Search results

I just picked up my RCS TR40 thermostats and want to bench test them with the M1 prior to installation. The docs say I need a 24V power source to do so. What's the easiest way to do that? Just go down to Radio Shack and pick up a 24V transformer? Or is there an Elk part that I can do that with?

So I'm feeling a bit lazy today and am trying to come up with away to avoid having to bury a Cat5 all the way to my mailbox. Wondering if a wireless Motion Sensor is the way to go? The mailbox is a good 200' + from the location of the Elk so that is a consideration. Thoughts? Besides "don't...

Just got done installing the almond color change kits on all 135 of my new Insteon switches so the electrician can get them installed tomorrow. The worst part is the only screwdriver I had here (most of my tools are at the new house at this point) was one of those little eyeglasses kits ... not...

So the last thing I need to order for my first round of trimout is temp sensors. I've been investigatin 1-wire, primarily due to the fact that I need more sensors than the M1 supports. Plus the aesthetics of the Elks ones leave much to be desired. Anyway, I think I need a "1-wire for...

Just rememberd I need to get my whole house surge protector ordered so the electricians can install it next week when they trim out. I'm looking at the Levition 51120-1 on SmartHome.com. Questions: 1. I have two panels in the garage near the service entry. I think they're 160amps each...

Hi all, I've been absent from the forum the last few months because I've been busy builidng a house! The painters are almost done so it's time to bite the bullet and order my light switches. After all the options I looked at and used in my current home as a testbed, I decided to go with...

Now that my prewire is done, I've finally got the time to blow the dust off my elk and resume playing. I powered everything back up and for the life of me can't get connected to the Ethernet module. I had it configured for a static IP address but can't so much as ping it. It's not picking up a...

Here's a dumb question. If I want to put a load bearing Insteon (or UPB) switch in one of the SA pedestals, how do I wire it? It just has the 2 wires from a dual prong plug. Is one neutral and one hot? What about ground? Ground it separately? For this, I just want to be able to hook up a...

So I've been perusing the EHXExpo site and I'm thinking of going. I'm not a pro, but the hands-on training and exposure to the stuff I'll be installing in my new house would seem to be invaluable. Not to mention I'm somewhat burned out on my current job so who know what the future holds...

We got the foam insulation sprayed today and drywall should drop tomorrow. They start hanging it on Thursday. So I now have to say I am "done" with my pre-wire. I finally had to just call for the foam and drywall to go in because I kept coming up with new stuff to pull. The final score: -22...

I've decided to go with the somfy automated window treatmens from somfy that SmartHome sells. They are RF operated and they claim they will be Insteon enabled soon but we all know how that goes. Here ar the blinds: http://www.smarthome.com/somfy.html My question is can I set up the Elk to...

So I'm working on installing my window contacts and am having some trouble. When I drill the 3/8" hole in the window frame to put the sensor in, the hole lines up with the OSB on the exterior of the house, not the inside cavity of the wall. And that's with putting the hole as far inside as I...

Elk KP2 and RCS thermoststat are both on the 485 bus and as such can share a single Cat5. In other words, 4 wires each. I've got them located next to eath other in the same stud cavity so if I can use just one Cat5 that will be easier.

Ran into a snag (literally) with my prewire. I used open web trusses for the 2nd floor joist, primarily to make it easier to run wire. However, the trusses are held together with some sheet metal connectors that have rough edges and the cable kept getting snagged on. After sacrificing a...

I'm in the process of prewiring my new house and have put in a secondary wiring location since the house is pretty big. My plan is to put an Elk DBH and Zone Expander in the can as well as an Ethernet hub. I'll run a "backbone" between this location and the main location. Questons: 1. Can I...

As some of you know, I'm in the process of building a house and wiring it up right. Started the prewire today and had a few questions: 1. In addition to the main server room, I've got 2 secondary wiring closet locations wtih small SW cans. My plan is to put and Elk DBH and Zone Extender and an...

We pour the foundation on Tuesday and framing begins immediately thereafter, so prepare to be inundated with my last round of prewire questions. :D 1. Where should I put CO detectors. Just near furnaces, water heaters, etc. or in all bedrooms / bedroom areas? 2. Same as above for LP Gas...

I broke down and bought a copy of PowerHome and the linking functions are working great. However, there is one thing I can't seem to figure out, either through PowerHome or via manual linking. How can I get a secondary button on a PowerLinc to control the load on the same KeypadLinc as part...

Many of you know I'm getting ready to start a new house and have been here asking lots of questions on pre-wire, features to include, etc. You've been extremely helpful and I've gained a lot from the forum. We're getting close to groundbreaking and I'm working on my pre-wire plan. The Wiring...

I'm working on the touchscreen portion of my pre-wire plan and am trying to figure out what to wire without having to lock myself into a given solution yet. The core components in this house will be an Elk M1, HomeSeer 2.0, and Windows MCE with extenders throughout the house. The most...