---
layout: page
title: "Insteon"
description: "Instructions on how to set up an Insteon Modem (PLM or Hub) locally within Home Assistant."
date:  2018-08-20 16:00
sidebar: true
comments: false
sharing: true
footer: true
logo: insteon.png
ha_category: Hub
ha_iot_class: "Local Push"
ha_version: 0.77
---

This component adds "local push" support for INSTEON Modems allowing
linked INSTEON devices to be used within Home Assistant as binary sensors,
lights, fans, sensors and switches.  Device support is provided by the
underlying [insteonplm] package.  It is known to work with the [2413U] USB and
[2412S] RS242 flavors of PLM and the [2448A7] USB stick. It has also been
tested to work with the [2242] and [2245] Hubs.

[insteonplm]: https://github.com/nugget/python-insteonplm
[2413U]: https://www.insteon.com/powerlinc-modem-usb
[2412S]: https://www.insteon.com/powerlinc-modem-serial
[2448A7]: https://www.smarthome.com/insteon-2448a7-portable-usb-adapter.html
[2245]: https://www.insteon.com/insteon-hub/
[2242]: https://www.insteon.com/support-knowledgebase/2014/9/26/insteon-hub-owners-manual


### {% linkable_title INSTEON Modem configuration %}

To set up an INSTEON Powerline Modem (PLM) device such as the [2413U], use the
following configuration:

```yaml
# PLM configuration variables
insteon:
  port: SERIAL_PORT
```

To set up an INSTEON Hub model [2245], use the following configuration:
 
```yaml
# Hub 2245 configuration variables
insteon:
  host: HOST
  ip_port: IP_PORT
  username: USERNAME
  password: PASSWORD
  hub_version: 2
```

To set up an INSTEON Hub model [2242], use the following configuration:

```yaml
# Hub 2242 configuration variables
insteon:
  host: HOST
  ip_port: IP_PORT
  hub_version: 1
```

Additional configuration items are available:

```yaml
insteon:
  <PLM or Hub configuration>
  device_override:
     - address: ADDRESS
       cat: CATEGORY
       subcat: SUBCATEGORY
       firmware: FIRMWARE
       product_key: PRODUCT_KEY
  x10_devices:
     - housecode: HOUSECODE
       unitcode: UNITCODE
       platform: PLATFORM
       steps: STEPS
  x10_all_units_off: HOUSECODE
  x10_all_lights_on: HOUSECODE
  x10_all_lights_off: HOUSECODE
```
Configuration variables:
- **port** (*Required for PLM setup*): The serial or USB port for your device,
  e.g., `/dev/ttyUSB0` or `COM3`
- **host** (*Required for Hub setup*): The host name or IP address of the Hub.
- **ip_port** (*Optional for Hub setup*): The IP port number of the Hub. For
  Hub model [2245] (i.e. Hub version 2) the default port is 25105. For the Hub
  model [2242] (i.e. Hub version 1) the default port is 9761. Use the Insteon
  app to find the port number for your specific Hub.
- **username** (*Required for Hub version 2 setup*): The username to login in
  to the local Hub. This is required for Hub [2245] (i.e. Hub version 2) setup.
  You can find your Hub username on the bottom of the Hub or you can use the
  Insteon app.
- **password** (*Required for Hub version 2 setup*): The password to login in
  to the local Hub. This is required for Hub [2245] (i.e. Hub version 2) setup.
  You can find your Hub password on the bottom of the Hub or you can use the
  Insteon app.
- **hub_version** (*Required for Hub version 1 setup*): The Hub version number
  where model [2242] is Hub version 1 and model [2245] is Hub version 2.
  (Default is 2)
- **device_override** (*Optional*): Override the default device definition
  - *ADDRESS* is found on the device itself in the form 1A.2B.3C or 1a2b3c
  - *CATEGORY* is found in the back of the device's User Guide in the form of
    0x00 - 0xff
  - *SUBCATEGORY* is found in the back of the device's User Guide in the form 
    of 0x00 - 0xff
  - *FIRMWARE* and *PRODUCT_KEY* are more advanced options and will typically 
    not be used.
- **x10_devices** (*Optional*): Define X10 devices to control or respond to
  - *HOUSECODE* is the X10 housecode values a - p
  - *UNITCODE* is the X10 unit code values 1 - 16
  - *PLATFORM* is the Home Assistant Platform to associate the device with. 
    The following platforms are supported
    - binary_sensor: Used for on/off devices or keypad buttons that are read-only.
    - light: Used for dimmable X10 devices
    - switch: Used for On/Off X10 devices
  - *STEPS* is the number of dim/bright steps the device supports. Used for
    dimmable X10 devices only. Default value is 22.
- **x10_all_units_off** (*Optional*): Creates a binary_sensor that responds
  to the X10 standard command for All Units Off.
- **x10_all_lights_on** (*Optional*):  Creates a binary_sensor that responds
  to the X10 standard command for All Lights On
- **x10_all_lights_off** (*Optional*): Creates a binary_sensor that responds
  to the X10 standard command for All Lights Off

### {% linkable_title Autodiscovery %}

The first time autodiscovery runs, the duration may require up to 20 seconds 
per device. Subsequent startups will occur much quicker using cached device
information. If a device is not recognized during autodiscovery, you can add
the device to the **device_override** configuration. 

In order for a device to be discovered, it must be linked to the INSTEON Modem
as either a responder or a controller. 

### {% linkable_title Linking Devices to the INSTEON Modem %}

In order for any two Insteon devices to talk with one another, they must be 
linked. For an overview of device linking, please read the Insteon page on
[understanding linking]. The Insteon Modem module supports All-Linking through 
[Development Tools] service calls. The following services are available:

- **insteon.add_all_link**: Puts the Insteon Modem (IM) into All-Linking 
mode. The IM can be set as a controller or a responder. If the IM is a
controller, put the IM into linking mode then press the SET button on the
device. If the IM is a responder, press the SET button on the device then
put the IM into linking mode.
- **insteon.delete_all_link**: Tells the Insteon Modem (IM) to remove an 
All-Link record from the All-Link Database of the IM and a device. Once the IM 
is set to delete the link, press the SET button on the corresponding device 
to complete the process.
- **insteon.load_all_link_database**: Load the All-Link Database for a 
device. WARNING - Loading a device All-Link database may take a LONG time and
may need to be repeated to obtain all records.
- **insteon.print_all_link_database**: Print the All-Link Database for a 
device. Requires that the All-Link Database is loaded first.
- **insteon.print_im_all_link_database**: Print the All-Link Database for 
the INSTEON Modem (IM).

If you are looking for more advanced options, you can use the 
[insteonplm_interactive] command line tool that is distributed with the 
[insteonplm] Python module. Please see the documentation on the [insteonplm] 
GitHub site. Alternatively, you can download [HouseLinc] which runs on any 
Windows PC, or you can use [Insteon Terminal] which is open source and runs 
on most platforms. SmartHome no longer supports HouseLinc, but it still 
works. Insteon Terminal is a very useful tool but please read the disclaimers 
carefully, they are important.

[understanding linking]: http://www.insteon.com/support-knowledgebase/2015/1/28/understanding-linking
[Development Tools]: https://www.home-assistant.io/docs/tools/dev-tools/
[HouseLinc]: https://www.smarthome.com/houselinc.html
[Insteon Terminal]: https://github.com/pfrommerd/insteon-terminal
[insteonplm_interactive]: https://github.com/nugget/python-insteonplm#command-line-interface

### {% linkable_title Customization %} 

The only configuration item that is necessary is the PLM port or Hub IP 
address, username and password so that Home Assistant can connect to the 
INSTEON Modem. This will expose all the supported INSTEON devices which exist
in the modem’s ALL-Link database. However, devices will only be shown by their
INSTEON hex address (e.g., “1A.2B.3C”) which can be a bit unwieldy. As you link
and unlink devices using the ‘Set’ buttons, they’ll be added and removed from
Home Assistant automatically.

You can use the normal Home Assistant [device customization] section of your
configuration to assign friendly names and special icons to your devices.  This
is especially useful for setting device_class on your binary_sensor INSTEON
devices.

[device customization]: /getting-started/customizing-devices/

### {% linkable_title Device Overrides %} 

INSTEON devices are added to Home Assistant using the platform(s) that make the
most sense given the model and features of the hardware. The features of the 
INSTEON devices are built into the Home Assistant platform. Changing the 
platform is not recommended. There are two primary uses for the 
**device_override** feature.
- Devices that do not respond during autodiscovery. This is common for battery
  operated devices.
- Devices that have not been fully developed. This allows an unknown device to
  be mapped to a device that operates similarly to another device.

### {% linkable_title Example Configuration with Options%} 

```yaml
# Full example of Insteon configuration with customizations and overrides

homeassistant:
  customize:
    light.a1b2c3:
      friendly_name: Bedside Lamp
    binary_sensor.a2b3c4:
      friendly_name: Garage Door
      device_class: opening

insteon:
  port: /dev/ttyUSB0
  device_override:
    - address: a1b2c3  # Hidden Door Sensor [2845-222]
      cat: 0x10
      subcat: 0x11     
```

### {% linkable_title What NOT to do %}

Insteon Modem is a top-level component and device discovery will identify 
the Home Assistant platform the device belongs in. As such, do not 
declare Insteon devices in other platforms. For example, this configuration
will NOT work:

```yaml
light:
  - platform: insteon
    address: 1a2b3c
```

### {% linkable_title Events and Mini-Remotes %}

Mini-Remote devices do not appear as Home Assistant entities. They generate 
events. The following events are available:

- **insteon.button_on**
  - **address**: (required) The Insteon device address in lower case without
    dots (e.g., 1a2b3c)
  - **button**: (Optional) The button id in lower case. For a 4-button remote
    the values are `a` to `d`. For an 8 button remote the values are `a` to `g`. For
    a one-button remote this field is not used.
- **insteon.button_of**
  - **address**: (required) The Insteon device address in lower case without
    dots (e.g., 1a2b3c)
  - **button**: (Optional) The button id in lower case. For a 4-button remote
    the values are a to d. For an 8 button remote the values are `a` to `g`. For
    a one-button remote this field is not used.

This allows the mini-remotes to be configured as triggers for automations. Here
is an example of how to use these events for automations:

```
automation:
  # 4 or 8 button remote with button c pressed
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: insteon.button_on
    event_data:
      address: 1a2b3c
      button: c
  condition:
    - condition: state
      entity_id: light.some_light
      state: 'off'
  action:
    service: light.turn_on
    entity_id: light.some_light

  # single button remote
  trigger:
    platform: event
    event_type: insteon.button_on
    event_data:
      address: 1a2b3c
  condition:
    - condition: state
      entity_id: light.some_light
      state: 'off'
  action:
    service: light.turn_on
    entity_id: light.some_light
```

### {% linkable_title Known Issues with the INSTEON Hub %}

The INSTEON Hub has three known issues that are inherent to the design of the 
Hub:

1. If you see multiple error messages in the log file stating the Hub
connection is closed, and reconnection has failed, this generally requires
the Hub to be restarted to reconnect.

2. You cannot use both Home Assistant and the INSTEON app. If you do, the
changes made in the app will not appear in Home Assistant. Changes made in
Home Assistant will appear in the app after a period of time, however.

3. The Hub response times can be very slow. This is due to the Hub polling
devices frequently. Since only one INSTEON message can be broadcast at a time,
messages to and from Home Assistant can be delayed.
