Mixing isy-99i and elk m1 automation commands

[Porterbob]

I have just finished installing insteon switches for lighting controlled with isy-99i. I've programmed to do various turn on and off commands. I have also just installed an elk m1gold and will link them together shortly. It appears that i can set up the same automation commands in the elk system so that the command comes from the elk and tells the isy99i to turn on the porch light every night etc. But is there any problem with having some automation commands come from the Elk M1 and leaving some automation commands only in the isy-99i?

 

[apostolakisl]

No problem doing that, however, I would suggest that if a program can be written in ISY, you do it in ISY. As of right now, ISY can not see Elk status'. For example, ISY does not know if a zone violates, or if an output is on, or even if the system is armed (as far as programs are concerned). So, programs that need to know these things, pretty much need to be written in Elk. There are workarounds but they are sloppy. If you have the network module, you can directly control Elk from programs but it does require more work and a high comfort level with such code.

Before you go too crazy writing a bunch of programs, you may consider waiting a bit for the ISY/Elk module. They keep swearing it is going to be out any day now. Supposedly this will let ISY see and control all the Elk stuff allowing you write nearly everything in ISY.

In general, ISY programming interface is a lot more powerful, has vastly more memory, can be nicely organized into folder/subfolders, the programs have names, and a lot of other stuff that I won't go into here.