Garage Door Status

[jrk1963]

Hi

 

I'm trying to use the  (IOlinc 2450 v.41) and a 2487S KeypadLinc with 6 buttons to indicate the status of the garage door.

 

The IOlinc works fine.  I can see the status in the console and status changes reliably.  On when the door is closed, off when it is open.

 

I am having trouble with the keypadlinc.

 

I want the Button A to be lit, and button B off, when the garage door is closed and the reverse when the door is open.  Currently all the buttons are set as toggles.

 

I created two scenes.  "Garage Door Open" with Button A as a controller for that scene, and "Garage Door Closed" with Button B the controller.

 

I wrote programs to check the status of the IOlinc and turn the scenes on or off depending on the state.  Please see below.

 

I've been working on this for hours and can't get it to work reliably.   The status of the buttons in the admin console is always correct, but the buttons are not.

 

In the program below "Garage Closed Indicator" is the A button on the keypadlinc, "Garage Open Indicator" is the B button on the keypadlinc, and Garage Door Sensor is the IOLinc.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Garage Closed 1.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If
        Status  'Garage / Garage Door Sensor' is On
    And Status  'Garage / Garage Light / Garage Closed Indicator' is Off
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Garage Closed' Fast On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Garage Closed 2.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If
        Status  'Garage / Garage Door Sensor' is On
    And Status  'Garage / Garage Light / Garage Open Indicator' is On
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Garage Open' Fast Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Garage Open 1.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If
        Status  'Garage / Garage Door Sensor' is Off
    And Status  'Garage / Garage Light / Garage Open Indicator' is Off
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Garage Open' Fast On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Garage Open 2.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If
        Status  'Garage / Garage Door Sensor' is Off
    And Status  'Garage / Garage Light / Garage Closed Indicator' is On
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Garage Closed' Fast Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

 

 

 

 

[builderb]

You need to create scenes with the buttons as responders as well.

 

This should explain better than I can.

 

http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/12432-controlling-button-backlights-on-key-pad-dimmer-2334-222/

[EricK]

Jrk, I have an io linc and a 3 wire door sensor (secolarm) so the sensor is on when the door is open. I use a single button on a bedside kpl as an indicator, on when the door is open.

In your case the sensor is on when the door is closed and you want A lit. I would create a scene with the sensor as a controller and A as a responder. That is really all you need to know the status of the door. Now if you want the redundancy to have B on when the door opens, sensor off, then you you need a program.

First create a scene B and add the B button as a responder. Then a program.

If status io linc sensor is off (may be not on)

Then set scene B on

Else set scene B off

 

The only advantage I see of using the two buttons is that if both are off or both are on then you know there is a problem. However with good communication, using only A, and maybe adding a notification email about the door you should be fine.

 

Eric

[oberkc]

If there is a mismatch between the isy status and actual device ststus, I would first suspect a comm problem, likely beteen the PLM and the keypad. Have you confirmed communication between the legs of your electrical system? How may dual-band devices do you have? Do you have any range extenders?

 

To test for this theory, choose one of your button scenes from the admin panel. Turn the scene on and off. Does the button status reliably change? Try a scene test on the button scene. If not reliable or fails the scene test, get an extension cord and plug it into a different outlet on a different circuit. Minto the extension cord plug the PLM. Doe the scene respond reliably now?

[builderb]

If
        Status  'Office-Light-Desk' is not Off
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Office Desk Lamp KPL Sync' On
 
Else
        Set Scene 'Office Desk Lamp KPL Sync' Off

I have a scene called Office Desk Lamp KPL Sync, with the keypad button in question as a responder, and no scene controller. When the device Office Desk Light gets turned not-off (ie, any brightness greater than 0%), the program triggers, and turns the keypad button light on. When the light gets turned off, so does the keypad. This has worked flawlessly so far.

[stusviews]

builderb, any particular reason that you used a progam which adds a delay and depends on ISY instead od a scene which responds immediately and is independent of the ISY?

[builderb]

builderb, any particular reason that you used a progam which adds a delay and depends on ISY instead od a scene which responds immediately and is independent of the ISY?

Not really. I discovered that somewhere on this forum early on, and the delay hasn't been much of an issue. The keypad button controls an Insteon plug-in relay module, so do I make that the controller to the keypad switch? Will that change the keypad light state no matter what the source of the control was?

[stusviews]

Yes, create a scene with the KPL button as a controller and the plug-in module a responder. That's all there is to it.

[jrk1963]

You need to create scenes with the buttons as responders as well.

 

This should explain better than I can.

 

http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/12432-controlling-button-backlights-on-key-pad-dimmer-2334-222/

BuilderB

 

When I added the KPL buttons to the scenes, it added them as controllers and responders.

 

Are you saying to create another scene with the KPL buttons as responders?

 

Thanks

[jrk1963]

Jrk, I have an io linc and a 3 wire door sensor (secolarm) so the sensor is on when the door is open. I use a single button on a bedside kpl as an indicator, on when the door is open.

In your case the sensor is on when the door is closed and you want A lit. I would create a scene with the sensor as a controller and A as a responder. That is really all you need to know the status of the door. Now if you want the redundancy to have B on when the door opens, sensor off, then you you need a program.

First create a scene B and add the B button as a responder. Then a program.

If status io linc sensor is off (may be not on)

Then set scene B on

Else set scene B off

 

The only advantage I see of using the two buttons is that if both are off or both are on then you know there is a problem. However with good communication, using only A, and maybe adding a notification email about the door you should be fine.

 

Eric

Eric

 

Ideally, I would like to have the open indicator flashing to draw attention to the fact the door is open.  But, I have to crawl before I can run.  lol

 

Jerry

[builderb]

BuilderB

 

When I added the KPL buttons to the scenes, it added them as controllers and responders.

 

Are you saying to create another scene with the KPL buttons as responders?

 

Thanks

That's what I did. I have two lights in my office (lamplinc dimmers) controlled with scenes from two of the four extra buttons from the adjacent workroom keypad (button controller, lamplinc responder). I then created separate scenes for each button (it's an Insteon 6 button relay, I created scenes with the button as responder, no controller)), and I can turn those on and off at will with programs that watch the state of the lights. Like I said before, it's been rock-solid reliable in terms of keeping the button in sync with the light. Yes, there's a second or so delay, but that hasn't been an issue for my application.

 

I'm curious to see if the program can be eliminated though. I tried adding the lamplinc to the button control scene as a controller, disabled my trigger program, and tested that, but when I turn the light on/off via the ISY, it had no effect on the button.

 

But, I'm also pretty new to this, so it's entirely possible I'm doing it wrong here. I'm always down with a better way to do something.

[LeeG]

Being in a Scene does not cause the Scene to execute when the device is turned On/Off with the Admin Console. Have to turn the Scene on/Off.

[jrk1963]

If there is a mismatch between the isy status and actual device ststus, I would first suspect a comm problem, likely beteen the PLM and the keypad. Have you confirmed communication between the legs of your electrical system? How may dual-band devices do you have? Do you have any range extenders?

 

To test for this theory, choose one of your button scenes from the admin panel. Turn the scene on and off. Does the button status reliably change? Try a scene test on the button scene. If not reliable or fails the scene test, get an extension cord and plug it into a different outlet on a different circuit. Minto the extension cord plug the PLM. Doe the scene respond reliably now?

 

Oberkc,

 

Yes there seems to be a mismatch between the isy status and the device status.  I do not know how to confirm communications.

 

I do have two access points one on each leg, which is supposed to allow the signal to cross legs.  I also have 11 dual-band devices scattered around the house including some in the garage.  These are further away in distance and through the house wiring than the KPL is.  They work fine.

 

The KPL is wired in to replace a switch that turns on/off the a light in the garage.  So I can't put it on an extension cord.

[jrk1963]

Another related question.

 

When I wired in the KPL, I was not able to connect the ground.  There was no ground wire in the box.  The box is also metal.

 

Could the missing ground and/or the metal box be causing communication issues?

[oberkc]

I would not expect lack of ground to be a factor in quality of communications. Metal box, however, could impact RF range, if applicable.

 

Consider, also the devices plugged into heame outlet and circuit as the PLM. These devices could interfere with PLM ability to communicate.

[oberkc]

The extension cord test was meant for the PLM,by the way. I apologize for the typographical errors.

[jrk1963]

Well, I found a potential problem.

 

When they installed the solar panels they needed a connection to the internet for monitoring/reporting.   To avoid running a Cat 5 wire for the network connection, they used one of those devices that put Ethernet on the house wiring.   The end of that thing is plugged in to the same outlet as the power strip where my PLM is plugged in. 

 

I was worried about insteon problems when they installed it, but I had not had any problems and had forgotten about it.   The KPL is in a metal junction box in the wall, so it may not be receiving the RF signals.

 

I'm guessing the Ethernet running on the house wires may be interfering with the PLM power line signals.  

 

When I get time, I'll run a Cat 5 wire and get rid of that power line Ethernet junk.

[oberkc]

Make sure, also, that your power strip is absolutely passive...no surge suppression...no noise filters...no UPS. This can degrade insteon communication.

[stusviews]

I've used both Trendnet and Netgear broadband over powerline adapters for years with INSTEON and have not experienced difficulty caused by that technology.

[jrk1963]

Make sure, also, that your power strip is absolutely passive...no surge suppression...no noise filters...no UPS. This can degrade insteon communication.

It is plugged directly into a wall outlet, but there is a UPS plugged into the power strip also.

[oberkc]

I repeat, then, my suggestion to use an extension cord to temporarily plug in your PLM to a different circuit. If this helps, I suggest a filter for your UPS.

[Brian H]

The AC Line Input filter in most UPS units. Can absorb Insteon Power Line Signals as noise.

It is possible that line filter could make a problem. If it is on the same power strip.

[stusviews]

Not just possible, but likely!