid core wire to connect the two bundles
electrically (You can cut this from one of the neutrals in the switch box if
it is long enough). Screw down wirenuts on both bundles such that the 3
wire is screwed into each of the two to ensure that they remain correctly
connected.
Identifying Line vs. Load
Identifying neutral and ground is easy. Unfortunately, the line=black and
load=red convention is actually not ofen adhered to. In my home, which
is brand new, the colors properly identify line and load about half the
timecompletely randomly, in other words. Furthermore, in manual on/of
switches and many dimmers, line and load can be safely reversed, so their
position on the switch you are replacing does not necessarily indicate which
is which.
Do not presume that you can match red-to-red and black-to-black
with your INSTEON device. If you are not certain which line is line and which
is load, use a voltage sensor to determine it. Te surest way to determine
line is to energize the circuit and use a voltage sensor to fnd the hot line.
Unfortunately this can be dangerous, so be very careful with exposed wires.
In my testing, INSTEON relay based devices work
irrespective of whether LINE and LOAD are swapped,
although they tend to switch with a slight delay if they
are swapped.
Testing for Line Voltage
Wear leather palmed electrical gloves
Make sure all white neutrals are bundled together with a single wirenut
(or two directly connected wire-nuts)
Make sure all ground lines are wired to ground
Cap all the red and black load and line candidate wires individually with
small wirenuts before you re-energize the circuit so that no bare wires are
exposed anywhere
Connect the common lead of your voltage meter to ground using the
alligator clip lead
If you are using a multimeter, set it to AC voltage and to the 100 volt
range
Check voltage one wire at a time by inserting the positive (red) needle
probe of your voltmeter into the wirenut. If necessary, remove the
wirenut, check the voltage by touching the bare wire, and replace the
wirenut. All the lines will read some small voltage, but only hot lines will
read over 100 volts.
Label hot using black electrical tape
Label lines youve identifed as load with red electrical tape
Dealing with 2-wire switches
If you dont have neutral wires in the junction box, youll need to
order special two-wire INSTEON switches. Two wire switches split the
switch plate and the relay or dimmer so you can place the relay at the fxture
in the ceiling, and re-wire the traveler going to the switch to include both
hot and neutral, rather than hot and load.
If you want to retain the switch for some other purpose, just put an
INSTEON switch in place of the original switch by wiring the line wire into
the hot-line wirenut and wiring the neutral. Place a wirenut over the load
wire, which will remain unused. Now you have an INSTEON switch that
does not directly control a load but which can be programmed to control
any INSTEON device in your home.
If your house lacks neutrals in the junction box, you could rewire the
outlet to bring neutral back to the switch junction box on the load lead and
use that to wire an INSTEON switch.
Figure 6.2: Re-wiring a switched outlet for INSTEON
Rewiring a switched outlet
Using a multimeter, identify the LINE (120v), NEUTRAL (0V), and
LOAD (0V When of, 120V when on) lines.
De-energize the circuit at the circuit breaker. Turn the light switch on and
ensure that it remains of to be certain that the correct circuit has been
de-energized.
Wear leather gloves.
In the switch junction box, remove the original switch.
Wire the GROUND wire to the bare copper GROUND wire on the
INSTEON device using a wirenut. Repeat this process for the LOAD,
NEUTRAL, and LINE wires in that order. NEUTRAL will probably be
wired into a bundle with other NEUTRAL wires. Ensure that no bare
wires are exposed below any wirenuts except the GROUND wires.
Re-energize the circuit at the circuit breaker.
Test the INSTEON switch to ensure that it correctly drives the primary
load.
Push the wirenut circuits back into the junction box and install the
INSTEON switch into the junction box.
If you are building a home new construction, dont install switched
outlets. Youll use INSTEON devices to accomplish the same thing in a much
more controllable fashion.
Re-wiring energized circuits
It is my strong advice that you never wire an INSTEON device without de-
energizing the circuit. If, for whatever reason, youve determined to do so
anyway, the following steps are the safest way to do so.
Rewiring a switched outlet
De-energize the circuit at the circuit breaker if at all possible.
Wear leather gloves. Never, under any circumstances, should you work on
a live circuit without wearing insulating leather gloves made specifcally
for electrical use.
Prepare the INSTEON device by pulling out the set switch by 1/8 and
ensuring that it stays extended. Tis will keep the device powered of and
prevent sparking while you install it.
Unscrew the LINE or HOT wire from the switch, being exceptionally
careful not to allow the exposed wire touch anything. Cap the wire of
with a wirenut that will identify it as LINE. Repeat this procedure for
NEUTRAL, LOAD, and GROUND in that order.
Remove the wirenut from GROUND and wire it to the INSTEON device,
being careful not to touch the wire to any thing other than the intended
wire and wirenut. Repeat this process for LOAD, NEUTRAL, and LINE
in that order. Be absolutely certain that no bare wire is exposed outside of
a wirenut for any wire except GROUND.
Push in the INSTEON set switch to power on the INSTEON device. Test
its proper installation, and install the switch into the junction box.
Using a needle probe tip on the red positive probe of the voltmeter, touch
the common terminal.
If the common terminal is hot, this is the power feed switch. Label this
switch as Power Feed. If both switches seem to be the power feed switch,
then one of the switches is on. Switch the switches until you can fnd a
state where the light is of and only one of the switches has power to the
common terminal of the 3-way switch. Tis is the power feed switch.
Inspect both switches to determine whether all conductors wired to the
switch come from a single cable, or if the conductors wired to the switch
come from two diferent cables. Label switches wired to a single cable as
1 Cable and switches wired to two cables as 2 cable.
SSF-T: Switch-Switch-Fixture with Traveler
If both switches are labeled 2 cable, then this circuit is wired SSFT. Te
fxture feed switch is the switch opposite of the power feed switch. Te
fxture will be labeled 1 cable. Skip the rest of this procedure as you have
identifed the circuit.
FSS: Fixture-Switch-Switch
If both switches are labeled 1 cable, then this circuit is wired FSS. Te
power feed switch is the same switch as the fxture feed switch. Te
fxture will be labeled 2 Cable. Skip the rest of this procedure as you
have identifed the circuit.
SFS: Switch-Fixture-Switch
If the power feed switch is labeled 2 cable, then this circuit is wired
SFS. Te power feed switch is the same as the fxture feed switch. Te
fxture will be labeled 2 Cable. Skip the rest of this procedure as you
have identifed the circuit.
SFS-T: Switch-Fixture-Switch with Traveler
If the fxture is labeled 1 cable, then the circuit is wired switch-fxture-
switch with a traveler. Skip the rest of this procedure as you have identifed
the circuit.
FSS-T: Fixture-Switch-Switch with Traveler
If the fxture is labeled 2 cable, then the circuit is wired fxture-switch-
switch with a traveler. Skip the rest of this procedure as you have identifed
the circuit.
In the table below, power-feed switch refers to the switch with HOT wired to common,
fxture-feed switch refers to the switch with COMMON wired to fxture LOAD. 1 cable
refers to a device being wired to conductors from a single cable, and 2 cable refers to a
device being wired to conductors in separate cables.
Now that youve determined how your three-way switch is wired,
you can convert the wiring for INSTEON.
INSTEON requires that all junction boxes be powered at all times,
so in circuits with travelers, you will convert a traveler wire to be a power
feed wire to carry power to the second junction box in order to power the
INSTEON switch.
Fixture Power-feed switch Fixture-feed switch
SSF-T 1 cable 2 cable 2 cable
FSS 2 cable 1 cable 1 cable
SFS 2 cable 2 cable 1 cable
SFS-T 1 cable 1 cable 2 cable
FSS-T 2 cable 1 cable 2 cable
Table 6.x: 3-way switch characteristics
Once youve converted the traveler to carry power, the switch you
identifed as the fxture feed switch will be wired to control the load directly,
and the other switch will have its load wire capped of and will not directly
control any loadyoull use INSTEON links to re-create the three-way
functionality.
Using the wiring type youve determined from the above procedure,
select the correct procedure from the four options below to rewire your
circuit.
Re-wiring SFS for INSTEON
In a switch-fxture-switch circuit with no traveler, the two switches are wired
together in the fxture, thus eliminating the need for a traveler wire going
from one switch to another. Rather than a traveler the fxture feed switch is
on a switch-leg.
Rewiring SFS circuits for INSTEON
De-energize the circuit at the circuit breaker and remove the existing
switches from both junction boxes.
At the power-feed junction box, wire both white NEUTRAL wires and
the SwitchLinc NEUTRAL together. Wire all three black HOT wires
together. Wire the LOAD wire going to the fxture to the LOAD wire on
the SwitchLinc. Be sure to correctly identify HOT and LOAD using either
the correct wire colors (black=hot, red=load) or with electrical tape.
At the light fxture, there will be two three-conductor cables. Wire both
cable neutrals and the fxture NEUTRAL together. Wire the fxture to the
LOAD line from the power feed switch. Wire the two HOT wires in the
cables together. Cap of the third unused wire in the cable going to the
fxture feed switch with a wirenut.
At the fxture feed junction box, wire the HOT and NEUTRAL wires to
the SwitchLinc, and cap of the unused wire in the cable with a wire nut.
Cap of the unused LOAD wire on the INSTEON switch with a wirenut.
Figure 6.3: Re-wiring SFS switches for INSTEON
In an SFS circuit with no traveler, youll re-wire the power-feed
switch box to control the light, connecting HOT, NEUTRAL, and LOAD to
the appropriate wires going to the fxture. In the fxture, youll wire the light
to HOT and LOAD, and also wire HOT and NEUTRAL to the cable going
down to the second switch.
In the second switch junction box, youll wire the switch to HOT and
NEUTRAL, capping of the LOAD wire and program a cross-link with the
frst switch to control the light.
Re-wiring SFS-T circuits for INSTEON
In a Switch-Fixture-Switch circuit with traveler circuit, power actually comes
into the same junction box as the fxture feed but hot is wired over to the
second switch making the switch at the end of the traveler the power feed
switch.
Tis circuit is easy to re-wire: Simply replace the fxture feed
switch with an INSTEON switch, and then wire the traveler for HOT and
NEUTRAL. In the second junction box, wire the INSTEON switch to HOT
and NEUTRAL leaving the LOAD wire capped of. Use a programmed
crosslink between the two switches to control the three-way light.
Figure 6.4: Re-wiring SFS-T switches for INSTEON
Rewiring SFS-T circuits for INSTEON
De-energize the circuit at the circuit breaker and remove the existing
switches from both junction boxes.
At the fxture-feed junction box, wire both white NEUTRAL wires and
the SwitchLinc NEUTRAL together. Wire HOT to the black HOT wire in
the traveler cable and to the SwitchLinc HOT. Wire the LOAD wire going
to the fxture to the LOAD wire on the SwitchLinc. Be sure to correctly
identify HOT and LOAD using either the correct wire colors (black=hot,
red=load) or with electrical tape.
At the Power-feed junction box, wire the INSTEON device to NEUTRAL
and HOT, using a wirenut to cap of the unused LOAD wire.
Re-wiring SSF-T circuits for INSTEON
In a switch-switch-fxture with traveler circuit, power feeds to one of the
switches, through a traveler to the other switch, and then to the fxture. Tis
is the most common type of three-way switch circuit.
Figure 6.5: Re-wiring a SSF-T switch for INSTEON
To convert this switch to INSTEON, the traveler is converted to carry
power from the power feed switch to the fxture feed switch, the power feed
switch load wire is capped of, and the fxture is directly controlled from the
fxture feed switch.
At each switchbox, wire all NEUTRAL and HOT lines together, and cap
of the unused wire in the traveler cable and the unused LOAD wires in
both switches.
Figure 6.7: Re-wiring FSS-T switches for INSTEON
Hard-wired phase coupling
Hard-wired phase coupling is more reliable than RF phase couplers.
SmartLabs emphasizes the RF phase couplers because theyre easier to
install and can get do-it-yourselfers up and running with INSTEON very
easily. Teyre an important part of the total INSTEON equation. And since
most people test INSTEON with a starter kit before they jump in, nearly
everyone will own a pair of INSTEON Access Points anyway.
Once youre relying on INSTEON to run your home, install a plug-
in phase coupler on any 220V outlet. Or, if you are building a new home
or you have room in your breaker panel, have an electrician install a phase
coupler in your circuit breaker. Hard-wired phase couplers are very simple
and practically failure-proof. Teyre also more reliable in the long run and
not subject to interference, signal fade, or being accidentally unplugged.
Powerline fltering
In my experience, powerline fltering has not been required for the reliable
operation of INSTEON devices. But your mileage may vary.
Summary
One of the great advantages of INSTEON technology is the ease with which
you can get started. Manual link programming makes getting started easy,
and may be the only method you need to use. Nearly everything you will
need to do with INSTEON devices, including creating and deleting links
as well as advanced programming can be accomplished using manual link
programming.
Chapter 8
Link Programming with HouseLinc
Linking becomes increasingly complicated as the number of links and
switches in the system increases. With the complications required for multi-
way cross-linked switches, manual linking can take quite some time and it
can be easy to lose track of where you are in the process.
When linking becomes too complicated, you have a decision to make:
Purchase HouseLinc and a HouseLinc compatible Powerline Modem,
which will enable you to use a Windows PC to manage links
Purchase Indigo 4 and an Indigo compatible Powerline Controller,
which will allow you to use a Macintosh to manage links
Purchase an ISY-99i and a Powerline Modem, which will allow you
to use any computer to manage links.
Tis chapter details the use of HouseLinc II, SmartLabs sofware
designed specifcally for INSTEON link programming. While there are
other applications packages and home automation controllers that can
manage INSTEON, these three options are the only ones that are feature
complete and reasonably trouble free according to my testing, so they are the
only options I can recommend.
Terminology: HouseLinc
ActionA set of INSTEON commands that will be sent when a triggering
event occurs and when its associated conditions are met.
AutoLincA feature of HouseLinc that allows the sofware to
automatically discover INSTEON devices by walking around and setting
them to link mode one afer another without returning to the computer.
COM PortCommunications ports are named areas of memory used
by sofware to send codes to a serial device. Te INSTEON PLM uses an
internal USB to Serial converter, which requires the PLM to be assigned
to a COM port in order to take advantage of more reliable sofware drivers
to communicate between the computer and the PLM.
ConditionA fltering condition that can be used to prevent a trigger
from sending an action.
DiscoveryTe process of reading identity information to determine the
type of a device and its link table data given only its device ID. HouseLinc
uses discovery to inspect the parameters of devices whether they are
manually added, found by spidering, or found by AutoLinc.
HouseLinc Home automation sofware from SmartLabs that is capable
of programming and controlling INSTEON devices from a computer
running modern versions of Microsof Windows.
Powerline ModemAn INSTEON device that interfaces a computer to
the INSTEON powerline network. Recent INSTEON PLMs also store
and manage events so that a computer need not be attached in order for
an event system to run.
Spidering A technique used to discover INSTEON devices on the
network by reading the link tables of known devices, fnding IDs of
devices that are not yet known to HouseLinc, and then reading their
link tables until all devices that have ever been linked on the network are
discovered.
Synchronization A method by which two sets of data are made equal
to one another by cross inspection and copying data elements that are
missing in either set. In HouseLinc, the HouseLinc sofware database is
kept in synch with the link table in each INSTEON device.
Trigger An event that stimulates a response. In HouseLinc, Triggers
are actions such as a keypad press or time of day that causes the event
mechanism in a PLM to wake up and determine whether or not to send
commands.
USB Universal Serial Bus is the interface technology used to connect a
computer to a PLM.
Automated link programming requires a computer, sofware, and
an INSTEON Powerline modem or controller to interface the computer
to the powerline network. Once you learn how to do it, automated link
programming is a powerful tool for creating very sophisticated scenes,
for specifying minute details of operation, and for troubleshooting. Large
installations or complex installations with a lot of diferent requirements
should strongly consider automated link programming.
Before you purchase a home automation controller or sofware other
than HouseLinc, verify that the system correctly programs INSTEON links
rather than just directly controlling devices. If it does not create INSTEON
links, you should strongly consider using HouseLinc for link programming
to ensure that your system will work if your computer is of or the home
automation controller fails.
HouseLinc 2 is the current version as of the time of
this writing, and all the instructions in this book refer
to HouseLinc 2.
HouseLinc version 2 uses a synchronization paradigm rather than
a read from network, write to network paradigm used by its predecessor.
Most instructions are the same in this book and will work with either version
so long as you remember that you will have to manually save changes to the
network using the original version of HouseLinc.
HouseLinc operates at the level of INSTEON device links. It does not
layer a more sophisticated or abstract device management paradigm such
as Scene management, instead keeping its user interface and functionality
directly tied to the operations that are directly performed by INSTEON
devicesthe creation of links. More sophisticated scene management
is available in 3rd party sofware applications and in home automation
controllers.
Setting up HouseLinc
To install HouseLinc, you must have a Windows PC running Windows
2000, XP, or Vista, the HouseLinc sofware, and a Powerline Controller or
Powerline Modem compatible with your version of HouseLinc.
To setup HouseLinc, install the sofware onto your PC, plug the PLM
in, and connect the USB cable from the PLM to the PC. Start the sofware,
and perform any requested sofware upgrades. Te process is very simple.
Problems with HouseLinc
I did run into some trouble starting HouseLinc II when I frst installed it.
When I connected the PLM to my computer, it was automatically assigned a
COM (communications) port higher than the COM port of my computers
Bluetooth adapter. HouseLinc inspects COM ports in order to fnd the PLM,
and when it inspected the Bluetooth adapter, HouseLinc would simply crash.
Tis unfortunately meant that it crashed immediately every time I started it,
right out of the box.
It took me a considerable amount of troubleshooting to determine
what was going wrong, and I am a professional computer technician. I fxed
the problem by using the Windows device manager to assign a lower COM
port to my INSTEON PLM so that HouseLinc would fnd it frst when it
searched for communications devices. If HouseLinc crashes on startup when
you frst install it, assign the PLM to COM1 and see if that doesnt solve the
problem.
Another problem with HouseLinc involves the fact that HouseLinc
tends to use most of the bandwidth on your INSTEON network when its
synchronizing devices. Tis means that when you are using HouseLinc to
change things, routine operation of lights and devices will slow down and
lights will take longer to come on because of the bandwidth HouseLinc is
using.
Tis bandwidth usage even afects HouseLinc itselfofen when you
cancel an operation, it can take many minutes in the background for the
operation to actually fnish. Tis can make it seem like some of the operations
you attempt to perform in the mean time arent working. Te solution is to
give HouseLinc a few minutes to settle afer making changes before doing
things like introducing new devices to the network.
Figure 8.1: The HouseLinc II user interface
Finally, there are occasions (especially afer a large amount of
network updates, or afer cancelling an operation) when the PLM seems to
no longer be able to communicate with the HouseLinc sofware. You can
tell when this situation is occurring because the HouseLinc log will show
that no devices can be found on the network. Tis problem is resolvable by
exiting HouseLinc, unplugging the PLM from the wall, plugging it back in,
and restarting HouseLinc 2.
Managing Devices with HouseLinc
HouseLinc manages your INSTEON devices, so you need to be able to
add devices to the HouseLinc database and remove them. You can also use
HouseLinc to swap devices, which allows you to replace a malfunctioning
device with a matching device and program the new device with all the links
that its predecessor had.
Tere are two ways to enter your devices into HouseLinc:
Manually enter the INSTEON address of the device
Use HouseLincs AutoLinc feature to perform a walk-through
introduction of all of your INSTEON switches to the PLM that
HouseLinc controls.
Of the two methods, AutoLinc is by far the easier. You should use it
unless its simply not feasible to do it.
AutoLinc
To setup HouseLinc using the AutoLinc feature, you simply click AutoLinc
in the HouseLinc menu and then walk through your home putting each
switch in Link mode (usually by holding the of position for ten seconds.
HouseLinc can then read the device ID from the network and discover what
sort of INSTEON device it is. Te complete list of devices becomes your
initial confguration in HouseLinc once youve completed the walk-through
linking.
Adding Devices to HouseLinc using AutoLinc
Set AutoLinc Mode
Start HouseLinc
Select Devices -> Add New Device
Click the AutoLinc tab
Click Start
Link Devices
Go to each device in order, and press the set button for 3 seconds.
Alternatively, you can press the switch paddle (of or on) for ten
seconds.
Repeat for each device. When fnished, return to the computer and click
OK to complete the AutoLink
Figure 8.2: HouseLinc in AutoLinc mode
Tere is a signifcant problem with AutoLinc: Devices are not given
useful names automatically, and you can wind up with a long list of devices
in HouseLinc that are not described by their location. You then have to
fgure out which of the dozens of listed SwitchLinc Dimmers control which
fxtures. Tis is a problem in large whole-home installations.
Te simplest way to handle this problem is to AutoLinc one room at
a time, returning to the computer while the order of switches is fresh in your
mind, and then name each switch. Tis will take more time than a large-
scale AutoLinc, but it keeps the order problem manageable.
AutoLinc wont record devices that HouseLinc doesnt have database
entries for, and this can throw of your order of entry. If you seem to have a
problem with fewer devices listed in the AutoLinc window than you attempted
to link, this is probably why. You may need to work back to determine which
devices werent recorded.
If you want to AutoLinc your entire system at once, use your cell
phone or a digital camera to take a picture of each device as you perform
the walk through AutoLinc. Tis way, you have a photo for each device in
the same time-order as the devices are presented to HouseLinc so you can
simply go down the list of devices and name them by looking at the photos.
I take the photo with my fnger actually on the of button during the
10 seconds Im waiting for the link to activate. Tis way I can take the picture
from far enough away to both be in focus and to provide enough context
to fgure out which switch it is. I download the photos into a folder on my
computer called INSTEON devices and named each photo afer the devices
ID. Tis makes it easy to fnd devices in my house when I know the ID, and
gives me a reference for programming other controllers. If you accidentally
sort the list of devices in HouseLinc and lost the link order, dont worry:
Te HouseLinc log will contain all the devices by device ID in the reverse
order that you linked them so you can match up the photos to the devices.
On rare occasion, HouseLinc may fail to determine the type of an
INSTEON device that it should recognize. In that case, the solution is to
record the INSTEON device ID, delete it from HouseLinc, and add it back
manually. Battery operated devices such as RemoteLinc have to be woken up
in order for HouseLinc to fnd them correctly.
Searching for Devices
Once youve added a few devices to HouseLinc either manually or using
AutoLinc, you can use the Search for Devices to fnd more.
When you use the search feature, HouseLinc will read the link tables of all
the devices it knows about, and add all the addresses it fnds in those link
tables to its device database. It will then discover those devices and read
their link tables, repeating the process until no new devices are found. Tis
is a fast way to fnd the devices in a network that have existing links. Tis
technique is called spidering because it crawls the web of links to
discover devices.
Spidering will only fnd devices that are linked to
by other devicesits a great time saver in networks
where lots of manually created links exist, but there
is no guarantee that spidering will fnd all of your
devices.
Searching for New Devices
Start HouseLinc
Add as many devices as you conveniently can using the AutoLinc
procedure.
Select Devices -> Search for New Devices. HouseLinc will examine the
link tables of all known devices, and then perform device discovery for
each address that is unknown to it.
Manually Entering Devices into HouseLinc
HouseLinc lets you enter devices directly by typing in the device ID. Once
youve done that, HouseLinc can inspect the device to determine its type
and current confguration. You will have to manually enter the location and
a name for the device.
HouseLinc cannot add devices to the device database that cannot be
immediately discovered. Tis is somewhat unfortunate because it does not
allow you to pre-populate HouseLinc with devices before they are installed.
You must add devices to HouseLinc afer they have been installed and are
available on the network.
Manually adding devices to HouseLinc
Start HouseLinc
Select Devices -> Add New Device. Te Add New Device dialog will
appear.
Type in the INSTEON device ID in the form 00.00.00 that is located on a
white sticker attached to the device.
Click the Detect button. HouseLinc will attempt to fnd the device on the
network. If HouseLinc can fnd the device, it will discover its device type
and add it to the list of INSTEON devices in your house. Otherwise, it
will inform you that it cannot fnd the device and the device will not be
added to the device list.
Whats in a name?
Now that youve added devices, give some thought to how you will name
them. Typically, youd simply name them afer the room and the fxture, such
as Bathroom fan or Master bedroom lamp. But how many bathrooms do
you have? Should the location be the location of the fxture, or the location
of the switch (which arent always in the same room)? And if its the fxture,
how do you name multi-way switches?
Te frst problem I ran into was my own inconsistent names for
rooms. Entry was the same room as Parlornow I have switches with
engraved keys that use both terms. Should bedrooms be numbered, named
by location, or named by the occupant? It didnt seem like putting peoples
names on switches was right, so I wound up simply numbering them. Should
the second foor outside staircase landing be called patio, balcony, or
Back deck? Sit down with your blue prints and determine the names for
each room that wont change and that your spouse agrees with before you
etch any keys or name your INSTEON devices, or youll eventually wind up
confusing yourself.
In the Notes input area, enter amplifying information about the device,
such as the exact location of the wall plate or anything not obvious about
its programming
Directly controlling devices
HouseLinc can send any supported command to any device that it knows
how to manage.
Figure 8.5: Directly controlling devices from HouseLinc
I use HouseLinc direct control primarily for testing. Its great for
testing bright levels of various fxtures to determine exactly where you want
to set on-levels for various scenes. Diferent lights and fxtures respond
diferently to various power level percentages, so the only way to get them
working correctly by eye is to actually look at them at the various power
levels.
I also go to HouseLinc when Im at my computer and I realize theres
something Id like to be able to do without getting up. Its my way of fnding
new uses for INSTEON and prototyping links before I actually program
them.
You can actually use HouseLinc as a lightweight central home
automation controller, but the user interface isnt designed to be particularly
easy to use. For example, HouseLinc does not have an interface for lighting
paths or scenesit can only send commands directly to devices.
Confguring devices using HouseLinc
Devices with specifc HouseLinc drivers can have their various
options confgured by HouseLinc. Primarily, this provides a way to confgure
the ramp-rate and on-level settings for dimmers and button confguration
settings for KeypadLincs.
All devices except KeypadLincs must be manually reset by pulling
out their air-gap button for confguration changes made via HouseLinc to
take efect.
Directly controlling a device using HouseLinc
Start HouseLinc
In the device list, select the device you want to control. If the device has
multiple buttons or controllers, a + button will appear next to the device
name. You can click the + button to show all the buttons or controllers
that the device supports.
In the right panel, click the direct control tab. Te direct control panel
will appear showing the various commands that the device can receive.
Devices that have multiple control buttons will show their various
controllers. In this case, click the controller that you would like to directly
control.
In the right panel, click the command that you want to send.
Figure 8.6: Configuring a device using HouseLinc
Deleting a device from HouseLinc
When you take a device out of your network, you have to remove it from
HouseLinc. Deleting devices is simple: Select it in the devices control panel,
right-click, and select delete.
HouseLinc doesnt just remove the deviceit will also remove links
to the device from all the linked devices on the network.
Te device wizard will list three steps that it will perform: Make the new
device a responder of all the controllers of the old device, make the new
device a controller of all the old devices responders, and delete links to
the old device from all devices on the network. If there are any steps that
you do not want the wizard to perform, uncheck them.
Click Finish. HouseLinc will queue all the necessary command and
immediately report that it is done. Click OK to close the wizard.
You can use the swap process to copy the link table in a device to a
new device without replacing the device. To do this, uncheck the last step in
the process when the Wizard confrms which actions you want to take.
Devices HouseLinc cannot manage
HouseLinc doesnt know about or provide any particular extra value for
devices such as SmartLinc, IRLinc, EZServe, EZSnsRF, or other whole-
network controllers. Tese devices are either not represented in the device
database or there is no specifc device confguration driver available, so
HouseLinc has only a very limited ability to manage them.
SmartLabs is adding managed devices all the time,
so the devices mentioned in this chapter may be
supported by the time you read this. Check with
SmartLabs for a list of currently programmable
devices.
RemoteLinc devices enter a power down state and wont receive
commands sent from a HouseLinc unless you manually put them into linking
mode before you program them with HouseLinc. Te easiest solution is to
simply program the HouseLinc manually.
Te button tables in HouseLinc are defned in the order that you add
infrared buttons to the IRLinc, and they dont refect naming in HouseLinc
that matches them. Its almost certain that this will cause confusion.
Te easiest solution is to program the IRLinc
manually.
Drag the device that you want to control to the upper controllers panel
in the right panel. HouseLinc will create the link in both devices and
synchronize them both.
Creating Cross-links
Cross-links allow two devices to control and respond to one anotherin
other words, when you turn on either device, both devices go on or of.
Figure 8.9: Cross-linking two devices in HouseLinc
Cross-links have a related function for multi-function devices like
KeypadLincs. Te LED that shows the light status is actually a controllable
light like any light fxture. Creating a cross link between a fxture and a
KeypadLinc button will ensure that the LED in the KeypadLinc accurately
refects the status of the controlled light.
Creating cross-links in HouseLinc is a simple as creating two links:
Te controller link and its reciprocal responder link. To create a cross-link,
drag the linked device to the responders panel, and then also drag the same
device to the controllers panel. Tis will establish both reciprocal links in
both devices.
If you already have a link in either the controllers or responders
panel, you can right-click the link to copy it and then paste it in the opposite
panel to create a cross-link.
Cross-linking two devices in HouseLinc
Start HouseLinc
With the frst device, create a controller link to the second device
Right click the created link and select copy
In the responders panel, right-click on the empty area and click paste.
HouseLinc will create a responder link to the same device.
Double click the link to be switched to the second device. Notice that
both controller and responder links to the frst device are present.
Deleting Links
Deleting links in HouseLinc is as easy as all the other link management tasks.
Just remember to delete the links in both the controllers and the responders
panel.
Deleting a link using HouseLinc
Start HouseLinc
Select the device with the link to be removed.
In the right panel, click the links tab.
Right click the link you would like to remove and select Delete.
If you are deleting a cross-link, go to the opposite panel and delete the
link to the same device.
Chapter 9
Integrating INSTEON
One of the greatest features of INSTEON is the wide range of options you
have for controlling your home automation system. Of all home automation
technologies, only X10 has a wider range of integrated sofware and devices
available.
Protocol interfaces such as Powerline Modems, the ISY-99, and
EZBridge provide developers with simple ways to interface their systems
to the INSTEON network without having to develop electronics. Tis ease
of development translates into an ever-increasing range of devices and
technologies that integrate seamlessly with INSTEON.
Tis chapter covers INSTEON specifc web controllers,
touch screens, security panels and devices, and
computer sofware that will allow you to control your
INSTEON devices any way you want to.
A word about Home Automation Controllers
Home automation controllers are dedicated PCs that run dedicated sofware
and interface with home control technologies such as INSTEON. Tey usually
provide a television output to integrate home control with your universal
remote, and additionally can usually receive input from and control touch-
screen LCDs and other keypad devices that are typically placed near major
doorways.
Ive avoided covering dedicated home automation controllers for a number
of reasons:
Tis book is focused on INSTEON technology, and most home
automation controllers are not. Tey usually have simply tacked on
INSTEON support and do not manage INSTEON links. Tis fails
to make use of INSTEONs greatest strengthits decentralized
reliability.
I fundamentally disagree with the idea that home automation is
most conveniently controlled by a universal remote or a complex
touch screen menu system. I believe that light switches all around
the house most efectively control lights, occasionally supplemented
by a remote or a touch screen for sophisticated scene management.
Tere are a large number of home automation controllersit is not
possible to cover them all.
Tey cost vastly more than theyre worth in my opinion (more than
all your INSTEON devices combined), which goes against another
of INSTEONs great strengths.
Tey are simply PCs that will eventually fail due to fans or hard disks
wearing out, which guarantees that you will eventually have a home
automation outage if you rely on them.
You can easily make one yourself by purchasing a $400 netbook
PC, confguring it not to go to sleep, installing your favorite home
automation application, and connecting it to a PLM or PLC. And
this home automation controller will have a console directly attached
to it for troubleshooting purposes.
You can fnd a wealth of information about home automation
controllers on the Internet. Tey do have strengths in integrating diferent
home automation technologies and can bridge INSTEON commands to Z-
Wave devices, for example. If you have numerous diferent home automation
technologies, there may be no solution other than a home automation
controller.
Te right way to Integrate
Te ability of a system to continue to operate when components fail is called
fault tolerance. Graceful degradation describes the ability of a system to
provide reduced functionality even in the face of signifcant failure.
Tere are three major contributing factors to fault tolerance:
Inherency: At the most basic level, components are capable of safe
operation even when failure occurs. Basic functionality is inherent
in the design of a component in such a way that it cannot fail.
Decentralization: No single point of failure can prevent the system
from functioning. Failures involve only the loss of function of the
failed component itself, not loss of system-wide functionality.
Layers of operation: Low-level functionality is provided by simple
components that are unlikely to fail, while high-level functionality is
provided by complex systems that are more likely to fail. Te failure of
complex components only impacts specifc high-level functionality
and does not interrupt simpler functions.
It is unlikely that youve ever heard of a standard light switch failing
to operate. Light switches that are eighty years old continue to function
safely and correctlybecause their operation is inherent, the only possible
failure is mechanical wear. INSTEON switches dont reach this level of
inherency, although with a built-to-purpose relay design that allowed for
mechanical actuation, they actually could. But they do fail safely: No matter
what happens to an INSTEON switch, pulling out its air-gap switch will
disconnect power to the switch and circuit safely. Tis inherent safety
prevents INSTEON switches from becoming stuck on or unsafe to work
on no matter how theyve failed.
INSTEON devices are completely decentralized. Te failure of
any single INSTEON device isnt going to afect any other devices on the
network. Te web of links between devices does not depend on any central
device to function.
A well-designed INSTEON installation is stratifed into layers of
operation. Te frst layer is INSTEON switches themselves: Tey continue to
control their local load even if they cannot communicate on the network.
Te next layer is group programming. You can program scenes into
an INSTEON device as a group, and trigger that scene using a mechanical
button.
Te next layer up consists of complex devices such as security systems,
touch screens, and web controllers. When these devices are confgured to
activate groups rather than directly controlling individual devices, you arent
relying on them for major functionalityonly for convenience.
If you have programmed your groups into an INSTEON KeypadLinc
and then confgured a Touch Screen system to activate that button (group),
then when the touch screen system fails you can still activate the scene using
the INSTEON KeypadLinc. Furthermore, you can activate that same group
code from multiple complex devices, saving you from having to defne the
same group separately in numerous devices and allowing you to make changes
only to that one devices group in order to change the group throughout
all of your complex devices. Finally, youll have a physical indicator (the
KeypadLinc buttons LED) that tells you when the group is active.
Contrast this to a home automation controller that directly controls
all the INSTEON devices rather than programming groups: When the
automation controller fails, your group and scene controls all fail with it.
No matter which of these integration technologies you use, make use
of group codes in devices such as KeypadLincs to create and control scenes
and use your more complex devices to trigger the groups you program into
them, rather than directly controlling numerous lights. Tis way, youll
always have manual control of scenes when you cant get your more complex
systems working.
It is not much harder, nor more much more expensive, to integrate
the right way. But you can use a slow-growth approach to building your
system that will spread the costs out over time and ensure that you know
how your system works before you proceed to the next level. Youll have far
fewer frustrations and a system that everyone in your house understands
when you design for fault tolerance and graceful degradation.
Web Controllers
Te simplest thing you can do to interface your INSTEON network with a
computer, web-pad, or cell phone is to use a low-cost web controller. Web
controllers are special purpose micro-servers that provide a web page you
can use to control your INSTEON devices.
Tere are three devices currently in the low cost micro-server market for
INSTEON:
Te SmartLabs SmartLinc web controller
Te SimpleHomeNet EZServe web controller
Te Universal Devices web home automation controller
Ive ordered this list by cost, complexity, and capabilityOf the three,
the SmartLabs SmartLinc is based on the simplest microcontroller. Te
SimpleHomeNet EZSrve web controller is based on a capable microcontroller
that could be upgradable to perform functions well beyond its current utility,
and the Universal Devices ISY-99 is essentially an entire computer in a tiny
box that could be upgraded to perform tasks of nearly any complexity.
All of these devices require some level of existing home network
infrastructure, including a home computer and a home network of some
type, which could be as simple as a single wired or wireless cable/DSL router.
Youll usually want to have a broadband Internet connection as well, whether
or not you enable access from the Internet so that the device can receive the
current time from the Internet.
SmartLinc
SmartLinc is a simple web-based INSTEON controller that integrates a
microcontroller and Ethernet adapter with an INSTEON PLM to create
a plug-in web-interface for your INSTEON system. Te SmartLinc web
interface was specifcally designed to ft the form factor of the Apple iPhone
or iPod Touch, which provides a very low cost web pad that you can use
with the SmartLinc as a universal remote for your INSTEON system. Tat
said, the SmartLinc would work with any computer or cell-phone that has
a web browser, and you can update the frmware with a more basic display
that will work well on any phone or computer.
Figure 9.1: Network Diagram for INSTEON Web Controllers
SmartLinc requires that you have an Ethernet network, and it is
most efective if you also have a wireless WiFi network. You dont need a
broadband Internet connection unless you want to be able to control you
INSTEON network from outside your house (but nearly everyone with the
required equipment also has broadband Internet).
Be exceptionally careful about exposing your web
controller to the public Internet. If your web controller
can be remotely accessed, your home can be remotely
controlled.
Figure 9.2: SmartLinc Web Interface
Confguring the SmartLinc is easy and can be performed entirely
through the web. To get started, you simply plug the SmartLinc into an
outlet and your Ethernet switch, and point a web browser at the IP address
assigned to it.
SmartLinc can only directly control devicesit does not create or
maintain links or perform any sort of link management. Tis also means,
for example, that it does not know whether or not a light is currently on. It
merely provides a button pad to directly control lights and presumes that
you either know or dont care what the current state of the light is.
Tat said, in terms of out-of-the-box functionality as of the time of
this writing, the SmartLinc is the most focused, easiest to use, and (in my
opinion) useful of the three devicesits capabilities are well tuned to its
current purpose, and its low cost refects that.
Although I own all three of these devices, the only one I routinely
use is the SmartLincit works well, links to all my devices, and is fast and
easy to use.
One signifcant problem with the SmartLinc is that
it cannot receive the current time from the Internet,
and its internal clock is quite inaccurate. Mine has
drifed about 30 minutes in six months, and must be
reset manually.
EZSrve
EZSrve from SimpleHomeNet was the frst all-in-one web interface
specifcally designed for INSTEON. It has exactly the same form-factor
as the SmartLinc interface, but is based on a more sophisticated internal
computer. Tat said, its web interface is not quite as well designedit was
designed for web browsers on general-purpose computers rather than for a
specifc handheld phone. Te website requires a screen too large to be easy
to use on a smartphone.
Unlike the SmartLinc, the EZSrve is capable of acting as a network
bridge for sofware running on general purpose PCs or potentially on
smartphones to provide the capability for any sofware application to
control INSTEON devicesyou can even send commands directly from the
command line of your computer if like typing in XML syntax. For example,
if you are a programmer or network integrator you could trivially write a
script in Perl, Bash, C, Visual BASIC, Python, or any other programming
language that can create an HTTP connection to an XML service in order
to control any INSTEON device on your network. EZSrve is intended to
provide a bridge interface to arbitrary sofware applications as well as a web
interface, and this capability distinguishes it from the SmartLinc.
Figure 9.3: SimpleHomeNet EZSrve Web Interface
EZSrve also has event management capabilities and an internal clock
with time-of-day triggers, which allow you to perform more sophisticated
scene management. Because it can be directly linked with INSTEON
devices, it is capable of receiving triggering inputs from INSTEON devices
and monitoring the status of devices over the network.
Te EZSrve is ultimately more capable, and I expect that
SimpleHomeNet will up the ante with an improved user interface and some
additional functionality to compete better against the newer SmartLinc in
the near future.
Te SimpleHomeNet EZBridge is an earlier device based on similar
hardware that provided a web service designed to receive commands over
the network from sofware running on computers and home controllers.
Some versions of the EZBridge can be sofware updated to become EZSrve
devices, but all are obsolete as of this writing.
mControl home automation sofware can use the EZSrve or EZBridge
devices to send and receive INSTEON commands, which means that your
computer does not need to be located near your PLM or PLC.
Universal Devices ISY-99i IP Bridge/Controller
Universal Devices makes a line of small network servers that are compatible
with INSTEON, UPB, and Z-Wave. Tese devices deliver a Java-based user
interface through a web browser that allow you to directly control your
home automation devices.
Universal Devices provided an ISY-99i for testing
purposes for this book.
Te ISY-99i is a true home automation controller in a tiny package
it is actually a complete computer, and even has a user-upgradable camera-
card fash storage card inside it. It combines the features of a web controller,
a home-automation controller, a link manager, an Ethernet-to-INSTEON
bridge, and an Infrared interface (which is an option).
Te scope of the ISY-99i is quite broad and directly comparable to
HouseLinc or a home automation controller rather than to a simple web
interface designed for direct control like the ones provided by the SmartLinc
and the EZSrve (Although it does provide a simple direct control web page).
Te ISY-99i programs links into INSTEON devices directly, so their scenes
will continue to function correctly if the Universal Devices controller is of-
line. Te ISY-99i stakes out the middle ground between the high cost home
automation controller and the low capability web controller.
Because the ISY-99i is a more powerful general-purpose device, it
is not as easy to use or setup as the SmartLinc or EZSrve. As a fully-fedged
scene manager, it also takes considerable time to add all your devices to
the ISY-99. Te user interface is complex compared to the direct-control
web interfaces provided by the EZSrve and the SmartLinc controllers. It also
costs two to three times as much, is considerably larger, and requires an
external PLM.
Te capability provided by the ISY-99i more than makes up for the
complexity of its confguration, and the ISY-99i integrates with a number of
other systems to make control easy. Although Java support is required for
administration and link management, you can control your lighting from
any device that can display a web page, such as the iPhone or any other
modern smartphone.
Complex user interface
Te user interface of the ISY-99i administrative console is dominated by the
choice to use Java for the administrative console. Java is a cross-platform
programming language that allows the ISY-99i user interface to run on
Windows, Macintosh, Unix, and Linux platforms. It is the only reasonable
choice to achieve this cross-platform capability.
When you browse to the address of the ISY-99i, youre presented with
a simple, no frills website that will function on literally any web browsing
device. Tis is a beneft compared to the EZSrve, which has a too much
interface clutter to function on small displays. You can directly control
any device or scene from the web interface, and you can launch the Java
administrative interface.
Te Java interface applet pops out of the web page and appears in a
separate window as if it were a local application. Te web browser window
that the applet pops out of must remain open, and if you have it selected
and accidentally press backspace, you will lose your connection to the
controller.
Figure 9.4: Universal Devices ISY-99 User Interface
Te user interface is divided into a tree browser that allows you to
select device and scenes in the lef panel, and details about the selected device
or scene in the right panelfairly typical of computer applications. When
you select a device, you can modify the devices options and parameters
directly. When you select a scene, you can view the devices in the scene and
control the scene-specifc on-levels and ramp-rates.
Adding devices to scenes isnt necessarily intuitiveyou have to drag
the device from the device selection tree to the scene in the same tree. When
the list of devices and scenes is longer than the screen will show, its difcult
to make the devices scroll to the correct scene.
Te user interface could be more intuitive. Firstly, devices and scenes
are merged into the same tree. Tey arent the same concept and should be
in two separate trees, with the lef panel split into a top panel for devices and
a bottom panel for scenes. Doing this would make dragging devices into
scenes much easier. Te length of the device list is exacerbated by the fact
that devices with multiple buttons (groups) show up as multiple devices
one for each button or group code the device has. Tis artifact means that
you have to rename each button of a KeypadLinc separately and that if you
name them diferently, they wont sort next to one another. Group codes
should be shown as a sub-tree under the parent device.
Te more intuitive mechanism would have been to click the scene,
allow it to occupy the right panel, and then drag the devices from the
selection tree into the right panel occupied by the scene. Perhaps a sofware
update will make adding devices to scenes easier in the future.
Scene Management
Te ISY-99 shines in programming and confguration of your link network.
It provides drag-and-drop control of link programming across all the devices
in your network. Te ISY-99i goes beyond the capability of HouseLinc by
providing true Scene Management as well.
HouseLinc provides Group ManagementEssentially, you can
defne all the devices that will respond to a particular controller button.
Te set of responders of a particular controller (including the controller) is
called a Group.
Scenes are similar to groups, but they can have more than one
controller. For example, if you have a SwitchLinc next to your front door
confgured to control your living room cans, lamps, and sconces as a group,
with Scene management you could also add the controller switches by your
kitchen and hallway to control the same set of responders, and manage
the entire set of devices as a scene. Scene Management requires a sofware
program to sort the scene defnition into a set of links and cross-links to be
programmed into devices, and this is what the ISY-99i does.
Sophisticated Programmed Response
Te ISY-99i includes an embedded programming language similar to BASIC
that allows you to create complex behaviors, such as requiring a specifc time-
of-day, trigger, and conditions of multiple INSTEON devices before sending
an event. For example, if you have a motion sensor that you would like to
trigger a light only afer 6:00 p.m. and only when your living room lights are
already of, you need a device like the ISY-99i. INSTEON link management
and PLM events cannot control events of this sophistication.
Support for complex INSTEON devices
As of the time of this writing, the ISY-99i has better support for the IRLinc,
the EZSnsRF, and the EZX10RF than HouseLinc has. Tese INSTEON
devices are complex because they have to be linked to an INSTEON device
and a native device at the same time, and linking them using nothing but
the set button that comes with them is not simple. Te ISY-99i walks you
through the process.
Integration with other devices
Te ISY-99i provides easy-to-use integration with other home automation
equipment such as:
Elk M1 Gold Security Alarm Panel
IES Touch Screen INSTEON controller
Nokia 800/810 Web Pads via InterfaceGO sofware.
IES EasyTouch-P Touch Screen
Integration Elk Security alarm panel
Te Universal Devices controller is also designed to integrate with the Elk
M1 Gold alarm panel, allowing you to enable and disable the alarm system
through its web interface and allowing you to control sophisticated scenes
built in the Universal Devices controller from Elk alarm system keypads.
IES EasyTouch-P Touch Screen Controller for INSTEON
Te IES EasyTouch-P touch screen Controller for INSTEON receives its
programming for scenes and devices automatically from the ISY-99i with no
confguration, providing a full-color high-end graphical touch screen that
can be mounted in walls near entryways or used as a tabletop controller. Te
Power-over-Ethernet version of the IES EasyTouch requires an ISY-99i as its
bridge from the Ethernet network to the INSTEON network.
InterfaceGO Nokia 810 Touch Screen controller software for
ISY-99
InterfaceGO makes a sofware image for the Nokia 810 Web pad that converts
it into a home automation touch screen interface for the ISY-99. Te system
looks much like very high-end home automation controllers, but costs a
fraction of the price even when you include all the necessary components:
Universal Devices ISY-99i web controller
INSTEON Powerline Modem
Nokia 800 or 810 Web Pad
InterfaceGO sofware image
WiFi Wireless Access Point
Te sum of these components is about $1000, which is still less
expensive than the next closest dedicated home automation controller and a
fraction of what most home automation controllers cost.
Being a native application on the Nokia means that the sofware
interface is smoother and Glitch free compared to web apps, which have at
the very least some latency when switching between screens and generally
have noticeable artifacts, not the least of which is the visible web browser on
the display screen.
IES EasyTouch Touch Screen
IES makes a version of their Touch Screen Interface that is designed to
connect directly to your wired Ethernet network and interface with your
INSTEON network via the ISY-99i. If youve already got an ISY-99i, you can
use this version to avoid purchasing a PLM and locating your Touch Screen
near a plug-in outlet.
Summary of the ISY-99i
In sum, the ISY-99i is a true home automation controller. It is by far the
best of the bunch for INSTEON control despite its low cost. It can replace
a home automation controller, a SmartLinc, HouseLinc or other PC-based
home automation sofware, and an IRLinc (with the optional IR module).
Furthermore, it is cross platform providing the same benefts to Windows,
Macintosh, and Linux users.
More importantly, its clear that the people at Universal Devices are
real programmers who love to write code, not just people whose job it is to
program. It is free from the sofware defects and poor design decisions that
seem to plague home automation sofware and controllers.
You should strongly consider the ISY-99i as your single home-
automation solution. It is superior to more complex home automation
controllers for INSTEON utility, comparable to HouseLinc for link
management, provides a simple web interface for home automation control,
and integrates well with other devices.
Touch Screens
Smarthome systems are strongly associated with touch screens in the minds
of consumers. Im personally not sold on the concept of tapping through
a series of menus to control lights or scenes, but there is something to be
said for a system that anyone can look at and fgure out. Te problem with
light switches alone is that they dont really tell you what theyre going to do.
My wife really liked using a touch screen because she didnt have to fgure
out how I programmed switchesshe could read through the touch screen
scenes and tell exactly what was going to happen. Removing the mystery
from your Smarthome is a big part of making it useful for others, and well
designed touch screens can help.
People who are unfamiliar with your home automation
system will probably have an easier time controlling
lights via a well-designed touch-screen interface than
by using a remote control or fipping light switches to
try to fgure out whats going on.
Touch screens are relatively expensive propositions in an INSTEON
network, but there are some clever options that dont cost nearly as much as
the touch screens designed to work with home automation controllers and
centralized lighting systems.
Te INSTEON-specifc ways to incorporate touch screen controllers are:
Use an iPod Touch, WiFi, and a SmartLinc Web Controller ($450)
Use an IES EasyTouch-S and a PLM ($600)
Use an ISY-99, InterfaceGo, Nokia 810, and WiFi ($1000)
Use an IES EasyTouch-P, an ISY-99, and a PoE Ethernet hub
($1000)
Of these options, only the EasyTouch is available in an in-wall
mountable unit that can be permanently dedicated to the control of your
INSTEON system. Teyre also available in a tabletop enclosure for placement
on nightstands, counters, and cofee tables.
Because the SmartLinc and ISY-99i options are covered in other
parts of this chapter, only the EasyTouch is covered in this section.
IES EasyTouch
Teres only one touch screen made specifcally for INSTEON at the time of
this writing: Te IES EasyTouch.
Figure 9.5: IES EasyTouch touch screen
IES makes two versions of what is essentially the same device:
Te EasyTouch-S, which communicates and is powered via an
INSTEON 2412S PLM.
Te EasyTouch-P, which communicates and is powered via Ethernet
and requires an ISY-99i as a bridge to INSTEON.
Both cost around $500 at the time of this writing. Te choice of
which touch screen model to purchase is simple: If you have an Ethernet
network wired throughout your home and you already have or intend to
buy an ISY-99i, use the EasyTouch-P. Otherwise, use the EasyTouch-S. Both
models also come as in-wall or tabletop models.
IES provided each model of their touch screen for
testing purposes for this book.
From a physical standpoint, the devices are beautifully made. Te
screen functionality is excellent: the display is bright and the touch panel
works perfectly with no need for calibration out of the box. Because the
device is powered either by the PLM or by your Power-over-Ethernet hub
(depending on which type you purchase) theres no need to run anything
but a Category 5 network cable to the point of installation. Te in-wall units
are designed to be installed into a dual-gang junction box, and the bezel is
magnetically attached so its easy to get of but stays in place securely. Te
bezels come in white and black, and can be painted to match your dcor. Te
default on-screen graphics are simple without being amateurish and do the
job quite nicely.
Confguring the EasyTouch-P
Tere is no confguration required for the EasyTouch-P. When you plug
it into your Ethernet network, it will power on, boot up, fnd the ISY-99i
automatically, and download all the scenes and devices youve confgured
in the ISY-99 in the space of about twenty seconds. Te touch screen is then
ready to go. If you make a change in the ISY-99, simply press and hold the
IES icon in the welcome screen to enter setup mode and press the update
button. Tats really all there is to it.
If youve changed the password on your ISY-99i from the default
youll need to use the password change sofware for the EasyTouch-P to
update it using your computer and a USB cable. Its a simple process, but it
must be done with a PC. Perhaps a future frmware version will allow you
to set the password in the settings screen to avoid having to hook the touch
screen up to a computer.
Confguring the EasyTouch-S
Te sofware to confgure the EasyTouch-S runs on your Windows computer.
Mac or Linux users will need to use a virtual machine or borrow a computer
to confgure the device. Confguration can be a one-time only prospect if
your system is well settled.
You confgure your rooms, devices, scenes, and schedules using the
sofware and simply download it into the touch screen via a USB cable. Te
USB port is easy to access even afer the touchscreen has been permanently
installed, so you can update the device without removing it.
Setting up devices was trivially easy, albeit a bit repetitive, and in less
than thirty minutes I had the touch screen completely confgured to control
every device in my house. Setting up scenes is also trivially easy: Just add a
new scene, name it, and drag and drop devices into the scene.
Te desktop sofware has a few user interface quirks. While it is
feature complete, additions such as toolbars, double-clicking to edit, would
provide the fnishing touches to make it more intuitive and easy to use. A
feature to import devices, groups, and events from HouseLinc 2 would be a
welcome addition.
Figure 9.6: The touch screen configuration software
Discovering and troubleshooting using the PLM
Te IES sofware can be used to directly control the PLM by connecting
the PLM to your computers serial port (via a USB to serial adapter if your
computer lacks a serial port).
Directly controlling the PLM with the IES confguration sofware allows you
to:
Clear the existing PLM links if you are repurposing a PLM
Discover devices by linking them to the PLM
Test the functionality of INSTEON devices by directly controlling
them
Modifying the look of the touch screen
IES provides sofware to completely redesign the screens in the EasyTouch
devices. You can customize the icons, fonts, text, button placement,
background, and screens to suit your needs or match your dcor.
Figure 9.7: The screen design software
Te sofware actually does more than IES supports. Te sofware is
included primarily for changing icons, changing backgrounds, and changing
the text on the screens. Future versions may allow you to add buttons to
screens and change the actions that buttons perform. While this sofware
is more difcult to use than the room and device confguration sofware, its
great for things like removing the IES logo or customizing the display with
your family name.
You must disable your computers ClearType feature in order to
prevent Windows from modifying fonts that are downloaded to the device
when you use the screen modifcation sofware. Instructions are provided
with the device for Windows XP. Search Windows help on the term
ClearType for instructions to disable it in Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Even with ClearType disabled, most fonts dont look that great on the touch
screen. Youll want to test buttons with many diferent fonts to fnd the ones
that look best. Most fonts look best when they are bold and not italicized.
Installing the EasyTouch Tabletop Touchscreen
Tabletop versions of the touch screen are simple to deploy: Simply plug them
in to a Category 5 cable and plug that cable either into your wired Ethernet
port or your PLM plugged into an outlet.
Installing the EasyTouch in-wall Touchscreen
Installing the touchscreen in the wall is not difcult for anyone who is
comfortable doing home repair. If you are not comfortable with these
procedures or if you home does not lend itself to pulling new cable through
the walls, purchase the tabletop versions of the EasyTouch instead.
Installing an EasyTouch by running Category 5 Cable
Determine where you would like to install the EasyTouch touch screen.
Using a fsh tape, run a Category 5 cable to the location from your attic,
and to either your Ethernet switch location (EasyTouch-P) or to a power
outlet (EasyTouch-S). You may fnd it convenient to wire an outlet in
your attic to accommodate a PLM for the EasyTouch-S.
Cut in and install a dual-gang junction box.
Terminate the Ethernet cable on both ends using RJ-45 jacks and a proper
crimp tool. It may be easier to install a pre-terminated jumper cable if
you can buy one long enough.
If you are using the EasyTouch-P, connect the terminated cable to your
Ethernet switch. If your switch does not provide Power Over Ethernet,
you will also need a PoE injector, which you can purchase from numerous
sources online.
If you are using the EasyTouch-S, connect the terminated cable to your
PLM an plug it in.
At the faceplate, plug the EasyTouch into the terminated cable and ensure
that it powers up and operates correctly.
Screw the EasyTouch into the junction box and place the magnetic
faceplate over it.
If you have wired Ethernet throughout your house, you can re-
purpose an existing Ethernet outlet that is near the correct location.
Installing an EasyTouch-P in place of an existing Ethernet
Outlet
Remove the existing faceplate and remove the Ethernet Jack from it.
Afer determining that you will not be blocked by a stud, cut out and
install a dual-gang junction box in the location where you would like to
install the EasyTouch-P.
Using a fsh-tape, pull a terminated Ethernet jumper between the location
of the Ethernet jack and the location of the EasyTouch-P.
Plug the Ethernet Jack into the Ethernet Jumper and plate over the
Ethernet outlet.
At your Ethernet switch location, connect the Ethernet cable going to the
former Ethernet outlet to either a Power-over-Ethernet switch or a PoE
power injector and regular switch.
Connect the EasyTouch-P to the Ethernet jumper. Ensure that it powers
on correctly.
Screw the EasyTouch into the Junction Box being careful not to crimp
any exposed wires, and place the magnetic faceplate cover over it.
If youre using the PLM version, the easiest way to install it will be
directly next to or above an existing electrical outlet or switch.