So, first of all, I want to thank Martin at Automated Outlet for getting me my starter kit so quickly. I expected it to arrive next Monday, and it showed up on Friday, which gives me the whole weekend to install! It was a nice surprise.
With that, I spent part of the day today installing my first modules with the help of my brother-in-law. I installed a plug-in lamp module for my wife's bedside lamp, and a universal transceiver with 8-button faceplate to replace the main lightswitch in my bedroom. And my first impressions??
Underwhelmed.
However, before I get to the problems and related questions (which I hope someone can answer), I'll mention the highlights of this whole process.
The good:
1. The software package UPStart detected very little signal noise and was relatively straightforward to use.
2. I have yet to require a phase coupler, even though one came with my KPE-08 starter kit (from Automated Outlet... another plug for Martin, not that that is necessary on this board).
3. The installation process was very easy. For a guy that had never even opened a switch or outlet until a couple of days ago to find out what kind of wiring I had in my home, the installation was pretty simple. The only problem was that I got confused initially with the two black (live) wires. I couldn't figure out which one came from the power source, and which one went to the light itself, and looking at the old switch didn't help me any because I don't know which goes where on the old switch either. My first attempt at installation, I got the two mixed up and must have installed them backwards, because nothing worked. But once I switched them around, everything lit up like a charm.
The bad/The questions:
1. My very first complaint was going to be that the responsiveness of the switch was not ideal. There have been several occasions when I tried to turn on the overhead light, and the switch required two presses to turn the light on. However, after further experimentation, it actually turns out that after I have activated the "All Off" scene (through button 8 on my 8-button switch), it takes two presses to turn on any of the lights, whether it's the overhead (button 1) or my wife's lamp (button 2). This happens without fail. Any ideas why?
2. Local control on the plug-in lamp module didn't work. When I had local control enabled through UPStart, the light wouldn't turn out at all, even when UPStart send the Off signal. The second I disabled local control of the light, the module started functioning as expected. However, the wife was incredulous that she could no longer turn off her bedside lamp from her bedside... instead, it must be turned off from the wall (currently no tabletop controller)
3. The delay is noticeable. It's exacerbated by the fact that we use compact fluorescent lights to save energy, and those take their own fraction of a second to turn on as well, so the delay is just a little bit longer. However, it's not likely to cause me much grief, and I'll probably just get used to it.
4. This is really my own fault, but no tabletop controller came with my starter kit. I bought the KPE-08 for $125 (normally $175), and it has:
1 computer interface module
1 wired-in phase coupler (not necessary yet)
1 plug-in lamp module
1 standard transceiver switch
2 universal transceiver switches
3 faceplates
For the same money, I could have bought the KPE-06, which has:
1 universal transceiver
1 computer interface module
1 plug-in appliance module
1 plug-in lamp module
1 tabletop controller
3 faceplates
All in all, I still think I got the better end of the deal, but just no way to control my stuff without having to get out of bed. This is partially mitigated by the existence of ZTP2, the tabletop pedestal enclosure into which I can install a universal or standard transceiver and use it as a tabletop controller, for only $9.95. And since my KPE-08 came with 3 switches (2 universal, 1 standard), I guess I can spend the extra $9.95 for one of these. Comparatively, simply-automated.com also makes available a pedestal with a built-in universal transceiver and an 8-button faceplate for $119 (Automated Outlet). Also note that a universal transceiver with 8-button faceplate sells separately for $99.95 (AO), so it seems you're paying an extra $10 for someone to put the transceiver in the pedestal for you if you pay the full $119.
5. One of UPB's big selling points is true 2-way status notification. What this does NOT mean (to my great disappointment) is that you can know the status of a light across the house. My new universal transceiver switch (with 8-button faceplate, I can't stress how great that is) gives an indication that the overhead light is turned on by switching the color of the LED. Howver, when I activate my wife's lamp module, no positive indication is given anywhere. Obviously, I can see the lamp come on since I'm in the same room, but what if I was trying to turn on the lights in the living room? How would I really know if they came on? I suppose I was expecting two-way status notification of every link on the switch, not just the primary load.
6. Although the switch came pre-programmed to control the local load, I didn't see any way in UPStart to change this. That is, my button #1 controls the overhead light in the bedroom (I made it a toggle). Suppose I wanted button 7 to do this instead? I didn't see a straightforward way to make this work, but I guess I could have overlooked something.
7. There is no way for me to control the overhead light separately from the overhead fan (they are one appliance). That is, if I want to turn off my overhead light but leave the fan running (it's hot in Texas, even at night), I still have to pull a cord on the fan. Would be nice to control these separately (especially once I get a tabletop controller for my nightstand).
OK, thanks for letting me share my story. Depsite the initial underwhelm-ment (is that a word?), I'm still going to go forward and install the rest of my starter kit (with the possible exception of the phase coupler if it is not needed, and also probably one of the universal transceivers to save it for the tabletop pedestal). I imagine once I get more things up an running, it will just get cooler and cooler.
With that, I spent part of the day today installing my first modules with the help of my brother-in-law. I installed a plug-in lamp module for my wife's bedside lamp, and a universal transceiver with 8-button faceplate to replace the main lightswitch in my bedroom. And my first impressions??
Underwhelmed.
However, before I get to the problems and related questions (which I hope someone can answer), I'll mention the highlights of this whole process.
The good:
1. The software package UPStart detected very little signal noise and was relatively straightforward to use.
2. I have yet to require a phase coupler, even though one came with my KPE-08 starter kit (from Automated Outlet... another plug for Martin, not that that is necessary on this board).
3. The installation process was very easy. For a guy that had never even opened a switch or outlet until a couple of days ago to find out what kind of wiring I had in my home, the installation was pretty simple. The only problem was that I got confused initially with the two black (live) wires. I couldn't figure out which one came from the power source, and which one went to the light itself, and looking at the old switch didn't help me any because I don't know which goes where on the old switch either. My first attempt at installation, I got the two mixed up and must have installed them backwards, because nothing worked. But once I switched them around, everything lit up like a charm.
The bad/The questions:
1. My very first complaint was going to be that the responsiveness of the switch was not ideal. There have been several occasions when I tried to turn on the overhead light, and the switch required two presses to turn the light on. However, after further experimentation, it actually turns out that after I have activated the "All Off" scene (through button 8 on my 8-button switch), it takes two presses to turn on any of the lights, whether it's the overhead (button 1) or my wife's lamp (button 2). This happens without fail. Any ideas why?
2. Local control on the plug-in lamp module didn't work. When I had local control enabled through UPStart, the light wouldn't turn out at all, even when UPStart send the Off signal. The second I disabled local control of the light, the module started functioning as expected. However, the wife was incredulous that she could no longer turn off her bedside lamp from her bedside... instead, it must be turned off from the wall (currently no tabletop controller)
3. The delay is noticeable. It's exacerbated by the fact that we use compact fluorescent lights to save energy, and those take their own fraction of a second to turn on as well, so the delay is just a little bit longer. However, it's not likely to cause me much grief, and I'll probably just get used to it.
4. This is really my own fault, but no tabletop controller came with my starter kit. I bought the KPE-08 for $125 (normally $175), and it has:
1 computer interface module
1 wired-in phase coupler (not necessary yet)
1 plug-in lamp module
1 standard transceiver switch
2 universal transceiver switches
3 faceplates
For the same money, I could have bought the KPE-06, which has:
1 universal transceiver
1 computer interface module
1 plug-in appliance module
1 plug-in lamp module
1 tabletop controller
3 faceplates
All in all, I still think I got the better end of the deal, but just no way to control my stuff without having to get out of bed. This is partially mitigated by the existence of ZTP2, the tabletop pedestal enclosure into which I can install a universal or standard transceiver and use it as a tabletop controller, for only $9.95. And since my KPE-08 came with 3 switches (2 universal, 1 standard), I guess I can spend the extra $9.95 for one of these. Comparatively, simply-automated.com also makes available a pedestal with a built-in universal transceiver and an 8-button faceplate for $119 (Automated Outlet). Also note that a universal transceiver with 8-button faceplate sells separately for $99.95 (AO), so it seems you're paying an extra $10 for someone to put the transceiver in the pedestal for you if you pay the full $119.
5. One of UPB's big selling points is true 2-way status notification. What this does NOT mean (to my great disappointment) is that you can know the status of a light across the house. My new universal transceiver switch (with 8-button faceplate, I can't stress how great that is) gives an indication that the overhead light is turned on by switching the color of the LED. Howver, when I activate my wife's lamp module, no positive indication is given anywhere. Obviously, I can see the lamp come on since I'm in the same room, but what if I was trying to turn on the lights in the living room? How would I really know if they came on? I suppose I was expecting two-way status notification of every link on the switch, not just the primary load.
6. Although the switch came pre-programmed to control the local load, I didn't see any way in UPStart to change this. That is, my button #1 controls the overhead light in the bedroom (I made it a toggle). Suppose I wanted button 7 to do this instead? I didn't see a straightforward way to make this work, but I guess I could have overlooked something.
7. There is no way for me to control the overhead light separately from the overhead fan (they are one appliance). That is, if I want to turn off my overhead light but leave the fan running (it's hot in Texas, even at night), I still have to pull a cord on the fan. Would be nice to control these separately (especially once I get a tabletop controller for my nightstand).
OK, thanks for letting me share my story. Depsite the initial underwhelm-ment (is that a word?), I'm still going to go forward and install the rest of my starter kit (with the possible exception of the phase coupler if it is not needed, and also probably one of the universal transceivers to save it for the tabletop pedestal). I imagine once I get more things up an running, it will just get cooler and cooler.