Recent content by zebmina

Hi picta, wkearney99:   Thanks for your insights!  Most helpful!   If In read you right, picta, it would best for me to order a ZWave and Insteon device to try out before I decide on buying the VeraLite or i994.   @wkearney99, points well taken on automated shades...  it will be a pain to...

Thanks wkearney/LarryILix!   @LarryLLix: Sounds like a cool setup!  Wish I could receive text messages on my phone!  Unfortunately poor or no cell service where I live (yeah!  in this day and age!).  I have to resort to giving people my landline number only, and forwarding to my cell when I am...

Thanks, picta!   Yeah, I figure it's not going to be a slam dunk!  For simplicity immediately, it seems like VeraLite would be fine, since it seems to allow Z-Wave as well as Insteon devices to be controlled.  However, for both Insteon and Vera I have read about security issues, which may not be...

Thanks, wkearney99!   Let's see....  What do I want to accomplish...  Your last para is completely on point.   My wife and I travel a lot, and i have the usual timers on some lights, which I suppose serves some function..  I have an alarm system that I can monitor remotely, along with some video...

Hello experts...   I did a bunch of googling to try and get an answer, but perhaps my googling skills are not quite up to par, as I was unable to find an answer to something I would think is a pretty fundamental questions...   I have existing dumb power switches, and would like to add some...

@snake:  thanks!  I'll defintiely then be looking at the M1.  I see two models - the Gold and the EZ8.  Other than the number of devices/sensors, are there any other advantages to the Gold compared to the EZ8?

@Jay, @snake:  Thanks for your suggestions!   I have a two-floor house with a crawlspace and an attic.  Unfortunately, as I mentioned, running wires will be a pain since pretty much every wire that needs to be run must be fished along an outside wall.  I'd just as soon save myself hat time and...

Hello experts!   I have an existing house and interested in a DIY wireless security system - door/window contacts/sensors, PIRs, landline/ethernet connectivity, accessible over internet - with the ability to add Insteon devices/controllers later on.   In principle, I guess I could install the...

Thanks, W2P! I suppose the HAI folks wanted me to buy their HA system! I have electric aux heat, so I too usually set the temps at one setting; but since I travel, I wanted to be able to set the thermostat down to say 58 in winter, and have the ability to kick off a rule about 10-12 hours...

So I asked for info from HAI, and here is the response I got: " As far as controlling the unit itself, our thermostats are mechanical meaning that we return 24VAC to the unit when a mode is called for. (cooling returns 24VAC on Y1 and heating returns 24VAC on W1) If your unit requires dry...

HI Ether: Thanks! I didn't provide complete information earlier (sorry, just a DIYer, not a professional!). The air handler is the Goodman unit I mentioned above (ARUF364216BA). This is sitting in a crawl space. The heat pump outside is a Goodman GSH130421AD. The air handler is a...

Hi all: Recently purchased an ELK M1Z, M1XSP, M1XEP, M1XRF2G (thanks to all for valuable tips and hints that got me going in this direction!). I also want to control a heat pump that has an electric heat bar. The heat pump unit is a Goodman ARUF364216BA. I believe that the HAI RC2000...

Work2Play: Thanks! As I read more about this subject, I come up with more questions! Just realized I should have asked this before... My sliders and doors are metal, so if I go wireless, I might have interference problems. Do the outside-mounted sensors work?

My apologies for my tardiness is responding, but was traveling on business and really tied up! I have also looked at the M1, and the geek interest in me has definitely been piqued. I neglected to add (in my initial assessment) thermostat control. I have a heat pump with a electric heat bar...

Russvan, Work2Play: Thanks both for your suggestions. I agree (even as a newbie) - wired would be preferable, but it will probably be a pain to run wires now (although I am willing to be shown otherwise!), which is why for planning purposes I was thinking about wireless sensors. This helps me...