Program interruption help needed

[EricK]

Hi,

Sorry in advance for the long read. I have been reading thru a lot of post Q+A and how to's and found this thread about a count down timer.

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11431

Currently our shower light is in a scene that is controlled by a switchlinc (load) and two kpl buttons. I currently have this program to turn the light off after one hour:

If

Control 'Master Bathroom / Master Shower Light' is switched On

 

Then

Wait 1 hour

Set Scene 'Master Bathroom / Shower Light' Off

 

Else

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

 

 

However, there could be a situation where one of us turns the light on and takes a shower, then 58 minutes later the other gets in the shower with the light on. After 2 minutes, they would be in the dark. I am not sure if the light is switched off after the first person gets out that the program stops the way I have it. So even if I get out of the shower, turn the light off, and my wife turns the scene back on a little while later the light would still turn off at the 1 hour mark.

In any case I want to set the program so that if the light is turned off manually, that the countdown stops. Do I just need to add the condition "or status 'Master Bathroom / Master Shower Light' is not off" to accomplish this. I will want to replicate this for the fan, same set up. I could combine the light and fan into one scene, but like to keep the light separate because sometimes I use it as a night light.

Thank you,

Eric

Really enjoying my ISY so far.

[larryllix]

Sorry: Wrong system information

This was just covered in another thread I believe.

 

You need to cancel the timer event for the light first and then set the timer again. It seems the timers are not retriggerable.

 

This means each time motion is detected the timer is reset. You can set your off delay to much shorter then and save the energy from a long off delay and lose the fear of it turning off while any fresh motion is detected.

 

For a shower, dimming somewhat one minute before shutting off would be a good warning to move and retrigger or else you will be in the dark.

 

EDIT: Reading again you would have to use the button to retrigger so the length may not want to be shortened but the dim warning would work well especially lengthen it to about 5 min. Each person would have to remember to give a fresh push before each shower though. In the off program use a timer cancel command.

[EricK]

There is no motion sensor.

[marvel]

I am not sure if the light is switched off after the first person gets out that the program stops the way I have it.

It will not stop because you used an "If Control" action. Instead, change to an "If Status."

 

"If Control 'Master Bathroom / Master Shower Light' is switched On" means, "If I switch this light on, run this program." There is no way to cancel this program. It executes as soon as you turn the light on and runs to completion.

 

When you use an "If Status" instead, your If statement will read "If Status 'Master Bathroom / Master Shower Light' is On." Now you're testing the state of the light, as opposed to the action of switching it on. When you then turn the light off, the If..On state will no longer be valid and program execution will terminate. Turning it back on will restart the program (and, thus, the wait).

[oberkc]

Erick

 

As your program is now written, the timer would, indeed, continue after the lights are turned off. However, if the lights are then turned back on before the one hour timer finishes, I think you would find that the timer would be reset, due to the new "control on" received.

 

If the light is on when the next person comes, and the timer is nearing the end of the countdown period, then the lights could go off at an inconvenient time. This can be solved by pushing the ON switch (even if the lights are already on), but I would expect this to be easy to forget.

 

I am not sure that there is a programmatic way to solve the second problem. To extend the countdown without human interaction tends to suggest a need for the ISY to know that there is a human present, which tends to suggest the need for a motion sensor.

[EricK]

Thanks for the replies. I will change my program to check the status. In order to extend the program I am ok with turning the light off then on again. I turn the light off when I get out of the shower so now my wife will not get caught in the dark.

I'll consider adding the flash a minute or two before the timer runs out. I have come across so many incredibly creative programs I am just thinking of ways to use them.

Have a great holiday everyone.

Eric

[Xathros]

Some of us send beep commands to a switch that is nearing the end of a timer to alert anyone in the area that the lights are going to turn off is no action is taken. Another method (if on a dimmer) is to use a scene with a long ramp rate for the timer program to use when turning off the light. This way the light starts to slowly dim giving someone the opportunity to hit the switch again before being left in the dark.

 

-Xathros

[EricK]

I think in the thread that I posted the link to they used the beep. Great idea, but may not hear it in the shower. Long ramp may work but I put dimmable CFLs in that don't dim that well.

Thanks, eric