ajander

Just an update on this project. I did get the Z-Wave Aeotec Multi-Sensor 6. It works well. Intallation and liking was straight forward. ISY recognized it without any problems. Now I can get "analog" light level readings from the room and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly in an ISY program. I also use the motion sensor to determine when to turn on and off the backlight. I don't use the temperature, humidity and tamper signals. One problem: I find that I don't always get the off signal after the motions sensor time out period. As a consequence, the picture backlight sometimes remains on until I switch it off manually. I haven't really investigated where the failure is. Worst case I can put a timeout in a program instead.

Awesome!!! Thanks for the tip. Sounds like the multisensor will do what I need. I can even use the motion sensor to see if anyone is actually there to care about the painting being illuminated. Thanks for link. I'll let you know how it works.

I like the wattstoppp sensor with 0-10V output. Looks like it connects directly to a dimmable balast. Only it woud have the opposite result of what I need in my case (I want to increase the light level when it gets brighter, not dim). The web control board or pi with a sensor like this would give the cleanest software interface, but then I would also have to add a powerline modem or wifi. Seems like a lot of hardware just to get a simple analog input...... I wish someone would come up with a real analog input that operates natively in insteon. Thanks for all the advice so far. Keep the ideas coming.

Another thought was to use a fortrezz mimo lite http://www.fortrezz.com/index.php/products/mimolite with an light sensor connected to the analog input. Would I be able to make ISY program decisions based on this value somehow?

I want to control the brightness of a lamp based on the ambient light level in the rooml. Can anyone suggest a way to do this? A little background. I have a translucent painting that I have back-lit with an LED pannel and diffuser. This LED panel is controlled by a Insteon Ballast Dimmer, and this works great. However, when the room is bright during the day, the backlight needs to be brighter. When the room is darker in the evening, it looks really gaudy when the backlight is on too bright. So, I would like to automatically adjust the brightness based on the room light level. I have been scouring the forum and there does not seem to be a simple way to get an analog input into an ISY program. I have considered a few options: 1) Use a motion sensor that has a dusk/dawn sensor. The program would have to step through and set difeerent thresholds on the sensor to figure out the light level (binary search?). 2) Use a z-wave "multi-sensor." But, from what I have been reading there is no way to get the light level into a ISY program for comparison. 3. Modify a Insteon thermostat with a light sensor replacing the temperature sensor and read that value as an effective temperature. None of these seem particularly simple or elegant solutions. Any ideas? I am an electrical engineer, so I don't mind doing a bit of hardware. Thanks for any advice.