The Good Guy Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 Hi all, Quick and stupid question: I planning to upgrade my system to a newer EA controller and wanted to make sure the EA3 can handle a small/mid size system and be a direct relacement to my HC800, or I must get the EA5. Of course the EA5 can handle virtually any system size, but Im finding hard to believe that a simple EA3 couldnt also handle my system. - Network is: Erlite3, cisco sg300 and Unifi AC HD and LR. My network has been solid for years. So no worries here. - 4k sqft house - 6x TVs (5 are IR controlled and 1 IP) - HC800 (Navigator NOT being used) and 2 HC250. One relay used for Garage door and one for Fireplace - 1x T3 - 2x C4 Matrix amp (8 and 4 channel) - 1x 8x8 hdmi matrix (ip) - 1x Apple TV, 1x Roku, 2x Tivos and 1 Htpc - Music is offloaded to a single Sonos connect - Lighting is offloaded to 2 Caseta bridges. Around 50x Caseta loads. - There are 6 c4 Configurable keypads - 3 IP cameras - Alarm by DSC and IT100 Not much automation/programming going on. My HC800 normally runs at 0~2% CPU and 330~350mb of RAM. My plan is to get the EA3 on the network, migrate the project and all my zigbee to it, leaving the HC800 as an “IOX” until it goes EOL for good. Then I will replace it with an actuall IOX. I dont see my system expanding by a lot in the future. Maybe another TV, an extra Apple TV or roku and a few light loads that will be offloaded to the caseta bridge anyway. Can a EA3 handle this? I really appreciate your input. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatheed Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 There's no way I would design this system on an EA-3. Would it function, now, well enough? Probably. Would it age well? Probably not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 I agree with your statement. I just dont understand why the EA3 is advertised to handle a mid size home if it cant handle my mid size system. Haha. Specially since the majority of the stuff that can cause a system to slow down (zigbee devices, music, navigator) will be offloaded to another box. thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatheed Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 The EA-3 is advertised to handle up to 50 or so devices (the rule of thumb is 10, EA-1, 30, EA-3, 50, EA-5). It doesn't matter that you have a Lutron bridge, 50 Lutron drivers are still maxing out the recommendations for the EA-3. The drivers, along with the room control for 12 audio zones and 6 video zones and IP cameras and everything else is far more than what the EA-3 is advertised as being able to handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 Ohh got it. I thought that was a limit for zigbee devices. So, in theory, If I have a large home with 100 zigbee light loads, I would need 2 EA5 and 2 Zservers to be within C4 recommendation. (Not even counting AV devices). Anyway, I really appreciate your advice. I will look into it a little more. I might just have to get an EA5 then, even though I still think that the EA3 is comparable with the HC800 (in terms of power). thanks a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegreatheed Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 Let's say that my personal opinion is that the EA-3 would run your home well enough right now. But Control4 builds in lifecycle considerations into their recommendations. If the EA-3 has a 10 year life cycle, the use recommendations should be valid in 10 years. I don't think an EA-3 would run your size of home very well in 10 years. I don't think you have to have 2 EA-5s, though, for your example, I think an EA-3 and EA-5 would be sufficient. One for Director and one for offloading processes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 Understood. Thanks a lot for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougw246 Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 How well are things running with the HC800? If they are running well, I do not see why an EA-3 would struggle at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Everything runs well. No delays at all. Memory never reaches 400mb and CPU around 0~2% (maybe a little more) while sending commands or running macros. The HC800 is an awesome controller. Too bad it is reaching EOL. Thanks for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 ? EA3 is more powerful than HC800. Anything an 800 can run, an EA can run. There's just less i/o on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lippavisual Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 I don't see a problem with this either. If looking for same form factor and certainly future-proofing yourself, then swing for the ea5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 10 minutes ago, Cyknight said: ? EA3 is more powerful than HC800. Anything an 800 can run, an EA can run. There's just less i/o on it I was thinking the same thing. Thanks a lot for your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Good Guy Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Thanks to all of you. If Cedia is ever in Dallas again, I will get you all free beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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