Although my Z-wave devices are working well (2 thermostats, 6 wall dimmers, 1 appliance module), I’m thinking of adding the Insteon interface to my Vera for the following reason:
The I/O Link low voltage contact closure (P/N 2450) is the only device I see that gives me control of anything I can run off of a dry-contact relay, and also allows input from any kind of sensing device I connect to it. For me, that has been the missing link into Vera, a way to bring status from switches or photoelectric sensors etc into the event environment.
For the price of one 2412U and one 2450, I may give this a go to see what I can do. Does anybody have thoughts on this? There are also a bunch of kits available with sensing and control stuff included. Take a look at the following link:
http://www.smarthome.com/2450/I-O-Linc-INSTEON-Low-Voltage-Contact-Closure-Interface-1-In-1-Out-/p.aspx
I’d like to hear other people’s ideas or comments.
Anthony
Anthony, I think you’ve touched on the best bang-for-your-buck device in this class, though for completeness, I’d like to share the following items:
The Insteon EZIO40 (formerly EZIO4) at SmartHome:
http://www.smarthome.com/31283/EZIO40-INSTEON-4-Output-Relay-Load-Controller/p.aspx
And all of its big brothers in the “EZ” series, over at SimpleHomeNet:
http://www.simplehomenet.com/cats.asp?id=12
Finally, the highly useful X10-based solution known as “Universal Module”:
http://www.smarthome.com/2010/X10-Universal-Module/p.aspx
($22)
And its less able cousin, who can only sense, the “PowerFlash Module”:
http://www.smarthome.com/4060/X10-Powerflash-Interface/p.aspx
(also $22)
(Of course, as with any X10 module, neither of the last items can be polled by Insteon or Vera, but both Send X10 commands, and the Univ. Mod. Receives.)
Again, for completeness’ sake, since you don’t specify that you’re ONLY after dry-contact / low voltage solutions, here are a couple of items that let you tap into 120V (or lower) sensors and circuits:
The Insteon In-LineLinc (Non-Dimming) from SmartHome:
http://www.smarthome.com/2475S2/INSTEON-In-LineLinc-On-Off-Module-Non-dimming-w-Sense/p.aspx
($50)
[quote=“LibraSun, post:2, topic:164855”]Anthony, I think you’ve touched on the best bang-for-your-buck device in this class, though for completeness, I’d like to share the following items:
The Insteon EZIO40 (formerly EZIO4) at SmartHome:
http://www.smarthome.com/31283/EZIO40-INSTEON-4-Output-Relay-Load-Controller/p.aspx
And all of its big brothers in the “EZ” series, over at SimpleHomeNet:
http://www.simplehomenet.com/cats.asp?id=12
Finally, the highly useful X10-based solution known as “Universal Module”:
http://www.smarthome.com/2010/X10-Universal-Module/p.aspx
($22)
And its less able cousin, who can only sense, the “PowerFlash Module”:
http://www.smarthome.com/4060/X10-Powerflash-Interface/p.aspx
(also $22)
(Of course, as with any X10 module, neither of the last items can be polled by Insteon or Vera, but both Send X10 commands, and the Univ. Mod. Receives.)[/quote]
Bringing back the olds days for me when I controlled my garage doors with a Universal Module and a PowerFlash module.
The amount of Insteon and X10 devices is great, and I have a number in a box somewhere myself. I hope I am not too tempted to put X10 back in service as I know this will also bring back the old problems of reliability and phase coupling issues.
BTW, the gc100 also gives you generic i/o plus infrared and is supported in the Luup version.