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A list of how-to guides for installing, configuring, and using CastleOS

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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 2/25/2016	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 Rick Lugg wrote: Greetings I am considering moving from the so-called Smarthome Manager using 1132CU to a CastleOS based solution. I can tell that I will need to leave my PC running and connected to the PLM. I have an 1132CU currently. I have a mixture of X10 and Insteon switches as well as an X10 Dusk Sensor (as part of a security light) If I introduce CastleOS to my PC can I experiment with functions without interfering with the current PLM program? I realise if I turn a light off as an experiment in the evening, my 1132CU program will not automatically turn it back on, but I want to make sure that the dawn/dusk sunrise/sunset features all work the necessary lights etc before I clear the 1132CU programming. Although I was able to get around the Daylight Saving time issue on the 1132 initially, now the Smarthome Manager will not actually download sunrise/sunset times to it, so I think I need a new control solution. Any guidance and help would be appreciated. Hey Rick! Good news is our sunrise sunset event scheduling options are rock solid, and we also offer shortcuts for scheduled sunrise/sunset events with our DawnGuard and NightShield "intelligence features". If I understand correctly, you have a 1132CU PLC, and want to use a 2413 PLM side by side with the eventual goal of replacing the PLC? If that is the case, that is correct. Once you have CastleOS programmed and connected to the PLM, you can send out X10 commands separate from the PLC, and the PLC will still run normally. Eventually once your testing is complete, you can drop the PLC and use only the PLM. Thanks, Chris
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Rick Lugg Posts: 2 2/25/2016	Rick Lugg Posts: 2 Thanks for coming back quickly Chris. I was hoping that the CastleOS software could interface through the 1132CU. I believe it can be used as a slave PLM as well as a free-standing controller. Thanks Rick
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 2/25/2016	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 The PLM was the replacement for the PLC. The 1132CU is deprecated and no longer supported by Smarthome, nor the lastest INSTEON gear, so maybe time to upgrade to a 2413U
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Tim Bateson Posts: 53 2/3/2017	Tim Bateson Posts: 53 After ordering and installing Insteon dimable light switches I can not find out where I can locate the Address to use to add a device. I believe that castleOS recognizes insteon negating the need for a hub. I presume it is a "switch link" for model and the fan switch on off only would be a on/off module, or "switch link" too? I do not have any instruction as to the pairing. So I guess that when I enter the info on add a device under the insteon menu it appears? Thanks in advance as always!
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 2/3/2017	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 Hi Tim, the INSTEON address is on a sticker on the INSTEON device itself. It will be in the format of 11.XX.22. You do need an interface to talk to INSTEON, either the USB adapter or the INSTEON hub, we support all of them. Thanks!
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Tim Bateson Posts: 53 2/3/2017	Tim Bateson Posts: 53 Thank you! Cant believe I missed those! WOW! I ask the question here for expediency sake..... I have a z stick gen 5 will that is not recognizing the switches. I am not sure if it is supposed to. Do I need the serial modem interface/ the insteon hub for home kit/insteon hub central controler? I plan to get all the swithes, cameras and lights from insteon. Chris Cicchitelli wrote: Hi Tim, the INSTEON address is on a sticker on the INSTEON device itself. It will be in the format of 11.XX.22. You do need an interface to talk to INSTEON, either the USB adapter or the INSTEON hub, we support all of them. Thanks!
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 2/3/2017	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 The Z-Wave stick talks to Z-Wave. The INSTEON serial modem talks to INSTEON
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Tim Bateson Posts: 53 2/4/2017	Tim Bateson Posts: 53 The new insteon hub says it does not have a PLM, is that a problem? I dont know what it is but I see the acronym on the site a lot. If I get the hub can I use the insteon tab under driver settings? Does no PLM mean no bridge? I see its 2245-222 so the settings should work depending on the port. Im learning something! Chris Cicchitelli wrote: The Z-Wave stick talks to Z-Wave. The INSTEON serial modem talks to INSTEON
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 2/4/2017	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 They say it doesn't have a PLM, but it does It will work, though we do recommend the USB PLM over the hub, it's more reliable.
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Tim Bateson Posts: 53 2/16/2017	Tim Bateson Posts: 53 Getting Castle to recognize Insteon dimmer switches via the INsteon serial USB 2413U I have the drivers installed via the exe file provided on the instructions. I have com port 3 assigned to the Serial USB 2413U. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers making the com port disappear and reappear to ensure I was correct with the driver installation. I installed 2 dimmer switches and multi linked them to each other to operate a hall light. I added the devices as insteon devices neither a slave since insteon multi links them together. I entered the address in the correct format 44.D7.76 added them to 2 groups and used Select Linc as the model. The typed was dimmer switch. If I turn on the lights manually CastleOS does not update. If I try to turn them on via the Castle manual input on the device menu it shows up green and at 100% for about 2 seconds then turns red and 0%. I only have these 2 switches installed and am waiting to be sure I can get this going before installing the rest of the lighting and colored LEDs. Thanks for any experience or guidance you can provide! edited by Tabcab1329 on 2/16/2017
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Tim Bateson Posts: 53 2/16/2017	Tim Bateson Posts: 53 I got the PLM ID from the 2413U under settings and enabled insteon so the wordy first message is mostly moot. Do I need to manage the insteon network from the settings menu or will CastleOS see the ID under devices? IF so what is the group number. I presume its for a hub and not for the USB. DO I link Castle OS with my switches under manage insteon network and if so do I press link on settings first and then link the switch or do I set the switch in link mode then click link? I got the switches to link! YEAH! NOw CastleOS will recognize that they are on and off when I manually turn them on and off but when I try to activate them using the software from castleos they will not work. OK HERES THE ANSWER! You have to multi link the switches to CastleOS. So Press the linking button on the Insteon switch until it beeps, then press the link button under settings. That will link it one way. Then press the link button on CastleOS and then press the set button on the Insteon switch. This will link the switch to Insteon both ways! edited by Tabcab1329 on 2/19/2017 edited by Tabcab1329 on 2/19/2017
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 3/6/2017	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 Hey Tim, wanted to let you know based in part on your feedback we published a video to YouTube to explain how to set up INSTEON and link the devices, with a special highlight on the two way linking that is needed as you discovered. Thank you for your feedback!
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Vicking1977 Posts: 1 6/5/2017	Vicking1977 Posts: 1 How do I get
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Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 9/3/2017	Chris Cicchitelli Administrator Posts: 3390 Vicking1977 wrote: How do I get Hi Vicking, what can I help with?
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