Gremlins in the system! Elk + Insteon + Mainlobby

[jcrack_corn]

Interesting problem....I did have my PLC hooked to mainlobby server but response times were horrible for turning on/off lights (at LEAST 3-5 seconds, sometimes 10 after mainlobby button pushed before light reacted)...complete garbage.

So, I went the proper route and hooked PLC directly to elk w/ serial expander (my #1 priority is function and realiablity without use of the mainlobby server)....and thinks are now awesome....the elk registered all insteon devices with no issues (just did the tap method, instead of powerhome)....and commands are literally instant (not only from elk but from mainlobby sending the elk a command!) could not be happier, it functions as if it is hard-wired.

Problem is that i get about 1 random light turning on (never off) per day....it happens all across the board, all switches affected at some time. This is definitely as a result of PLC being hooked to elk as i did not have this problem for 6+ months when it was hooked to pc.

Anyone seen this before.......any suggestions (i probably need to update elk firmware and check latest insteon m1sxp firmware)...but am i missing something else?


Thanks!

 

[Spanky]

I do not know of a problem with Insteon and the M1, but a few months back someone had a thread with a similiar problem. If there is an issue we can identify, we will fix it on the ELK side.

 

[mustangcoupe]

I do not know of a problem with Insteon and the M1, but a few months back someone had a thread with a similiar problem. If there is an issue we can identify, we will fix it on the ELK side.

Spanky,

Dont need to go searching back a few months... this thread is less then a month old. I am also having the same problem....
If I unplug my plc connected to the serial expander all is ok.... usually happens at night to me


http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showtopic=8711



edit corrected link

 

[Spanky]

Check the S3 jumper on the M1XSP to see if it is in the "0" position. If so, this enables Polling of the Insteon switches from the M1XSP which steps through a switch in about 15 seconds. This is the only operation that may not be in a PC driving the Insteon interface. If the polling is turned on, try changing the S3 jumper to disable the polling and see if the phantom light turn on stops.

Please let us know your results.

 

[jcrack_corn]

ok, will do...i definitely have s3 enabled so i will set it to 0.

using the elk mainlobby plugin to do polling should suffice so no need for hardware polling correct?

 

[mustangcoupe]

just ckecked and I has s3 on, I set it to off and we will see shat happens over the weekend...

 

[mustangcoupe]

OK, after I disabled s3 all went to hell... kitchen, hallway, and bedroom lights are comming on at rndom times. I did notice that the status light on the m1xsp is blinking reguarly... is this normal? should I try re flashing the firmware and re linking the devices? I had to disconnect my plc because I woke twice with the bedroom lights going on... (in a 5 hr window) I also noticed the status light still blinking after disconnecting the plc.

 

[Spanky]

The status LED on the M1XSP should blink about once per second to let you know it is alive. You can try reloading the software in the M1XSP to see if it had a load error.

If you disconnect the M1XSP the lights do not change?

 

[snhroc]

I have also been having similar issues with devices spontaneously turning on with my elk, and had to disconnect the PLC. The most recent upgrade didn't fix the problem, so I just ordered an ISY-26 and am hoping that bypassing the XSP-PLC combo with a networked ISY-PLM gets rid of the problem.

 

[Digger]

I have also been having similar issues with devices spontaneously turning on with my elk, and had to disconnect the PLC. The most recent upgrade didn't fix the problem, so I just ordered an ISY-26 and am hoping that bypassing the XSP-PLC combo with a networked ISY-PLM gets rid of the problem.

While I never had this problem on my system or the two others I put in that use Insteon (I am back to X-10 at the moment) I ordered an ISY to experiment with for a friend. I had polling enabled on all 3 systems and never had this happen. Maybe a bad batch of PLC's?

 

[mustangcoupe]

After unplugging plc lights stay off.....and dont randomly come on. Getting this fixed it real high on the WAF. as she liked having the ligts come on when she got home after dark.

 

[Digger]

After unplugging plc lights stay off.....and dont randomly come on. Getting this fixed it real high on the WAF. as she liked having the ligts come on when she got home after dark.

So it is the PLC for sure?

 

[mustangcoupe]

Im sorry I may have confused things a bit.... I unplugged the PLC from the serial expander but left it plugged into the wall.

 

[Digger]

Im sorry I may have confused things a bit.... I unplugged the PLC from the serial expander but left it plugged into the wall.

Ahhhhh..... Its funny how some people are seeing this and others are not. I still use the PLC and the serial expander. I never had this happen with Insteon or X-10.

I bought an ISY-26 should be here in another week or so (SH shipping isnt the fastest to the east coast). I am going to try that since a friend wants it also. If I dont like it I will sell it to him for what I paid for it.

I beleive I will eliminate the PLC and the serial expander with the ISY-26 which would be awesome. I can use the serial expander for a thermostat. The 20% off the ISY and not having to buy another serial expander for the T-Stat made it a great deal.

 

[Spanky]

OK, I am confused now!

Does disconnecting the serial expander from the PLC and leaving the PLC plugged in stop the lights from coming on?

I know that unplugging the PLC from the power line will stop it.

Thanks for the feedback.