Need program to have motion sensors determine drieway direct

[Jgdavis14]

I have a very long driveway that I can't see and don't know when anyone is arriving. I would like to set up 2 motion sensors so that I can be alerted with an I/O Linc chime when someone comes up the driveway, but not down. I'm not having a lot of luck setting it up. I haven't done much in ISY other than set up simple scenes and very simple programs. The motion detectors are driving me a little nuts. I figure that the best way is to have the second sensor send a signal to the chime but only after the first sensor has been triggered and not the other way around. And have some short time period that this has to happen in (15 seconds or so) to eliminate false alarms. Hopefully this is clear, as I said, I'm not sure what I'm doing!!!

 

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

[oberkc]

That is the general approach I would take. My only concern with this is how consistently the motion detectors accurately sense motion. For me, I have found the insteon motion sensors are pretty good when a body crosses the field of view, but less reliable detecting cars.

 

In what way are the motion sensors driving you nuts?

 

Are you looking for thoughts beyond confirmation of the approach?

[Jgdavis14]

I think if I can catch the vehicle from the front I'm hoping for a heat signature that will give enough of a difference to make an alert.

 

I just had a lot of trouble getting the detector to react at different light levels on some simple arrangements in a closet. Tried all sorts of things and kept getting weird reactions. The fact that there are several different entries for each motion detector rattles my feeble mind! As I think I indicated before, I'm fairly new to ISY and still trying to figure out some of the programing.

 

What I would love is some more programing detail on the actual concept that I'm trying to do. I've seen old posts saying I'd need several different programs and variables and things I really don't understand. If Motion 1 is switched on, Then motion 2 switched on, send signal to alert.......is what I think I 'm looking for but just can't seem to get it down right with delays etc. I'll keep playing. I'm surprised someone hasn't written one that's simple.

[oberkc]

there are several different entries for each motion detector rattles my feeble mind!

 

Yes...each motion sensor has three: motion, light, and battery. For this project you only need worry about motion. For future reference, you could use the light sensor to identify when it gets "dark" and you can use the low battery as a trigger to send you a message telling you that it is time to put in a new one.

 

I've seen old posts saying I'd need several different programs and variables and things I really don't understand.

 

Yes, I suspect this might take more than one program. I am not convinced that a variable is needed, but sometimes that is a programming preference for some. I suspect that the use of variables makes the logic easier to follow in many cases, but I have found few cases where they are truly NEEDED.

 

The first part is to get your sensors located where you want and confirm that they react as you expect, and that they communicate reliably.

 

Beyond that, a program would probably look something like

 

if

control "motion sensor 1" is on <<<"motion sensor 1" would be the name you give it

then

wait 15 seconds

run "this program" else path <<< "this program" would be the name you give it

else

 

A second program looking for motion on the next motion sensor

 

if

control "motion sensor 2" is on

and status "this program" is true <<< "this program" refers to the first program, not the second

then

do whatever you want

else

nothing

 

There is a suggested approach that can, potentially, create some ideas in your mind. The syntax is not exact, but the ISY will create the right wording.

 

No variables...no mess...fun!

[Jgdavis14]

THANKS! That looks like it might be easier than I thought.

I'll play with it as soon as this storm gets out of Maine!

[oberkc]

The more intersting part of this problem is not the programming, but whether the concept proves useful in providing meaningful results. I look forward to hearing how it works for you.