Integration of Insteon devices and non-Insteon sensors

[Gringo Muerto]

I recently purchased and M1 gold system and have Insteon light switches (dimmers and on/off) throughout the house. I have wireless GE motion sensors from the old system (about 1 year old) the M1 is replacing. I also have an ISY currently controlling my Insteon devices. Does anyone know if it is possible to automate house functions using my Insteon devices, the GE sensors, and the M1 through the M1. For example, can the M1 still turn on certain Insteon controlled lights when a GE wireless door or window sensor is tripped? Or do I have to have Insteon sensors to make the automation work properly?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tmbrown97]

Insteon is fully supported with the M1... but anyone who uses Insteon swears by using an ISY (with or without an M1) to make communication and management much easier. You can use insteon motion sensors for automation and lighting control - I wouldn't dare use them for security personally - but for HA they should be fine. They can directly control insteon lights independent of the M1, or the M1 can listen for events and run its own rules based on detected motion.

Your old wireless GE sensors can also be used with the M1 with the addition of an M1XRF2G GE-Compatible wireless receiver for the M1. That'll allow the M1 to accept most crystal-based GE sensors (it's not intended for the SAW sensors but will work in some cases). This will let you use your GE motions and any GE door sensors you have.

You can combine the two - I use motion sensors and even wireless door contacts via the M1 to turn lights on/off via rules - it bridges them just fine.

 

[Gringo Muerto]

Thanks Coconut - appreciate the insight. If I were to go out and replace my GE wireless sensors (and wanted to stay wireless), which do you think are best/play nicest with the M1? Sounds like you have a similar system to what I am trying to build out - which do you use? Again, thanks for the advice.

 

[tmbrown97]

With the price of sensors, if you already have GE I'd stick with GE...

The M1 will talk to GE or Honeywell - depending on which receiver you get (M1XRF2G=GE; M1XRF2H=Honeywell/Ademco); or they're about to release their own line of wireless sensors as well (no word on wireless motions yet though) that are supposed to be pretty good.

There's one pro here who recommends Honeywell but everything else I read says most people go GE - and that's what I did.

I have an M1 with UPB; I'm personally not a huge fan of SmartHome so I won't use Insteon... but once everything is installed things work fairly similarly.

 

[apostolakisl]

I have Insteon, ISY, and Elk m1. I don't have any wireless sensors on the M1.

The Elk communicates with the Insteon through it's IP connection (m1xep), to the ISY, which actually puts the powerline signal out there. It works just great. You need to link your ISY and M1, export your device list from the isy and import it into the Elk. Then you write your rules on the Elk to turn the lights on/off based on anything that Elk can sense, including wireless stuff.

As work2play mentioned, you will need to get your Elk talking to your wireless stuff, but once that is done, the fact that it is wireless is irrelevant.

Also, ISY is soon to release the Elk module which will give you access to all of the Elk's states. For example, when a zone violates ISY will be able to see that happen directly and trigger a program. ISY has a better programming interface so you will likely prefer this method.

 

[wuench]

I have wireless sensors, M1, ISY, and Insteon. I have all kinds of events setup on the M1 to turn lights on/off based on the wireless sensors. The only issue is there is a second or two delay due to the wireless sensors but it does work.

 

[Gringo Muerto]

Thanks all. Very much appreciate your perspectives and advice. This is helpful.