Creating Devices

Create new devices in Indigo to define the INSTEON and X10 compatible hardware used in your home, such as light switch modules, lamp modules, appliance modules, irrigation controllers, thermostats, and motion detectors. This will allow you to remotely control those lights, appliances, etc., and will allow you to inspect the state of those lights, appliances, etc. from your Mac or a Web browser.

Creating INSTEON Devices

Indigo uses Smart Link Syncing to quickly define and link INSTEON devices with the PowerLinc. This link syncing process will allow Indigo to control and see messages from the device.

First, make sure that Indigo has enabled communication with the interface. If Indigo is not online with the interface, then choose Connect from the Interface menu. See connecting the Interface for more details.

Additionally, make sure you have your Access Point RFs (or SignaLinc RFs) correctly installed on opposite power legs. If the Access Point RFs are improperly installed or missing, then you may not be able to control some of your INSTEON devices. See the instructions included with your Access Point RF pair for installation details. Tip: Access Point RFs do not bridge X10 signals, so if you also have X10 devices you will need an additional bridge.

  1. Make sure the device is properly wired or plugged in.
  2. Select Device List from the View menu.
  3. Press the New... button at the top of the main window.
  4. Name the device, for example "hallway lamp."
  5. Optionally give the device a Description.
  6. Select the INSTEON radio button Type.
  7. Press the Define and Sync... button.
  8. Find the INSTEON address sticker on the device and enter the address in Indigo. All INSTEON devices have an address sticker (ex: 00.1B.5A). For switch devices, like the SwitchLinc or ToggleLinc, you must remove the switch face plate to see the sticker. For ControLincs you must remove the stand off the back. Alternatively, you can hold down the remote device's toggle up paddle (or set button) for 10 seconds and Indigo will automatically fill in the address for you.
  9. Press the Start button.
  10. Wait for the Smart Link Syncing steps to complete and press the Close button.

The sync process can take a few minutes to complete. Lamp and appliance devices normally take less than a minute, but KeypadLincs and ControLincs can take a few minutes because of the additional link information needed for all of the buttons.

If the sync process fails or does not complete, then make sure that the device is correctly wired or plugged in, both Access Point RFs are installed and on opposite power legs, and that you do not have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or surge protector strip plugged into the outlet the PowerLinc is using. If syncing still fails and the device is portable (ApplianceLinc or LampLinc), then try plugging it directly into the pass through outlet on the PowerLinc. See our website troubleshooting tips for additional help.

After the sync dialog is closed, some devices, such as the KeypadLinc, EZRain, Thermostat Adapter, and EZIO8SA, have additional custom settings shown in the main device dialog. To send these custom settings to the device, press the Set button.

Once the device sync process is complete, you can test the INSTEON communication by manually controlling the device.

Creating X10 Devices

  1. Select Device List from the View menu.
  2. Press the New... button at the top of the main window.
  3. Name the device, for example "hallway lamp."
  4. Optionally give the device a Description.
  5. Select the X10 radio button Type.
  6. Select the device Model popup item that most closely matches the X10 device hardware used, for example Lamp Module.
  7. Choose the X10 Address of the device.

If you don't see your exact device Type listed in the popup, then you can manually customize the settings for the device. Tip: most X10 devices come with either a default X10 address or no X10 address - you must follow the instructions that came with your device to set it address correctly.

When some device types are selected, such as SwitchLinc modules, additional choices are shown to set custom settings. To send these custom settings to the device, press the Set button.

Once the device is defined, you can test the X10 communication by manually controlling the device.

Accessing Devices Remotely via Indigo Touch or a Web Browser

Indigo includes a built-in Web server that allows remote access and control of your Devices from Indigo Touch or any modern Web browser (Safari, Firefox, Opera). Follow the instructions in the starting Indigo Server section to make sure that the following options are enabled: Start and connect to Indigo Server, Allow remote access, and Enable iPhone, iPod touch, and remote Web browser access.

You can then access the Devices from the Devices Tab in Indigo Touch or the browser by choosing the Go->Browser Basic Pages menu item. You can also create custom graphical Control Pages for accessing and controlling your Devices (Pro only feature). For information on how to access the Indigo Web server remotely from other computers on your home network see the remote Indigo access section.

To make a device available on Indigo Touch or your web browser, select the Display in remote UI checkbox. Tip: if the device is in a folder, that folder must also be marked for Remote Display.