You should speak to Rob Harrison, Scott.
Piers
On 11/08/2012, Scott Gomez
-- snip
>
> hoping also to find along the way is an interested architect or
> architecture student that looks at something like this--and other ideas I
> have (I'm sure not all of them good... and perhaps even not advisable)--as
> an "interesting project" in a climate as harsh as Baja, and with a client
> who'd be more than willing to be a bit of a Guinea pig for new ideas.
> Frankly, I don't think I've a hope of learning enough regarding building
> design before I want to get going on actual construction (still a few years
> away) not to need some expert advice from time to time.
>
> ---
> Scott Gomez
>
> On Fri, Aug 10, 2012 at 6:28 AM, Chuck Norcutt <
> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the good feedback. I'll have to do a lot more thinking but
>> right now I think I can get by with a Smartlinc. As an ex-programmer I
>> like the idea of user-defined variables or having an offset applied to
>> sunrise/sunset but think I can do without. For the first lights on
>> event in the morning I would have that based on time of day rather than
>> sunrise. The corresponding off event can also be based on time of day.
>> The second lights on event should be based on sunset and perhaps some
>> offset but I think I can handle that by lying to the device about my
>> longtitude. The second lights off events would also be based on time of
>> day. Time of day will, of course, change with daylight savings time but
>> I can handle that as long as I have remote access over the net.
>>
>> So, I think the Smartlinc will handle the lights OK and I haven't had an
>> irrigation system for the past 5 years. But can you think of any
>> significant differences with respect to cameras? If I could get 3-5
>> cameras to take a snapshot at least once/day and send me an email with
>> photo attached I think that would suffice. I think I'd assign one of
>> them to just watch the thermostat. Of course, triggering a camera based
>> on a loud sound or other event would be even better.
>>
>> As to watching the thermostat there is also a freeze sensor available
>> for use with an Insteon IO Linc but I've been unable to decipher how to
>> drive the sending of an email message using that signal like the cameras
>> supposedly do.
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>>
>> On 8/10/2012 12:52 AM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>> > Perhaps you shouldn't. The major difference between the two, as far as
>> > I
>> > could see, is in the programming flexibility and capacity. More money:
>> more
>> > flexibility and capacity. I might have started with a smartlinc had it
>> been
>> > available a few years ago when I first got interested in this stuff.
>> >
>> > ISY has some features I don't believe you'll find at all in the
>> smartlinc.
>> > 1) User-defined variables 2) the ability to base actions on time before
>> or
>> > after sunrise/sunset 3) the ability to "re-use" programs: one program
>> > can
>> > call another in the ISY 4) many more conditions available for use in
>> > programming. 5) Full integration with ELK security systems. 6)
>> Downloadable
>> > add-on modules (extra cost) that add capabilities.
>> >
>> > A simple example: my ISY at the house in Mexico turns on porch lights
>> based
>> > on "sunset + 15 minutes" rather than simply "at sunset". More complex:
>> The
>> > sprinklers for the plantings there turn on for a frequency and duration
>> > using different programs that I enable/disable based on time of year,
>> > and
>> > whether the sprinklers are in front of the house (shaded, cool, eastern
>> > exposure) or the back (very sunny, hot, western exposure).
>> >
>> > If you don't feel you'll need those sorts of capabilities then the
>> > smartlinc may well be sufficient. Its manual is on line at
>> > smarthome.com
>> ,
>> > I'd suggest looking through it to see if it'll meet your needs. It's a
>> heck
>> > of a lot less expensive. You'll find the manual for the 99i/994i series
>> on
>> > line at universal-devices.com.
>> >
>> > By the way, the folks at UD have proved to be extremely patient,
>> > helpful,
>> > friendly and quite responsive over the contacts I've had with them. For
>> me,
>> > that's been a big plus, as initially I had quite a lot of questions,
>> > and
>> a
>> > few years back, there wasn't that much on-line about this stuff. Can't
>> say
>> > one way or the other with the smarthome support folks, as I've never
>> > had
>> to
>> > use them, since all I've done is purchase devices there.
>> >
>> > Phases: You'll need probably a minimum of two dual-band devices to
>> > handle
>> > the phases in the house... depending on how many Insteon devices you
>> > plan
>> > to employ. Quite easily handled now, as so many devices include
>> > dual-band
>> > capability. Or bridge the phases as Moose mentioned.
>> >
>> >
>> > On Thu, Aug 9, 2012 at 7:58 PM, Chuck Norcutt <
>> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> wrote:
>> >
>> >> First question is why should I spend $300 for an ISY controller rather
>> >> than $100 for a simple Smartlink controller?
>> >>
>> >> Chuck Norcut
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On 8/9/2012 9:05 PM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>> >>> Funny you should ask this now. I've just received my new ISY-994i,
>> >> Insteon
>> >>> thermostat, and PowerLinc Modem in the mail 2 days ago. Now working
>> >>> on
>> >>> programming to accomplish what I want, which is, here in sunny
>> >>> too-hot-at-the-moment southern California, using inputs from the
>> >>> "flex
>> >> you
>> >>> power" alerts that the ISY is capable of reading to tell the
>> >>> thermostat
>> >> to
>> >>> turn off the air conditioning when a "red
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