whywork

DOH! I should have been able to see that. Thanks.

Hi, I have a "simple" program that does not behave the way I expected. I have a Hot Water heater controlled by a 2477SA2 /ISY 4.05 in a "cabin" that is mostly OFF. I wanted use even less electricity, by having a program that made sure the hot water was off at night. If Status 'Hot Water' is On And Time is 1:00:00AM Then Set 'Hot Water' Off Wait 3 hours and 30 minutes Set 'Hot Water' On Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') What I expected - If I had turned on the hot water heater, it would turn off at 1 AM and then turn on at 4:30 AM. Also if the hot water heater was not ON, then nothing would change. What happens - The hot water heater turns off at 1 AM and does NOT turn on at 4:30 AM My questions: 1) Why does my program "not work"? 2) Is there a better way to accomplish my goal. Thanks for your help and my education.

Hi, After some weeks away, I returned to my ISY installation. RF COMMUNICATION Before I took a look at the wireless thermostat "non reporting" issues, I installed a new dual band switchlinc 2477D in a room approximately 50 feet from the wireless thermostat. I added the switchlinc to my ISY and just for fun, cold booted my ISY. MAGIC - (or something like magic) - It works; the Wireless Thermostat reported its complete status almost immediately to ISY. So - it seems like my wireless thermostat to ISY communication problems were related to poor RF communications all along. Thanks for all the help - LeeG in particular. (I never did examine the LEVEL 3 Insteon messages because everything is working well now).

Some follow up. Listening but Not Hearing Setup: ISY 994i/IR Pro v.4.0.4, Wireless Thermostat 2441ZTH V1.1 v.0D set to “master†on battery only , dual band PLM v9B less than 10 feet from thermostat. Problem: Finding out why ISY sometimes displayed “blank†values for temperature from wireless thermostat even after days/significant temperature changes (that should have triggered temperature updates) Some data: MODE OFF and REBOOT – OK Chill thermostat in refrigerator. Thermostat mode OFF. Reboot ISY (Configuration/System/Reboot – “warm bootâ€). Warming thermostat – ISY gets temperature update in minutes MODE OFF and POWER CYCLE – Not OK Chill thermostat in refrigerator. Thermostat mode OFF. Reboot ISY (remove ISY AC/DC adapter from wall, wait 60 seconds, replug ISY AC/DC adapter – “cold bootâ€). Warming thermostat – ISY gets NO temperature update (can go for days like this) Note Bene: Changing mode at thermostat (to HEAT, COOL etc) causes ISY temperature update to begin MODE HEAT and POWER CYCLE – OK Chill thermostat in refrigerator. Thermostat mode NOT OFF but HEAT (or AUTO or COOL). Reboot ISY (remove ISY AC/DC adapter from wall, wait 60 seconds, replug ISY AC/DC adapter – “cold bootâ€). Warming thermostat – ISY gets temperature update in mintutes Conclusions: After “cold boot†power cycle of ISY, wireless thermostat temperature data only updated if wireless thermostat is NOT in OFF Mode (or has been temporarily set to NOT OFF mode) After “warm boot†of ISY, wireless thermostat temperature data is updated even if wireless thermostat is in OFF mode. For “fail safe†operation (potential power outages) where wireless thermostat temperature information at ISY is important, the wireless thermostat must NOT be in OFF mode.

Hi, ISY reports my 2441ZTH is v.0D (I am not at the location so I can't inspect the thermostat to see the hardware version). The thermostat was always battery powered, never had battery removed/reinserted - thermostat never "rebooted." I too am puzzled by "initial OFF mode" behavior. Will repeat some of my thermostat tests this weekend (when I am physically back at thermostat) and report any new findings.

Hi, Thanks to LeeG and Xathros, I have email alerts from low outside (weatherbug) and/or low wireless thermostat (2441ZTH – battery only) temperature working (ISY 4.0.4) The program below works great: if Module 'Climate' Temperature < 0 °F Or { Status 'Thermostat - Main' >= 1° (Temperature) And Status 'Thermostat - Main' <= 45° (Temperature) } Then Send Notification to 'Default' Custom Email Content ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} Here are some things I learned on the way - (note I am currently just using the wireless 2441ZTH as a “sensor†and it is not physically connected, nor is there any other hardwired insteon thermostat installed) Thermostat communication: 1. When does the thermostat communicate with ISY? After the ISY reboots, and if the thermostat has battery power but is “OFF†(not heat, not cool, not auto), then the ISY will not show any temperature. The thermostat will show the correct temp/humidity but the ISY shows nothing (and I believe “stores†an INVALID value for temp –see below). Even if the thermostat experiences changes in temperature greater than two degrees (I believe two degree changes trigger the thermostat to communicate) the ISY will still have no value for temp. I watched for 24 hours, warmed the thermostat, put the thermostat in the freezer, and still the ISY did not update when the thermostat was “OFFâ€. 2. If the thermostat is put into any non-OFF mode (heat, cool, auto), then any two degree temperature change, or setting change (setpoint up, setpoint down) will immediately be received by ISY and the ISY will display/know the correct temperature. 3. The part I don’t yet understand. After the ISY “receives†the first temperature when in non-OFF mode, if the thermostat RETURNED to “OFF “ mode, then the ISY will CONTINUE to receive correct temperature readings from the thermostat (i.e. a two degree change in temperature will be immediately received by ISY) until the next reboot of the ISY. Why does the ISY only start/continue to “monitor†the thermostat when it has been “initiated†by a non-OFF mode? A mystery to me. Bounds checking: 1. When my program evaluated 'Thermostat - Main' <= 45° (Temperature) and the ISY had not “received†any temperature value, then the ISY still evaluated it as TRUE. 2. When my program called the variable ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} and the ISY had not “received†any temperature value, then the ISY evaluated the variable as “ST.†3. I believe that the ISY, when it has not yet received a valid temperature, has an INVALID value for the temperature. 4. IF the ISY were performing bounds checking and the temperature was “missing†then: a. 'Thermostat - Main' <= 45° (Temperature) would be FALSE b. ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} would return some nominal warning value/notification and not substitute “ST†5. The work around is to have the program perform bounds checks. That is accomplished by a. Status 'Thermostat - Main' >= 1° (Temperature) And Status 'Thermostat - Main' <= 45° (Temperature) I use and enjoy my ISY every day. It is powerful, flexible and robust. I still have a lot to learn about programming it. Thanks for providing this forum and to the contributors.

Hi, Thanks for both replies. Rebooting the ISY - LeeG you made me remember that for various reasons, I had been rebooting my ISY; that (along with where my wireless thermostat temporarily placed) may have been one of the reasons there was no Thermostat message (for convenience, currently my wireless thermostat has been living in a very temperature stable location in my basement, and thus may not update often). Since this my program, I am going to spend some more time on debugging/learning. For testing purposes I have split the trigger conditions into two separate programs. One program looks only at the weatherbug outside temp, the Second program only looks at the wireless thermostat. I am going to let them both run for a while and see what kind of alerts I get. Again, thanks for your help.

Hi, Thanks for the idea about "loss of communication" looking like "0" zero or invalid and a potential work around. I don't think your suggestion can be implemented because - If clause Status Thermostat Is (or < or =), can only choose from dropdown values starting at 1 Degree, no Zero degree available. There is an interesting dropdown "value" available, called "Responding". However, I don't think this will work either, because I believe that wireless devices are only "responding" when they are in active linking mode, not when they "send" a value. Is my impression about responding correct? Because the wireless thermostat would never be "responding" in normal usage. So: 1) If my wireless thermostat is communicating, then my program emails me the correct outside and inside temp 2) If my wireless thermostat is NOT communicating then a) "random" emails are sent being potentially triggered by invalid "zero" values custom email variable ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} is being evaluated as "ST", not as a numeric value, not as zero and not "blank" Still some mystery here for me to understand.

Hi, OK, I let the Temp alert program run overnight and got almost 20 emails with correct outside temps but thermostat "ST": Outside Temp is 28 �F Thermostat is ST However I also noted that My 2441ZTH Wireless Thermostat was not always "visible" to the my ISY994i. I checked via Mobilinc just before I went to bed and the temperature displayed was - a dash. This AM I checked via Mobilinc and the inside temperature (via thermostat) was 57 degrees. I forced my ISY Temp Alert program to run and received this email: Outside Temp is 28 �F Thermostat is 57.50� Yay! I got a "real" thermostat temperature reading. So it seems that if the ISY9941 does not have a temperature reading from the 2441ZTH, I get "funny" email alerts. Here is my alert trigger program if Module 'Climate' Temperature < 0 °F Or Status 'Thermostat - Main' <= 45° (Temperature) Then Send Notification to 'Default' My email custom content syntax is listed in my posts above I still have some questions: 1) Why do I get any email alerts when there the Thermostat is "missing" not communicating. I got almost 20 emails, what is the trigger? Certainly last night there was not a low temperature below the limits of 0 deg outside or 45 inside. 2) Why does the variable Thermostat is ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} send Thermostat is "ST" when there is "no temperature" I would have expected a blank, or a dash, but not "ST" 3) Is it possible the "trigger" of sending an email temperature alert is because the wireless thermostat is re-communicating/losing communication? (maybe 20 times last night) If this is the case, then I believe it could be handled better. Wireless devices will always be missing and reappear. If a device re-appears and has a value that is not a trigger value (ie the temperature is not below the cold trigger) then it should not trigger an event. If the device disappears, that should not trigger a "cold" value either. I remain confused. Also, thanks. Yes the degree symbol is correctly displayed on my apple device too. Your help and suggestions are welcomed.

Hi, Thanks for the replies. OK now I am beginning to get what folders are good for. Yes, control vs status is tricky, or at least when implemented sloppily cause problems. To answer, network module is for digital logger web switch html control and potential use with global cache ir device. Thanks again.

Hi, I have my Wireless Thermostat 2441ZTH communicating with my ISY994i running 4.0.3. Both ISY and Mobilinc report the Thermostat temperature correctly. I am having a problem with sending an email with the thermostat temperature via customized email content (text, not HTML nor XML). ${alert.body} Outside Temp is ${mod.weather.temp.current} Thermostat Temp is ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} The email I receive is: Temp Alert A Schedule was met at 2013/05/14 11:07:28 AM Outside Temp is 46 �F Thermostat Temp is ST Note that the weatherbug temperature displays a question mark inside a diamond, not the degree symbol, in my Outlook email client that usually does a good job of displaying fonts/graphics images. The biggest problem is that the Thermostat temperature does not display any temperature value (it just shows "ST') I tried changing ${sys.node.22 E 1B 1.ST} to ${sys.node.22 0E 1B 1.ST} (the full explicit thermostat address with the "0" added back) and the email displays: Thermostat is node[22 0E 1B 1] Any suggestions on how to email the wireless thermostat temperature and fix the degree symbol? Thanks

Hi, I am new to the ISY and this forum. I just purchased an ISY994i with network and weather modules, to use with my Insteon devices (in a weekend cabin) and look forward to the power and flexibility of ISY. In preparation of my move to ISY, I lurked in this forum and am impressed by both ISY support and member contributions. I wish I had gotten an ISY sooner. Some background: I have a 1200 sq ft cabin used on the weekends with devices including a 220 V load controller for the electric hot water heater, Insteon Wireless thermostat, morninglinc door locks, togglelinc for lights, an iolinc for garage door and some appliancelincs for lights and “other†control , plus some indoor and outdoor Insteon motion sensors. I have purchased Mobilinc Pro for my android phone. Now that my ISY994i is up and running, and talking to my ISY devices, I want to put it to work. I did some programming 30 years ago, but would appreciate some pointers, examples/cookbooks or tutorials for ISY. I have reviewed the forum and wiki and there is lots of information, but I have not been able to understand some concepts that seem useful. Examples of what I want to do (this home is mostly used on weekends): • Home and Away Modes o “Know†when someone is home, Motion Detection, Change in device (turned on or off Time out - No changes for eight hours – go to away • Home mode o Friday evening , Turn on hot water heater, Turn on appliancelinc for a few items, Timeout if no-one arrives in eight hours (Change to Away) • Email me o If the garage door is open for more than an hour after sunset o If the outside temp, or inside temp go below their own “trigger†temperatures • Be able to query and control a Digital Logger Web Power Switch via HTML o Turn on an outlet, Know the status of an outlet o Turn an outlet on/off in accordance with AWAY/HOME status and schedule Here is where I am having problems, I have some basic programs running but before I spend time with programs and scenes I want to know the most efficient way to proceed: • How are the concepts of folders and/or scenes best implemented as related to Home Away? • What are flags used for, how are they defined in the above scenario? • Does Control vs Status query matter with wireless motion sensors? • Should I learn about and understand REST now or can it wait? What does REST stand for? Again, I think ISY is great. However, I find moving from simple concepts/programs to more complex system programming scattered in the forum and wiki. I have read some good examples and how to’s like “bathroom lights with motion sensors†but where are some examples and ideas for home and away? Thanks for your thoughts.