diff --git a/demos/src/alert/pages/page-one/page-one.ts b/demos/src/alert/pages/page-one/page-one.ts
index 4d03164731..b25f5b177c 100644
--- a/demos/src/alert/pages/page-one/page-one.ts
+++ b/demos/src/alert/pages/page-one/page-one.ts
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ export class PageOne {
       buttons: [
         {
           text: 'Cancel',
-          handler: (data: any) => {
+          handler: (data) => {
             console.log('Cancel clicked');
           }
         },
         {
           text: 'Save',
-          handler: (data: any) => {
+          handler: (data) => {
             console.log('Saved clicked');
           }
         }
diff --git a/src/components/alert/alert-options.ts b/src/components/alert/alert-options.ts
index 39cd2e8030..454b895ca6 100644
--- a/src/components/alert/alert-options.ts
+++ b/src/components/alert/alert-options.ts
@@ -28,5 +28,5 @@ export interface AlertButton {
   text?: string;
   role?: string;
   cssClass?: string;
-  handler?: Function;
+  handler?: (value: any) => boolean|void;
 };
diff --git a/src/components/alert/test/basic/app/app.module.ts b/src/components/alert/test/basic/app/app.module.ts
index 8b037e7d58..c2bb850b8f 100644
--- a/src/components/alert/test/basic/app/app.module.ts
+++ b/src/components/alert/test/basic/app/app.module.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ import { PageOneModule } from '../pages/page-one/page-one.module';
   ],
   imports: [
     BrowserModule,
-    IonicModule.forRoot(AppComponent, {
-      mode: 'ios'
-    }),
+    IonicModule.forRoot(AppComponent, {}),
     PageOneModule
   ],
   bootstrap: [IonicApp]
diff --git a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.ts b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.ts
index b70f3ac96c..ee14c689de 100644
--- a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.ts
+++ b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.ts
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ export class Checkbox extends BaseInput<boolean> implements IonicTapInput, After
     renderer: Renderer,
     private _cd: ChangeDetectorRef
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'checkbox', form, item, null);
-    this._value = false;
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'checkbox', false, form, item, null);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -110,7 +109,6 @@ export class Checkbox extends BaseInput<boolean> implements IonicTapInput, After
    */
   @HostListener('click', ['$event'])
   _click(ev: UIEvent) {
-    console.debug('checkbox, checked');
     ev.preventDefault();
     ev.stopPropagation();
     this.value = !this.value;
@@ -122,6 +120,7 @@ export class Checkbox extends BaseInput<boolean> implements IonicTapInput, After
   _inputNormalize(val: any): boolean {
     return isTrueProperty(val);
   }
+
   /**
    * @hidden
    */
@@ -129,11 +128,4 @@ export class Checkbox extends BaseInput<boolean> implements IonicTapInput, After
     this._item && this._item.setElementClass('item-checkbox-checked', val);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * @hidden
-   */
-  _inputUpdated() {
-    this._cd.detectChanges();
-  }
-
 }
diff --git a/src/components/datetime/datetime.ts b/src/components/datetime/datetime.ts
index d81913bcac..4351f3da84 100644
--- a/src/components/datetime/datetime.ts
+++ b/src/components/datetime/datetime.ts
@@ -273,12 +273,11 @@ export const DATETIME_VALUE_ACCESSOR: any = {
   providers: [DATETIME_VALUE_ACCESSOR],
   encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
 })
-export class DateTime extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
+export class DateTime extends BaseInput<DateTimeData> implements AfterContentInit, ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
 
   _text: string = '';
   _min: DateTimeData;
   _max: DateTimeData;
-  _timeValue: DateTimeData = {};
   _locale: LocaleData = {};
   _picker: Picker;
 
@@ -426,7 +425,7 @@ export class DateTime extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterContentInit, Contro
     @Optional() item: Item,
     @Optional() private _pickerCtrl: PickerController
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'datetime', form, item, null);
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'datetime', {}, form, item, null);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -448,10 +447,17 @@ export class DateTime extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterContentInit, Contro
    * @hidden
    */
   _inputUpdated() {
-    updateDate(this._timeValue, this.value);
     this.updateText();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @hidden
+   */
+  _inputNormalize(val: any): DateTimeData {
+    updateDate(this._value, val);
+    return this._value;
+  }
+
   /**
    * @hidden
    */
@@ -743,7 +749,7 @@ export class DateTime extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterContentInit, Contro
    * @hidden
    */
   getValue(): DateTimeData {
-    return this._timeValue;
+    return this._value;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/components/datetime/test/datetime.spec.ts b/src/components/datetime/test/datetime.spec.ts
index 06edcaab34..b56c77b4ec 100644
--- a/src/components/datetime/test/datetime.spec.ts
+++ b/src/components/datetime/test/datetime.spec.ts
@@ -604,10 +604,6 @@ describe('DateTime', () => {
       datetime.setValue(null);
       expect(datetime.getValue()).toEqual({});
 
-      datetime.setValue('1994-12-15T13:47:20.789Z');
-      datetime.setValue(undefined);
-      expect(datetime.getValue()).toEqual({});
-
       datetime.setValue('1994-12-15T13:47:20.789Z');
       datetime.setValue('');
       expect(datetime.getValue()).toEqual({});
diff --git a/src/components/input/input.ts b/src/components/input/input.ts
index f5253ab3c8..b6feec63df 100644
--- a/src/components/input/input.ts
+++ b/src/components/input/input.ts
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ export class TextInput extends BaseInput<string> implements IonicFormInput {
     @Optional() public ngControl: NgControl,
     private _dom: DomController
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'input', form, item, ngControl);
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'input', '', form, item, ngControl);
 
     this._nav = <NavControllerBase>nav;
 
diff --git a/src/components/range/range.ts b/src/components/range/range.ts
index 0bc7c3f668..1d048e693f 100644
--- a/src/components/range/range.ts
+++ b/src/components/range/range.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import { BaseInput } from '../../util/base-input';
 import { Item } from '../item/item';
 import { Platform } from '../../platform/platform';
 import { PointerCoordinates, pointerCoord } from '../../util/dom';
-import { TimeoutDebouncer } from '../../util/debouncer';
 import { UIEventManager } from '../../gestures/ui-event-manager';
 
 
@@ -139,7 +138,6 @@ export class Range extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterViewInit, ControlValue
   _barL: string;
   _barR: string;
 
-  _debouncer: TimeoutDebouncer = new TimeoutDebouncer(0);
   _events: UIEventManager;
 
   @ViewChild('slider') public _slider: ElementRef;
@@ -268,9 +266,8 @@ export class Range extends BaseInput<any> implements AfterViewInit, ControlValue
     private _dom: DomController,
     private _cd: ChangeDetectorRef
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'range', form, item, null);
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'range', 0, form, item, null);
     this._events = new UIEventManager(_plt);
-    this._value = 0;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/components/range/test/range.spec.ts b/src/components/range/test/range.spec.ts
index d60e999a14..4e1855e6fa 100644
--- a/src/components/range/test/range.spec.ts
+++ b/src/components/range/test/range.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { commonInputTest, NUMBER_CORPUS } from '../../../util/input-tester';
 describe('Range', () => {
 
   it('should pass common test', () => {
+    // TODO, validate range inside bounds
     const range = createRange();
     range._slider = mockElementRef();
     commonInputTest(range, {
diff --git a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
index 34b8ee9f82..f1e9fc3724 100644
--- a/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
+++ b/src/components/searchbar/searchbar.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ export class Searchbar extends BaseInput<string> {
   _autocomplete: string = 'off';
   _autocorrect: string = 'off';
   _isActive: boolean = false;
-  _debouncer: TimeoutDebouncer = new TimeoutDebouncer(250);
   _showCancelButton: boolean = false;
   _animated: boolean = false;
 
@@ -165,7 +164,8 @@ export class Searchbar extends BaseInput<string> {
     renderer: Renderer,
     @Optional() ngControl: NgControl
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'searchbar', null, null, ngControl);
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'searchbar', '', null, null, ngControl);
+    this.debounce = 250;
   }
 
   @ViewChild('searchbarInput') _searchbarInput: ElementRef;
diff --git a/src/components/segment/segment.ts b/src/components/segment/segment.ts
index b4ad72154c..0990f1bcb8 100644
--- a/src/components/segment/segment.ts
+++ b/src/components/segment/segment.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export class Segment extends BaseInput<string> {
     renderer: Renderer,
     @Optional() ngControl: NgControl
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'segment', null, null, ngControl);
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'segment', null, null, null, ngControl);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/components/segment/test/segment.spec.ts b/src/components/segment/test/segment.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ee0fbe57ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/segment/test/segment.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+
+import { QueryList } from '@angular/core';
+import { Segment } from '../segment';
+import { SegmentButton } from '../segment-button';
+import { mockConfig, mockElementRef, mockRenderer } from '../../../util/mock-providers';
+import { commonInputTest } from '../../../util/input-tester';
+
+describe('Segment', () => {
+
+  it('should pass common test', () => {
+
+    const config = mockConfig();
+    const elementRef = mockElementRef();
+    const renderer = mockRenderer();
+    const segment = new Segment(config, elementRef, renderer, null);
+    segment._buttons = new QueryList<SegmentButton>();
+
+    commonInputTest(segment, {
+      defaultValue: null,
+      corpus: [
+        ['option1', 'option1'],
+        ['option2', 'option2'],
+        ['option3', 'option3'],
+        ['option4', 'option4'],
+        ['', ''],
+      ]
+    });
+
+  });
+
+});
diff --git a/src/components/select/select.ts b/src/components/select/select.ts
index e27f9770ee..046ff51205 100644
--- a/src/components/select/select.ts
+++ b/src/components/select/select.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { App } from '../app/app';
 import { Config } from '../../config/config';
 import { Form } from '../../util/form';
 import { BaseInput } from '../../util/base-input';
-import { isCheckedProperty, isTrueProperty, isBlank, deepCopy } from '../../util/util';
+import { isCheckedProperty, isTrueProperty, isBlank, deepCopy, deepEqual } from '../../util/util';
 import { Item } from '../item/item';
 import { NavController } from '../../navigation/nav-controller';
 import { Option } from '../option/option';
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ export class Select extends BaseInput<string[]> implements AfterViewInit, OnDest
     @Optional() item: Item,
     @Optional() private _nav: NavController
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'select', form, item, null);
-    this._value = [];
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'select', [], form, item, null);
   }
 
 
@@ -259,7 +258,7 @@ export class Select extends BaseInput<string[]> implements AfterViewInit, OnDest
       this.interface = 'alert';
     }
 
-    let overlay: any;
+    let overlay: ActionSheet | Alert;
     if (this.interface === 'action-sheet') {
       selectOptions.buttons = selectOptions.buttons.concat(options.map(input => {
         return {
@@ -321,7 +320,7 @@ export class Select extends BaseInput<string[]> implements AfterViewInit, OnDest
 
       overlay.addButton({
         text: this.okText,
-        handler: (selectedValues: any) => this.value = selectedValues
+        handler: (selectedValues) => this.value = selectedValues
       });
 
     }
@@ -373,20 +372,17 @@ export class Select extends BaseInput<string[]> implements AfterViewInit, OnDest
   }
 
   _inputNormalize(val: any): string[] {
-    if (val === null) {
+    if (isBlank(val)) {
       return [];
     }
     if (Array.isArray(val)) {
       return val;
     }
-    return isBlank(val) ? [] : [val];
+    return [val + ''];
   }
 
   _inputShouldChange(val: string[]): boolean {
-    if (val.length === 0 && this._value.length === 0) {
-      return false;
-    }
-    return super._inputShouldChange(val);
+    return !deepEqual(this._value, val);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/components/select/test/select.spec.ts b/src/components/select/test/select.spec.ts
index fc166f3092..c289784c2b 100644
--- a/src/components/select/test/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/components/select/test/select.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 import { Select } from '../select';
 import { mockApp, mockConfig, mockElementRef, mockRenderer, mockItem, mockForm } from '../../../util/mock-providers';
-import { commonInputTest, BOOLEAN_CORPUS } from '../../../util/input-tester';
+import { commonInputTest } from '../../../util/input-tester';
 
 describe('Select', () => {
 
@@ -16,8 +16,13 @@ describe('Select', () => {
     const select = new Select(app, form, config, elementRef, renderer, item, null);
 
     commonInputTest(select, {
-      defaultValue: false,
-      corpus: BOOLEAN_CORPUS
+      defaultValue: [],
+      corpus: [
+        [['hola'], ['hola']],
+        [null, []],
+        ['hola', ['hola']],
+        [['hola', 'adios'], ['hola', 'adios']]
+      ]
     });
 
   });
diff --git a/src/components/toggle/test/toggle.spec.ts b/src/components/toggle/test/toggle.spec.ts
index e62b1572f5..85387eb1df 100644
--- a/src/components/toggle/test/toggle.spec.ts
+++ b/src/components/toggle/test/toggle.spec.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ describe('Toggle', () => {
 
     commonInputTest(toggle, {
       defaultValue: false,
-      corpus: BOOLEAN_CORPUS
+      corpus: BOOLEAN_CORPUS,
     });
 
   });
diff --git a/src/components/toggle/toggle.ts b/src/components/toggle/toggle.ts
index 9779e88527..d2410d44f2 100644
--- a/src/components/toggle/toggle.ts
+++ b/src/components/toggle/toggle.ts
@@ -109,8 +109,7 @@ export class Toggle extends BaseInput<boolean> implements IonicTapInput, AfterVi
     private _domCtrl: DomController,
     private _cd: ChangeDetectorRef
   ) {
-    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'toggle', form, item, null);
-    this._value = false;
+    super(config, elementRef, renderer, 'toggle', false, form, item, null);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/util/base-input.ts b/src/util/base-input.ts
index 8fe352f0e9..f1247ed2bf 100644
--- a/src/util/base-input.ts
+++ b/src/util/base-input.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { ElementRef, EventEmitter, Input, Output, Renderer } from '@angular/core
 import { ControlValueAccessor } from '@angular/forms';
 import { NgControl } from '@angular/forms';
 
-import { isPresent, isArray, isTrueProperty, assert } from './util';
+import { isPresent, isUndefined, isArray, isTrueProperty, deepCopy, assert } from './util';
 import { Ion } from '../components/ion';
 import { Config } from '../config/config';
 import { Item } from '../components/item/item';
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ export interface CommonInput<T> extends ControlValueAccessor {
 
 export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
 
-  _value: T = null;
+  _value: T;
   _onChanged: Function;
   _onTouched: Function;
   _isFocus: boolean = false;
   _labelId: string;
   _disabled: boolean = false;
-  _debouncer: TimeoutDebouncer;
+  _debouncer: TimeoutDebouncer = new TimeoutDebouncer(0);
   _init: boolean = false;
   id: string;
 
@@ -66,18 +66,19 @@ export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
     this.setDisabledState(val);
   }
 
-
   constructor(
     config: Config,
     elementRef: ElementRef,
     renderer: Renderer,
     name: string,
+    private _defaultValue: T,
     public _form: Form,
     public _item: Item,
     ngControl: NgControl
   ) {
     super(config, elementRef, renderer, name);
     _form && _form.register(this);
+    this._value = deepCopy(this._defaultValue);
 
     if (_item) {
       this.id = name + '-' + _item.registerInput(name);
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
   // 1. Updates the value
   // 2. Calls _inputUpdated()
   // 3. Dispatch onChange events
-  setValue(val: T) {
+  setValue(val: any) {
     this.value = val;
   }
 
@@ -123,19 +124,26 @@ export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
   }
 
   _writeValue(val: any): boolean {
-    const normalized = this._inputNormalize(val);
-    const shouldUpdate = this._inputShouldChange(normalized);
-    if (shouldUpdate) {
-      console.debug('BaseInput: value changed:', normalized, this);
-      this._value = normalized;
-      this._inputCheckHasValue(normalized);
-      this._inputUpdated();
-      if (this._init) {
-        this.ionChange.emit(this);
-      }
-      return true;
+    if (isUndefined(val)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    const normalized = (val === null)
+      ? deepCopy(this._defaultValue)
+      : this._inputNormalize(val);
+
+    const notUpdate = isUndefined(normalized) || !this._inputShouldChange(normalized);
+    if (notUpdate) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    console.debug('BaseInput: value changed:', normalized, this);
+    this._value = normalized;
+    this._inputCheckHasValue(normalized);
+    this._inputUpdated();
+    if (this._init) {
+      this._debouncer.debounce(() => this.ionChange.emit(this));
     }
-    return false;
+    return true;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -224,12 +232,11 @@ export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
     if (!this._item) {
       return;
     }
-    let hasValue: boolean;
-    if (isArray(val)) {
-      hasValue = val.length > 0;
-    } else {
-      hasValue = isPresent(val);
-    }
+
+    const hasValue = isArray(val)
+      ? val.length > 0
+      : isPresent(val);
+
     this._item.setElementClass('input-has-value', hasValue);
   }
 
@@ -249,7 +256,7 @@ export class BaseInput<T> extends Ion implements CommonInput<T> {
    * @hidden
    */
   _inputShouldChange(val: T): boolean {
-    return (typeof val !== 'undefined') && this._value !== val;
+    return this._value !== val;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/util/input-tester.ts b/src/util/input-tester.ts
index 78ad89695d..94b41c3d2a 100644
--- a/src/util/input-tester.ts
+++ b/src/util/input-tester.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export const NUMBER_CORPUS: any[] = [
   [123456789, 123456789],
   ['1.1234', 1.1234],
   ['123456789', 123456789],
-  ['-123456789', -123456789],
+  ['-123456789', -123456789]
 ];
 
 export const BOOLEAN_CORPUS: any[] = [
@@ -30,13 +30,11 @@ export const BOOLEAN_CORPUS: any[] = [
   ['', true],
   ['false', false],
   ['true', true],
-  ['hola', false]
 ];
 
 export const ANY_CORPUS: any[] = [
   [true, true],
   [false, false],
-  [null, null],
   [0, 0],
   ['', ''],
   [' ', ' '],
@@ -68,16 +66,36 @@ function testInput<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: boolean)
 }
 
 function testState<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: boolean) {
-  assert(input._init === isInit, 'input must be init');
-  assert(!input._isFocus && !input.isFocus(), 'should not be focus');
-  assert(input.value === config.defaultValue, 'default value is wrong');
-
+  assertEqual(input._init, isInit, 'input must be init');
+  assertEqual(input._isFocus, false, 'should not be focus');
+  assertEqual(input.isFocus(), false, 'should not be focus');
+  assertEqual(input.value, config.defaultValue, 'default value is wrong');
+
+  let blurCount = 0;
+  let focusCount = 0;
+  const subBlur = input.ionBlur.subscribe((ev: any) => {
+    assertEqual(ev, input, 'ionBlur argument is wrong');
+    blurCount++;
+  });
+  const subFocus = input.ionFocus.subscribe((ev: any) => {
+    assertEqual(ev, input, 'ionFocus argument is wrong');
+    focusCount++;
+  });
   input._setFocus();
-  assert(input._isFocus && input.isFocus(), 'should be focus');
-  input._setFocus(); // it should not crash
+  assertEqual(input._isFocus, true, 'should be focus');
+  assertEqual(input.isFocus(), true, 'should be focus');
+  input._setFocus();
+
   input._setBlur();
-  assert(!input._isFocus && !input.isFocus(), 'should not be focus');
+  assertEqual(input._isFocus, false, 'should be not focus');
+  assertEqual(input.isFocus(), false, 'should be not focus');
   input._setBlur(); // it should not crash
+
+  assertEqual(focusCount, 1, 'ionFocus was not called correctly');
+  assertEqual(blurCount, 1, 'ionBlur was not called correctly');
+
+  subBlur.unsubscribe();
+  subFocus.unsubscribe();
 }
 
 function testWriteValue<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: boolean) {
@@ -87,27 +105,28 @@ function testWriteValue<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: bool
   let OnChangeCalled = 0;
   let OnTouchedCalled = 0;
 
-  input.value = config.defaultValue;
-
   // Test ionChange
   let sub = input.ionChange.subscribe((ev: any) => {
-    assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'internal error');
-    assert(ev === input, 'ev is not the input');
-    assert(test[1] === ev.value, 'value does not match');
+    assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'ionChange: internal error');
+    assertEqual(ev, input, 'ionChange: ev is not the input');
+    assertEqual(ev.value, test[1], 'ionChange: value does not match');
+
     ionChangeCalled++;
   });
 
   // Test registerOnChange
   input.registerOnChange((ev: any) => {
-    assert(OnChangeCalled === 0, 'internal error');
-    assert(ev === input.value, 'ev output does not match');
-    assert(test[1] === input.value, 'value does not match');
+    assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 0, 'registerOnChange: internal error');
+    assertEqual(input.value, ev, 'registerOnChange: ev output does not match');
+    assertEqual(input.value, test[1], 'registerOnChange: value does not match');
+
     OnChangeCalled++;
   });
 
   // Test registerOnChange
   input.registerOnTouched(() => {
-    assert(OnTouchedCalled === 0, 'internal error');
+    assertEqual(OnTouchedCalled, 0, 'registerOnTouched: internal error');
+
     OnTouchedCalled++;
   });
 
@@ -115,28 +134,45 @@ function testWriteValue<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: bool
   for (i = 0; i < config.corpus.length; i++) {
     test = config.corpus[i];
     input.value = test[0];
-    assert(input.value === test[1], 'input/output does not match');
+    assertEqual(input.value, test[1], 'loop: input/output does not match');
     if (isInit) {
-      assert(ionChangeCalled === 1, 'ionChange error');
+      assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 1, 'loop: ionChange error');
     } else {
-      assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'ionChange error');
+      assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'loop: ionChange error');
     }
-    assert(OnChangeCalled === 1, 'OnChangeCalled was not called');
-    assert(OnTouchedCalled === 1, 'OnTouchedCalled was not called');
+    assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 1, 'loop: OnChangeCalled was not called');
+    assertEqual(OnTouchedCalled, 1, 'loop: OnTouchedCalled was not called');
+    
     OnTouchedCalled = OnChangeCalled = ionChangeCalled = 0;
 
+    console.log(test[0], input.value);
     // Set same value (it should not redispatch)
     input.value = test[0];
-    assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'ionChange should not be called');
-    assert(OnChangeCalled === 0, 'OnChangeCalled should not be called');
+    assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'loop: ionChange should not be called');
+    assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 0, 'loop: OnChangeCalled should not be called');
     // TODO OnTouchedCalled?
     OnTouchedCalled = OnChangeCalled = ionChangeCalled = 0;
   }
 
+  // Test undefined
+  input.value = undefined;
+  assertEqual(input.value, test[1], 'undefined should not change the value');
+  assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'undefined: ionChange should not be called');
+  assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 0, 'undefined: OnChangeCalled should not be called');
+  assertEqual(OnTouchedCalled, 0, 'undefined: OnTouchedCalled should not be called');
+
+
+  // Test null (reset)
+  test = [null, config.defaultValue];
+  input.value = null;
+  assertEqual(input.value, config.defaultValue, 'null: wrong default value');
+  assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 1, 'null: OnChangeCalled was not called');
+  assertEqual(OnTouchedCalled, 1, 'null: OnTouchedCalled was not called');
+
+
   input.registerOnChange(null);
   input.registerOnTouched(null);
   sub.unsubscribe();
-  input.value = config.defaultValue;
 }
 
 function testNgModelChange<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: boolean) {
@@ -148,9 +184,10 @@ function testNgModelChange<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: b
 
   // Test ionChange
   let sub = input.ionChange.subscribe((ev: any) => {
-    assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'internal error');
-    assert(ev === input, 'ev output does not match');
-    assert(test[1] === ev.value, 'value does not match');
+    assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'internal error');
+    assertEqual(ev, input, 'ev output does not match');
+    assertEqual(test[1], ev.value, 'value does not match');
+
     ionChangeCalled++;
   });
 
@@ -169,21 +206,21 @@ function testNgModelChange<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: b
     test = config.corpus[i];
     input.writeValue(test[0]);
 
-    assert(input.value === test[1], 'input/output does not match');
+    assertEqual(input.value, test[1], 'input/output does not match');
     if (isInit) {
-      assert(ionChangeCalled === 1, 'ionChange error');
+      assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 1, 'ionChange error');
     } else {
-      assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'ionChange error');
+      assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'ionChange error');
     }
-    assert(OnChangeCalled === 0, 'OnChangeCalled should not be called');
-    assert(OnTouchedCalled === 0, 'OnTouchedCalled should not be called');
+    assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 0, 'OnChangeCalled should not be called');
+    assertEqual(OnTouchedCalled, 0, 'OnTouchedCalled should not be called');
     OnTouchedCalled = OnChangeCalled = ionChangeCalled = 0;
 
     // Set same value (it should not redispatch)
     input.writeValue(test[0]);
     input.value = test[0];
-    assert(ionChangeCalled === 0, 'ionChange should not be called');
-    assert(OnChangeCalled === 0, 'OnChangeCalled should not be called');
+    assertEqual(ionChangeCalled, 0, 'ionChange should not be called');
+    assertEqual(OnChangeCalled, 0, 'OnChangeCalled should not be called');
 
     // TODO OnTouchedCalled?
     OnTouchedCalled = OnChangeCalled = ionChangeCalled = 0;
@@ -195,7 +232,19 @@ function testNgModelChange<T>(input: BaseInput<T>, config: TestConfig, isInit: b
   input.value = config.defaultValue;
 }
 
+function assertEqual(a: any, b: any, message: string) {
+  if (!equal(a, b)) {
+    assert(false, a + ' != ' + b + ' ' + message);
+  }
+}
 
 
+function equal(a: any, b: any): boolean {
+  if (a === b) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  // return false;
+  return JSON.stringify(a) === JSON.stringify(b);
+}
 
 
diff --git a/src/util/test/base-input.spec.ts b/src/util/test/base-input.spec.ts
index 97aa217840..5f6e83c6f7 100644
--- a/src/util/test/base-input.spec.ts
+++ b/src/util/test/base-input.spec.ts
@@ -51,5 +51,5 @@ function mockInput(form: any, item: any, ngControl: any): BaseInput<any> {
   config = mockConfig(null, '/', platform);
   elementRef = mockElementRef();
   renderer = mockRenderer();
-  return new BaseInput(config, elementRef, renderer, 'input', form, item, ngControl);
+  return new BaseInput(config, elementRef, renderer, 'input', null, form, item, ngControl);
 }
diff --git a/src/util/util.ts b/src/util/util.ts
index d9334dce62..915fefffcf 100644
--- a/src/util/util.ts
+++ b/src/util/util.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ export function deepCopy(obj: any) {
   return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(obj));
 }
 
+/** @hidden */
+export function deepEqual(a: any, b: any) {
+  if (a === b) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  return JSON.stringify(a) === JSON.stringify(b);
+}
+
 /** @hidden */
 export function debounce(fn: Function, wait: number, immediate: boolean = false): any {
  var timeout: number, args: any, context: any, timestamp: number, result: any;