Programming a FanLinc and KeypadLinc

[mfranzel]

Hello everyone,

I installed a FanLinc in my bedroom... I have 3 KeypadLincs (In-wall and each side of the bed) that I want to use to be able to control the speeds (High, Medium, Low, Off). How can I program this? I can find nothing on Smarthome's website or even in the UD Wiki.

 

Thanks!

[LeeG]

Take a look at this post. It explains how to define the Scenes for a single KeypadLinc. If the additional KeypadLincs have firmware V.40 or higher simply add the additional KeypadLinc buttons to the respective Scenes. KeypadLinc firmware v.40 supports turning Off a Secondary button LED from another KeypadLinc using a 0% On Level. If the additional KeypadLincs have firmware below v.40 than the management of the other KeypadLinc Secondary buttons have to be done with separate ISY Programs and Scenes.

 

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8725

 

This is an older post written before KeypadLinc firmware v.40 was released. Thus the discussion of needing separate Programs and Scenes to control other KeypadLincs LEDs. V.40 firmware is not needed for a single KeypadLinc to work. The v.40 KeypadLinc firmware added support to the KeypadLinc that allows its Secondary button LEDs to be turned Off using a Scene On with 0% On Level. Before v.40 the button LEDs turned On regardless of the responder On Level.

[mfranzel]

LeeG,

Following your instructions from the other post (BTW, my KPLs are v.41), I did the following.

 

1. Created 4 Scenes

-Fan High

-Fan Low

-Fan Medium

-Fan Off

2. Added the FanLinc to all the scenes and set it to the appropriate level

3. Added the respective buttons form the KPLs to the scenes as controllers

4. Set the KPLs "On Level" for each device in each scene to "0" (what does this do, BTW?)

 

Using the KPL in the wall in the bedroom, I can control the fan, however, if I press the LOW button, it turns on, but then what I press the OFF button both the LOW and OFF buttons illuminate. And as for the additional 2 KPLs, they sometimes show the same status and sometimes do not.

 

What am I doing wrong here?

[LeeG]

This is the sample Fan High Scene from link. It covers 1 KeypadLinc. Button D is the button that turns On the Fan to High speed. Buttons A,B,C are turned Off with 0% On Level. This Scene definition has the beginning of making Secondary buttons A,B,C,D Mutually Exclusive. Only one Secondary KPL button will be On at any given time. Three more Scenes are needed for Med, Low,Off. Each additional Scene will have a different Secondary button as Controller.

 

SceneFanHigh

KeypadLinc D – Controller (I made the D button High – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc C – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

FanLinc Fan – On Level = High

 

To the Scene the other two KeypadLinc buttons have to be added

 

KeypadLinc2 D – Controller (I made the D button High – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc2 A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc2 B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc2 C – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

 

KeypadLinc3 D – Controller (I made the D button High – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc3 A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc3 B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc3 C – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

 

One of the three additional Scenes needed. This one covers Med speed

 

SceneFanMed

KeypadLinc C – Controller (I made the C button Med – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc D – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

FanLinc Fan – On Level = Med

 

KeypadLinc2 C – Controller (I made the C button Med – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc2 A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc2 B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc2 D – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

 

KeypadLinc3 C – Controller (I made the C button Med – could use any of the Secondary buttons)

KeypadLinc3 A – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc3 B – Responder ( On Level slider set to 0%)

KeypadLinc3 D – Responder (On Level slider set to 0%)

 

At least one additional Scene is needed for Low speed. If a specific button is desired for Off than that button requires a fourth Scene. Since High, Med, Low buttons are toggle pressing whatever button (high, med, low) that is currently On will turn Off that button and the Fan Off so the Fan can be controlled with 3 buttons and 3 Scenes. Some folks like an explicit Off button which requires four buttons and four Scenes.

 

The 0% On Level for the Responder KeypadLinc buttons causes those buttons to be turned Off when the Controller button is turned On. That is how Mutually Exclusive buttons are defined.

[mfranzel]

Sorry for the EXTREME delay in my reply to this! It has been a while since I have changed things around on my ISY. I followed everything you posted and it worked great, Thank you!

 

The only question I have is when I press the button for LOW, it glows and the fan goes at the low speed. However, if I press it again, the KPL button goes off as well as the fan, but the OFF button does not light up. Is there a way to make that happen?

[LeeG]

The LOW button can be set to non-toggle On mode. This will not allow the button to turn Off the Fan.

 

Another alternative would be to have a Program triggered when LOW is turned Off. The Program would turn On the Off button.

[shannong]

Non-toggle On would fix your problem as LeeG already suggested. The idea of your OFF button staying lit full time when the fan is off seems odd to me. What's the intended use of that feature? The primary OFF button of the KPL is always lit making it easy to find the KPL in the dark and in the dark you wouldn't want to hit the Fan OFF button since being lit would mean it's already off.

 

I don't use an OFF scene button with my KPLs and Fanlincs. Hitting the lighted, active button again turns the fan and button off so it's a wasted button IMO that I allocate for another use.

[starhome]

So just added a KeypadLinc (V.43) and a FanLinc and followed the instructions above to program Low/Medium/High/Off using the secondary buttons but I'm running in the following issue:

 

When I press a button on the Keypadlinc (for example A to turn the fan to Low), all other button turn on as well (B,C,D). But when I select the scene and press "On", only the A button lights up and the other turn off as expected...

 

For the scene (Low) above, I made A a controller and B,C,D a responder..

 

Any idea what i'm doing wrong?

[LeeG]

Below the Scene name is a Red node entry for the Controller button A. Click that Red node and set the other buttons to 0% On Level. Each Insteon Controller has its own unique Responder values. Clicking the Scene name which has the PLM as the Controller has a different set of Responder values than button A.

[starhome]

Works!!! Thank you so much!!!

[chris932]

The part of Fan Link < --- > Keypad Link is working fine for me after reading here. This does beg the question: What the #*@*@ is the option for on levels of the main scene node for if they have no effect!?

 

However the main issue I am facing is with a 4 Scene Mini Remote. I have it setup so one button row is for the fan. When I press the On side the fan turns off. When I press the off side the fan turns off. When I hold the respective side the fan will speed up or slow down. I need this to be in sync with the Keypad. So if the remote adjusts the fan to low, the Keypad button "Fan Low" should illuminate and " Fan off", " Fan Med" and " Fan High" buttons should be off, etc. Currently what happens is the Mini Remote changes does not cause the Keypad lights to change at all.

 

The entire Reason I bought 1x Fan Link, 1x Keypad Link, 1x Mini remote is so that everything could be in sync. Previously I had the built in fan controller's remote which was overidden by the wall switch that was outside the room and it was annoying to have to get up and turn on the fan when the switch was turned off.

[oberkc]

o if the remote adjusts the fan to low, the Keypad button "Fan Low" should illuminate and " Fan off", " Fan Med" and " Fan High" buttons should be off, etc. Currently what happens is the Mini Remote changes does not cause the Keypad lights to change at all.

 

Make sure that you have the mini remote buttons in a scene as controllers, with the respective keypad buttons as responders.

 

In the end, I would expect, for each fan speed, a scene with respective keypad button as controller, remotelinc button as controller, and fanlinc speed as responder. All other keypad buttons for other fan speeds should also be included, as responder, with ON levels equal to zero.

[LeeG]

"What the #*@*@ is the option for on levels of the main scene node for if they have no effect!?"

 

The Scene name for a particular Fan speed can be used in a Program. The Responder On Levels for the Scene (the PLM is the Controller in this situation) dictate how each Responder reacts.

[chris932]

o if the remote adjusts the fan to low, the Keypad button "Fan Low" should illuminate and " Fan off", " Fan Med" and " Fan High" buttons should be off, etc. Currently what happens is the Mini Remote changes does not cause the Keypad lights to change at all.

 

Make sure that you have the mini remote buttons in a scene as controllers, with the respective keypad buttons as responders.

 

In the end, I would expect, for each fan speed, a scene with respective keypad button as controller, remotelinc button as controller, and fanlinc speed as responder. All other keypad buttons for other fan speeds should also be included, as responder, with ON levels equal to zero.

 

I have the remote set for 4 scene mode. I only want one row of buttons to act as on/off speedup/slowdown. I do not want the remote to have 4 buttons (two rows of buttons) to control the fan functions because I want to use those buttons for other things. And I further want it in 4 button mode because in 8 button mode it does not keep sync with the use of other controls.

 

Given this are you still sure I should add the one control (e.g. Mini Remote-AB) in ISY to each of the four scenes created for the fan control? How does it know to associate each fan speed to the correct button in this case?

 

For the time being I have created 4 programs that seems to keep it working as I expect, however I would like for this to be independent of the ISY in case it (or the most likely scenario: the PLM) goes down. Also I am not sure if it's constantly putting unnecessary traffic on the INSTEON network even when there is no control of the fan taking place:

 

If

Status 'TV Ceiling-Light / TV Ceiling-Motor' is Off

 

Then

Set Scene 'KPL Fan Off Scene' On

 

Else

- No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

"What the #*@*@ is the option for on levels of the main scene node for if they have no effect!?"

 

The Scene name for a particular Fan speed can be used in a Program. The Responder On Levels for the Scene (the PLM is the Controller in this situation) dictate how each Responder reacts.

 

That is how I would expect it to work: In the parent scene node you set the responders and they respond in that fashion when the scene is triggered. However, that is not the case. As you previously indicated: the way to set how the scene responders respond is by setting those options for the child of the scene node (Controller/red node.)

[LeeG]

Changing the Fan speed by ramping the On Level up/down will not affect the KeypadLinc buttons. The KeypadLinc buttons react to how the responder On Level is coded. The buttons have no idea of the Fan speed changing by ramping the speed up/down.

[LeeG]

"That is how I would expect it to work: In the parent scene node you set the responders and they respond in that fashion when the scene is triggered. However, that is not the case. As you previously indicated: the way to set how the scene responders respond is by setting those options for the child of the scene node (Controller/red node.)"

 

Setting the On Level for a Controller (clicking on Red Controller node) affects what happens when that Controller is used.

 

Setting the Scene name Responder On Levels affects what the Responders do when that Scene name is used (where the PLM is the Controller). No difference between using the Scene name (where the PLM is the Controller) in a Program and pressing a KeypadLinc button where it is defined as a Controller in the same Scene, the Responders react based on the On Level for that Controller.

[oberkc]

Given this are you still sure I should add the one control (e.g. Mini Remote-AB) in ISY to each of the four scenes created for the fan control? How does it know to associate each fan speed to the correct button in this case?

 

For the time being I have created 4 programs that seems to keep it working as I expect, however I would like for this to be independent of the ISY in case it (or the most likely scenario: the PLM) goes down. Also I am not sure if it's constantly putting unnecessary traffic on the INSTEON network even when there is no control of the fan taking place:

 

If you want a level of independence from the ISY, you cannot use programs. Programs only work when the ISY (and PLM) are present and working. Yes, it probably puts a little extra traffic on the insteon network, but I would not describe it as constant...only in reaction to your button presses. Do you have reason to be concerned about this? Scenes, however, can work without the ISY.

 

I don't have a mini remote, so all I know is what I read in the manual. It appears to be capable of operating in 8-button non-toggle mode. When in this mode, it seems to me that you could configure one row of four buttons to control your fan speeds (off/low/med/high) by making these buttons controller of your fan speed scene. The only problem is deciding what to do with the remaining four buttons.

 

Am I missing something here?

[dbuss]

I have two KPLs to control a Fanlinc. One KPL is in the wall and the other in a tabletop enclosure. The KPL in the wall needs to be turned on at all times. If this KPL is not turned on, nothing happens. I have tried programming them both as described in this thread. If I just program the scene with the tabletop KPL it works great. As soon as I try to add the in-wall KPL, the only thing the in-wall KPL can do is turn the light on and off. If press any fan button on the other KPL the fan will try to start and then shuts down with the light turning off because the in-wall KPL turned off when the button was pressed. What am I doing wrong or not doing.

 

Thanks!!

[oberkc]

I have two KPLs to control a Fanlinc. One KPL is in the wall and the other in a tabletop enclosure. The KPL in the wall needs to be turned on at all times. If this KPL is not turned on, nothing happens. I have tried programming them both as described in this thread. If I just program the scene with the tabletop KPL it works great. As soon as I try to add the in-wall KPL, the only thing the in-wall KPL can do is turn the light on and off. If press any fan button on the other KPL the fan will try to start and then shuts down with the light turning off because the in-wall KPL turned off when the button was pressed. What am I doing wrong or not doing.

 

Thanks!!

I suppose it depends on how you have established the relationship between keypads and fanlinc. Are you doing this all with scenes? Part of your description makes me wonder if you have some programs in play here. Also, in the scene relationships, check the ON levels for all the responders to EACH of the controllers. Are some of the ON levels zero?

 

It also sounds as if you have the fanlinc powered by the one keypad. Is this possible? Are you certain you have uninterrupted power to the fanlinc? What is connected to the red wire of the wall-mounted keypad?

[dbuss]

I suppose it depends on how you have established the relationship between keypads and fanlinc. Are you doing this all with scenes? Part of your description makes me wonder if you have some programs in play here. Also, in the scene relationships, check the ON levels for all the responders to EACH of the controllers. Are some of the ON levels zero?

 

It also sounds as if you have the fanlinc powered by the one keypad. Is this possible? Are you certain you have uninterrupted power to the fanlinc? What is connected to the red wire of the wall-mounted keypad?

After thinking about what you said. I'm pretty sure the FanLinc is powered by one KPL in the wall and the FanLinc does not have uninterrupted power to it. That being the case is it possible to use the one KPL to control the power and then use both to control the fan?

[oberkc]

I suppose it is possible, but is sounds like an unecessary complication and risk. Are you concerned about the difficulty of wiring and supplying unswitched power to the fanlinc?

Is the fanlinc in question a dimmer version? This could be a problem.

[dbuss]

I suppose it is possible, but is sounds like an unecessary complication and risk. Are you concerned about the difficulty of wiring and supplying unswitched power to the fanlinc?

Is the fanlinc in question a dimmer version? This could be a problem.

I replaced the ceiling fan that was there and that's the way that ceiling fan was wired. It had a remote that controlled the lights, fan speed and fan direction. The FanLinc is a dimmer version.

[oberkc]

I am sorry...I meant to ask if the keypad is a dimmer version...not the fanlinc.

[oberkc]

It really should not be difficult to reconfigure a couple of wires to provide constant power to the fanlinc. Simply remove the wire that is currently connected to the kpl red wire and reconnect it to the wire that is connected to the kpl black wire. Cap the kpl red wire.

[dbuss]

I am sorry...I meant to ask if the keypad is a dimmer version...not the fanlinc.

Yes, both KPLs are dimmers.