No Brain

[1152 33]

My Smarthouse lost its brain on Sunday. According to my wife neither the house nor I look too smart at the moment…

The house from 1952 was old and needed a total renovation. So we removed all the old wiring together with the rest of the inside to include the floors and walls. With all new electrical, cat6 wiring, and fiber – add balanced ventilation and the water-water heat pump with under floor heating system – it was time to add some magic, or let us say a brain for the house to make it intelligent, or smart if you will…

So I invested in Fibaro; first the HC2, and then some devices, and then more devices. First a few hours, then more and more hours building the system and the (LUA) code. Starting with switches for lights and equipment, then sensors, and then rebuilding the ventilation control system. Automation and integration became the Smarthouse mantra. Alarm, Sonos and multimedia within reach. Just needed the 4.x to get the remaining functionality. The future was bright and maybe not too distant…

Then darkness. Well not quite, actually it started as a beep, then more. All my 10 Fibaro smoke sensors wanted to tell me they were not quite happy. A quick brain test proved it was gone. All blue leds rapidly flashing, but that was all. No contact and no control of my once so smarthouse.

Three days later Fibaro support and I agree. The HC2 has to go back to where it came from. While waiting for a new brain for my house it is time to think – hard.

1. My family and I are not willing to live with a smarthouse that have so little redundancy before being totally lame. So I believe I need some sort of backup/secondary controller to match the HC2. Recommendations are welcome.

2. The backup should of course:

a. Provide the all the daily controller functionality – eg no need to program new scenes, or add new devices. But be able to operate the house as normal.

b. Do its job during a power out as well – eg it needs some sort of battery/UPS.

c. Preferably have a gsm module to keep in contact with the world in the unlikely event that my fiber ISP-service goes downs.

d. And of course it updates the HC2 when that comes back online..

3. I don’t know why my HC2 said goodbye for now, but for protection, redundancy, and safety. Should the HC2 be supported by a UPS, if so how should it be set up? (As far as I know there are no controlled shut down interface for the HC2).

4. Other things to think about? Will I be able to build a system with an acceptable redundancy, or will I have to rethink the whole concept. At present not a single regular wall switch in my house to control lights, ventilation and the like the conventional hard wired way…

[kiwi 2]

One thing that should be good (Fibaro listen to that), is the possiblity to transfert configuration from old to new HC2 (HC3... what ever) without ask all modules to be reinserted into the ZWave network...

I have some modules that are *really* difficult to be accessed...

[rajp 14]

One thing that should be good (Fibaro listen to that), is the possiblity to transfert configuration from old to new HC2 (HC3... what ever) without ask all modules to be reinserted into the ZWave network...

I have some modules that are *really* difficult to be accessed...

Very much agree with this.. why can't we export and import the entire setup??

[j.nowacki 5]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

[alex88 71]

My Smarthouse lost its brain on Sunday. According to my wife neither the house nor I look too smart at the moment…

The house from 1952 was old and needed a total renovation. So we removed all the old wiring together with the rest of the inside to include the floors and walls. With all new electrical, cat6 wiring, and fiber – add balanced ventilation and the water-water heat pump with under floor heating system – it was time to add some magic, or let us say a brain for the house to make it intelligent, or smart if you will…

So I invested in Fibaro; first the HC2, and then some devices, and then more devices. First a few hours, then more and more hours building the system and the (LUA) code. Starting with switches for lights and equipment, then sensors, and then rebuilding the ventilation control system. Automation and integration became the Smarthouse mantra. Alarm, Sonos and multimedia within reach. Just needed the 4.x to get the remaining functionality. The future was bright and maybe not too distant…

Then darkness. Well not quite, actually it started as a beep, then more. All my 10 Fibaro smoke sensors wanted to tell me they were not quite happy. A quick brain test proved it was gone. All blue leds rapidly flashing, but that was all. No contact and no control of my once so smarthouse.

Three days later Fibaro support and I agree. The HC2 has to go back to where it came from. While waiting for a new brain for my house it is time to think – hard.

1. My family and I are not willing to live with a smarthouse that have so little redundancy before being totally lame. So I believe I need some sort of backup/secondary controller to match the HC2. Recommendations are welcome.

2. The backup should of course:

a. Provide the all the daily controller functionality – eg no need to program new scenes, or add new devices. But be able to operate the house as normal.

b. Do its job during a power out as well – eg it needs some sort of battery/UPS.

c. Preferably have a gsm module to keep in contact with the world in the unlikely event that my fiber ISP-service goes downs.

d. And of course it updates the HC2 when that comes back online..

3. I don’t know why my HC2 said goodbye for now, but for protection, redundancy, and safety. Should the HC2 be supported by a UPS, if so how should it be set up? (As far as I know there are no controlled shut down interface for the HC2).

4. Other things to think about? Will I be able to build a system with an acceptable redundancy, or will I have to rethink the whole concept. At present not a single regular wall switch in my house to control lights, ventilation and the like the conventional hard wired way…

My HC2 backup USB drive is no longer working which means that I can not longer take backups of my system. I have been told by Fibaro Support that I need to send the whole HC2 unit in for repair. I have been reluctatnly holding on to the HC2 now for about 2 months since the problem was diagnosed as I am unwilling to lose the functionality I have and not continue to develop on it.

Can you please tell me how long the turnaround time is from sending your HC2 in to getting it back up and running? I need to lnow if I should go home and cry or whether it will just be a week of living it rough

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[kiwi 2]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

I agree with you, can this be done using, for example, passphrase / gpg key / whatever that can be saved somewhere to allow us to reprogram faster all the house in case of HC2 / HCL (/HC3?) burning / failure ?

I try to do direct association of lot of stuff, but some needs brain...

[1152 33]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

This has been argued in a previous post from Fibaro. From my point of view:

1. Safety has many aspects to it. May be Fibaro does not realize how dependent we all will get of the system as we continue to develop and integrate. Add to that the issues if you begin to depend on remote control. (My house when I am away or my summer house, what about the different alarms I expect to get if a certain condition is met?) For now my Fibaro fire/smoke alarm system is out – why my wife did not fancy all the beeps from the 10 different sensors telling me they lost z-wave connection.

2. Safety as Fibaro sees it. Well to me there are pretty good both technical and practical solutions to this. Any how I can hardly agree that those concerns Fibaro raises for their z-wave system are more difficult to handle than other computer/network-systems.

That said. Fibaro please provide answers and solutions to my questions and concerns. (No need spending time defending that you don’t have a solution). I work in the aviation business, we tend to be both fairly high tech and safety minded.

[ Added: 2014-07-03, 16:34 ]

I am happy to say I’m told my new HC2 is in the mail. How much work it will take before my smarthouse again is up and running remains to be seen. I will keep you posted.

As noted, we are (or will) all (be) addicted to this development and technology. I’m willingly spending my money every day. So I raised a few questions - and I need the answers. Fibaro, listen up, I’m an addict and I and my money goes where I see solutions for sale…

[ Added: 2014-07-04, 19:12 ]

Not so happy

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/emoticons/default_icon_cry.gif" alt=":cry:" /> About the possibility to recover old config to my new HC2 (replacement directly from my national Fibaro distributor) Fibaro support simply stated:

"... should inform you that this is impossible. Copy data is possible only in our service desk. So your old one when come to us, guys from service desk fix it and resend it back to you with your old settings."

So the old broke unit has to go to Poland...

[ Added: 2014-07-05, 08:50 ]

MrZ,

> 1) Does HC2 supports SUC/SIS functionality?

not yet

> 2) Will HC2 work together with a non HC2 Controller with SUC/SIS?

yes

> 3) Can HC2 be a secondary Controller? (with or without SUC/SIS)

not yet

> 4) Can HC2 include secondary Controllers? (with or without SUC/SIS)

yes/ use LearnMode on hc2 and on second controller

So Socha /(Fibaro) could you please elaborate on the issue and update the old andwers to theese questions:

1. v4.0?

2. Considerations

3. v4.0?

[ Added: 2014-07-28, 22:44 ]

4 weeks later and DHL Santa brings a new brain to my house from Fibaro. Same old casing, but new motherboard and new mac, but with the memory (information) from my old HC2. THANKS Fibaro!

Bottom line: Very good support from Fibaro, DHL service could have been speeder, and my main system concerns are still exactly that. (Allthough Fibaro's ability to restore my old HC2 data to the new HC2 motherboard helps somewhat).

[alex88 71]

Well I am glad that you received good service. I on the other hand and sitting here on a Friday night with no idea what is going on.

My HC2 was received and signed for, by Fibaro, on Wednesday morning. I have written 6 separate emails and tried calling every number that I can find on the Fibaro website. 10 calls in total; not one answered.

At the end of the day I have not had a single reply from the service centre. I don't know if they are busy looking into my repair or if my HC2 is sitting in it's box waiting to be looked at.

Fibaro, please update me? I need my HC2 back. I'm in the middle of integrating my Satel alarm which is the most exciting aspect of my HA system. Please get it back to me ASAP.

[1152 33]

I hope your luck will change. I managed to get in contact with Fibaro every time - both by email and by phone. (Not counting the time I called after their opening/business hours).

[j.nowacki 5]

amilanov, last Friday was a day free from work, a national holiday in Poland. As far as I know you case is being processed right now.

[alex88 71]

amilanov, last Friday was a day free from work, a national holiday in Poland. As far as I know you case is being processed right now.

Yeah, I found out over last weekend that Friday was a national holiday, but in the end my HC2 was lost (in Fibaro HQ) until Tue this week and is now finally fixed, but as of today it is still not sent back to me.

Fingers crossed the service desk arrange to have it sent back tomorrow

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[Lambik 194]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

Your kidding right?

1 - If I have made a backup then I am responsible for storing it on a save place. If I lost my key from old school lock, I have to change locks when noticing. So what's the difference?

2 - If a copy of the systemsettings is copied, what can they do without the access passwords?

Maybe you can explain to me what the consequences are? Are all devices has to be exchanged?

A HC2 also can be stolen, you know....

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/emoticons/default_icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" /> If this should happen, god forbid, I surely want to know what actions have to be made.

[1152 33]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

Your kidding right?

...

A HC2 also can be stolen, you know....

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/emoticons/default_icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" /> If this should happen, god forbid, I surely want to know what actions have to be made.

I have a lot of good things to say about Fibaro, but they don't normally care to explain themselves. Hence, they tend to keep their customers left in the dark...

Based on my experience from a broken HC2: I'm older, but not a whole lot wiser about what I can do to protect myself from an other experience like I had. A stolen HC2, don't scare me more...

[Lambik 194]

Hence they tend to keep their customers left in the dark

LOL! In the Netherlands we call this a 'Freudian slip of the tongue'...

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[akatar 208]

in short:

it's my data and i can do what i want to (sounds like an old song)

i like to backup my data on a place where i choose, and restore it back when i want to on another hc2

[Quikdav 15]

This was done due to safety reasons, so no one can copy your system, install it on his own HC and controll your devices.

I'm sorry but I'm not agree with that reason.. the probalility to have some one who copy your configuration to control your devices is very very low... so It would be fine to be able to copy HC2 backup on external support to install it again on a new HC2 (in case of failure of the first one).. if I lost everything today, it would be catastrophic

[wayne 0]

Quikdav: Full ACK!