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Anonymous
InactiveNovember 13, 2007 at 1:28 amPost count: 35I have a yard gate 255 feet from the house that I need to monitor. Burying cable all that way seems a bit labor-intensive.
Is there a way I could do this using an EZSnsRF? What wireless sensor has that kind of range? Would the DAUT3000 (Dakota) with a magnetic dry contact switch do the trick, or is there something better?
InactiveNovember 14, 2007 at 2:01 pmPost count: 256The Universal Transmitter from Dakota Alert is compatible. A dry contact on it would do the trick.
Al
InactiveNovember 14, 2007 at 3:48 pmPost count: 35Thanks, Al. (Order placed.)
InactiveNovember 19, 2007 at 9:33 pmPost count: 35Received. Am waiting for the sensors to use with it.
InactiveNovember 20, 2007 at 6:12 amPost count: 256Please post your results when you get the sensors. Other users will benefit from your experience.
Thanks again and regards,Al
InactiveNovember 21, 2007 at 2:22 amPost count: 35Hi, Al.
Not going so well. Either I’m doing something wrong, or the hardware isn’t working correctly.
I’m using a Dakota universal transmitter, set to C1, paired successfully with the EzSnsRf. The utility shows both linked and in use, and the Insteon database shows exactly one link (group 1), pointing to my PLC. The Insteon commands are 11 and 13, as usual.
When I close the NC contact on the universal, nothing happens. No blink on the universal device, no activity from the EzSnsRf.
When I open the NC contact on the universal, the universal immediately blinks, and the EzSnsRf sends four (count ’em, four) messages to the PLC. First a broadcast for group 1, Cmd1 11, Cmd2 0. Then a direct message to the PLC, Cmd1 11, Cmd2 01. Either message is okay, and I can ignore the broadcast.
The problem comes in with the next two messages. They are identical to the first two, except Cmd1 is 13.
Anything I set up to use this would blink on and then immediately off. No good. I want ON when the contact’s is closed, OFF when the contact is open (or the reverse — doesn’t matter as long as it’s predictable).
Getting nothing when I close the contact, and getting both ON and OFF when I open it is useless.
I’ll test with a second universal transmitter, in case this one’s broken. But I suspect there are two problems here; one with the missing transmission, the other with the wrong info sent by the EzSnsRf.
More in a few moments.
InactiveNovember 21, 2007 at 2:42 amPost count: 35Exactly the same behavior with the second universal. These are UT-3000s, if that matters.
The EzSnsRf is Rev 1.3, Firm 52.
A bad EzSnsRf might explain the 11 followed by 13, but how to explain not getting anything from the UT-3000 when expected? I get the same behavior when using NO as when NC, except in reverse. I either get a signal when closing, or when opening, but not both.
PLEASE tell me they’re not expecting a SPDT switch. Aside from the contact bounce issue, where am I going to find a magnetic contact switch that’s not SPST?
InactiveNovember 21, 2007 at 3:16 amPost count: 35SPDT is a no-go. This thing is really bizarre.
There are three terminals on the device, NO, COM, and NC.
Here are the combinations, starting with all three terminals unconnected.
1. Short NC and COM. Nothing.
2. Open NC and COM. Signal.
3. Short NC and COM again. Nothing.
4. Short NO and COM. Nothing.
5. Open NO and COM. Nothing.
6. Short NC and COM while NO and COM are shorted. Nothing.
7. Open NC and COM while NO and COM are shorted. Nothing.
8. Short NO and COM while NC and COM are shorted. Signal.
9. Open NO and COM while NC and COM are shorted. Nothing.
10. Short NC and NO. Nothing.
11. Open NC and NO. Nothing.
12.Short COM to NC/NO. Nothing.
13. Open COM while NC and NO are still shorted. Signal.So there are three cases where a signal is sent. Opening NC and COM after they’ve been shorted; Adding NO to NC and COM already shorted; removing COM while leaving NC and NO shorted.
Dunno about you, but that logic leaves me scratching my head as to how I can connect an SPST or an SPDT and detect open and closed. I’d need some kind of logic gate, or a weird network of pull-up resistors.
To add insult to injury, I can’t tell WHAT signals are being sent, because any time I see the UT-3000 sending a signal, the EzSnsRf reports exactly the same four messages — on, on, off, off.
InactiveNovember 25, 2007 at 11:24 pmPost count: 256Sorry you are having such a hard time. There should be a permanet jumper between the common and the NC terminals. Then your switch should be a single contact between the NO and Common. When you close the contact, there should be an activation (LED on) of the UT3000 for a brief period of time, then turn off. This should be equivalent to pressing the built-in pushbutton on the UT3000.
I’m assuming the pairing of the UT3000 and the EZSnsRF is done using the pushbutton on the UT3000.
Al
InactiveNovember 25, 2007 at 11:24 pmPost count: 256Sorry you are having such a hard time. There should be a permanet jumper between the common and the NC terminals. Then your switch should be a single contact between the NO and Common. When you close the contact, there should be an activation (LED on) of the UT3000 for a brief period of time, then turn off. This should be equivalent to pressing the built-in pushbutton on the UT3000.
I’m assuming the pairing of the UT3000 and the EZSnsRF is done using the pushbutton on the UT3000.
Al
InactiveNovember 26, 2007 at 12:14 amPost count: 35Hi, Al.
1. Put the jumper between NC and COM
2. Wire my contacts to NO and COM
3. Close my contacts
4. LED on UT3000 lights, signal sent
5. EzSnsRF receives signal, tells me unit is ON (code 11)
6. Three seconds later, EzSnsRF tells me unit is OFF (code 13)
7. Open my contacts, no signal sentI need to get an ON when the contacts are closed, and and OFF when they’re open. I’m getting ON-plus-OFF when closed, and nothing when open.
If the UT3000 can only send alarms, not resets, it won’t work for what I need (a remote gate monitor). But even if that’s what it’s doing, it’s not right, because the EzSnsRf is telling me both ON and OFF for the alarm state.
InactiveNovember 27, 2007 at 6:02 amPost count: 256Now you are seeing the normal behavior. The UT3000 only sends a short signal ON then OFF when the switch is closed, and nothing when the switch opens, functioning as an alarm. I guess you need an ON when the switch is closed, and an OFF when the switch opens. It is possible to modify the UT3000. Can you call me tomorrow afternoon?
InactiveNovember 27, 2007 at 2:03 pmPost count: 35Al,
I’ll try to call you tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon. Thanks!
– j.
InactiveNovember 29, 2007 at 12:15 amPost count: 35Didn’t have a chance to call today; I’ll try again tomorrow.
InactiveNovember 30, 2007 at 11:01 pmPost count: 35Thanks for the phone conversation today. Great support!
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