Automation refit for a new user

[doug494]

I need some advice please.

I built my house (about 5 years ago) using an OnQ structured wiring system for lighting control and security. Everything work well. Last year I added a Homelogic control for music and additional lighting control through my PC.

The OnQ worked great when it was functional, however I now have my third failed controller since I have owned the system (happens about every 2 years). The OnQ board seems to be very sensitive to something and the serial controller for the lights quits working, although the security portion has never failed. All three failures have been like this and I have had enough.

What is causing it? I think it is some type of weird stray current from lighting storms. I have never had my house hit. I have never had my PCs, phones, x-10 switches, Homelogic, Satallite, or anything else fail after a lighting storm. Just the OnQ after lightening strikes within 1/2 a mile or so? I have put protection on the outlets and even inline on my main, but nothing is tripped, just the OnQ lighting control doesn't work. My electrician even checked all my ground before this latest board went out.

I asked my tech guy if switching to HAI would improve things and he said no, HAI and OnQ are basically the same. So I asked for other suggestions. He has quoted me both UPB and Centralite as a replacement for the structured wiring. Of course that means replacing every single switch. I can do that but I want something that will work.

Please give me any feedback you have on the merits of these two options.

Thanks

 

[fcwilt]

Hi,

When you say HomeLogic control do you mean a HomeLogic HomeBrick?

While I am not familiar with OnQ, HomeLogic can support UPB (which I use) or Centralite. I gather the wiring for OnQ lighting is compatible with Centralite?

 

[doug494]

Hi,

When you say HomeLogic control do you mean a HomeLogic HomeBrick?

While I am not familiar with OnQ, HomeLogic can support UPB (which I use) or Centralite. I gather the wiring for OnQ lighting is compatible with Centralite?

Yes I have the Homebrick system.

My contractor is recommending the Centralite Jet stream, which is Zigbee wireless. I have not found an option that makes use of the structured wiring. The slave switches for OnQ only use a 20 gauge two wire to talk to the master switches and that seems to be useless for anything other than OnQ and HAI.

I will have to check again to verify how many conductors are in the wire, I just know only two are used.

As far as the master switches, those are 6 conductor and are all home-run to a central location (no daisy chains).

It would be great if the OnQ switches could be plugged into another system.

 

[fcwilt]

Perhaps someone else will jump in here who has knowledge of other hardwired lighting system. When planing my home I didn't consider them because I knew that I would not be able to see far enough ahead to determine which switches to wire and wiring every switch was too expensive. So I know next to nothing about the details of these systems.

The OnQ slave switches: they are in boxes that have no AC power, just the low voltage wiring?

 

[doug494]

Perhaps someone else will jump in here who has knowledge of other hardwired lighting system. When planing my home I didn't consider them because I knew that I would not be able to see far enough ahead to determine which switches to wire and wiring every switch was too expensive. So I know next to nothing about the details of these systems.

The OnQ slave switches: they are in boxes that have no AC power, just the low voltage wiring?

All but one are in boxes that have power, and I think I can get power to the one that doesn't.

 

[sic0048]

As a side note - do you have a whole house surge protector? They are installed by the main circuit breaker. If not, you might want to invest in one. It might help the failed controller issue, but certainly would help protect the other electronics in the house too.

 

[doug494]

As a side note - do you have a whole house surge protector? They are installed by the main circuit breaker. If not, you might want to invest in one. It might help the failed controller issue, but certainly would help protect the other electronics in the house too.

Yes I do. It was installed prior to the latest board failure. It did not trip, but the board starting acting screwy anyway.

 

[Ranger Digital]

ON-q slave switches, called Auxillary switches, are ALL low voltage. Typically a cat5 is run from the auxillary over to the dimmer or relay (it call also be run back to a branch hub and connected there, a bit more cumbersome but more flexible if you ever want to change what that auxillary controls). Not sure why or how you used 20/2 as 24 guage is fine and you need THREE wires: on off common. auxilarys, (slaves) need NO power.

 

[doug494]

ON-q slave switches, called Auxillary switches, are ALL low voltage. Typically a cat5 is run from the auxillary over to the dimmer or relay (it call also be run back to a branch hub and connected there, a bit more cumbersome but more flexible if you ever want to change what that auxillary controls). Not sure why or how you used 20/2 as 24 guage is fine and you need THREE wires: on off common. auxilarys, (slaves) need NO power.

OK It's been awhile since I replaced a switch. They could be all CAT 5 cables and use three wires on the switches. It was professionally installed, I'm just trying to keep it working. The lack of power at the auxillary switches is one of my challenges to overcome if I move away from OnQ/HAI.

The original problem remains, a structured wiring system is the only one I know of that will use the CAT 5 for auxillary switch (keypad) operation.

If I were to switch would you suggest UPB or Centralite Jetstream (or third option)? I like the UPB because it is pretty proven, but I understand Zigbee is a very reliable system also. In addition it seems UPB is more "Standardized" and I could use components from different manufacturers, whereas Centralite appears to be more closed with their system and the Jetstream system has not been out very long.

 

[Steve]

While I don't know anything about OnQ/ALC specifically, I would be concerned about any type of controller if you keep having failures like that. I think OnQ/ALC has been around for a long time and I've never read of problems like this. So, that would make me cautious that it may be something in your home killing it and would have the same affect on some other sensitive component. I would contact Tony at SetNetPro (he goes by User Number20 and the url is in the linked sig) before I totally gave up on ALC as it is a pretty well recommended system for 'traditionally wired' hardwired system.

As for UPB and Jetstream, they are 2 totally different technologies. Jetstream is wireless and UPB is powerline control (PLC). While I am a fan of, and use UPB myself, as mentioned above, I would be concerned about powerline conditions and using a PLC technology if that is what is causing the OnQ failures. The last you you want is a powerline issue killing $70 switches. Of course Jetstream or any other technology that uses electronic switches (pretty much anything) could suffer too, just their communication would not be affected.

I would do a thorough check of your power system in and around your house and contact Tony for specific info about OnQ. Maybe it would be best to identify the cause of the problems and stick with OnQ as I just can't imagine the boards have that failure rate and yet lots of people use it and are happy with it. Tony has a long history with them so he would have more of that info. Good luck.

 

[doug494]

Just want to say Thanks to Steve for the contact.

Tony at Setnetpro was able to correct my issue quickly and the parts were delivered very quickly. Excellent service.

While I don't know anything about OnQ/ALC specifically, I would be concerned about any type of controller if you keep having failures like that. I think OnQ/ALC has been around for a long time and I've never read of problems like this. So, that would make me cautious that it may be something in your home killing it and would have the same affect on some other sensitive component. I would contact Tony at SetNetPro (he goes by User Number20 and the url is in the linked sig) before I totally gave up on ALC as it is a pretty well recommended system for 'traditionally wired' hardwired system.

As for UPB and Jetstream, they are 2 totally different technologies. Jetstream is wireless and UPB is powerline control (PLC). While I am a fan of, and use UPB myself, as mentioned above, I would be concerned about powerline conditions and using a PLC technology if that is what is causing the OnQ failures. The last you you want is a powerline issue killing $70 switches. Of course Jetstream or any other technology that uses electronic switches (pretty much anything) could suffer too, just their communication would not be affected.

I would do a thorough check of your power system in and around your house and contact Tony for specific info about OnQ. Maybe it would be best to identify the cause of the problems and stick with OnQ as I just can't imagine the boards have that failure rate and yet lots of people use it and are happy with it. Tony has a long history with them so he would have more of that info. Good luck.