Can scenes be inside of scenes?

[doug95630]

I have 3 way lights in my house, like those you would find at the top and bottom of a staiwell.  I replaced them with insteon dimmers.  Each is a controller and a responder to each other.  They act as the 3 way swiches they replaced.  I have a scene called "entry light" that is used to control both switches/devices.

 

I would like to create a scene  to turn off all the lights downstairs.  When I tried to put the 3 way configured switches into the all of scene.  I would not do it.  It says that 30.BA.D4. is already a controller for 33.B6.A8.1, would you like to make it a responder (NO)?  Aslo says It says that 33.B6.A8.1 is already a controller for 30.BA.D4.1, would you like to make it a responder? 

 

How can I turn off all lights, even those already in scenes or have controller/responder relationships??

[LeeG]

The Scene that is used to turn the downstairs lights Off, add the two switches as Responders.  Insteon allows a device to be a Controller in one Scene only.  When a Controller, as below, a device is assumed to also be a Responder.  The "entry light" Scene cross links the two devices.

 

Scene "entry light"

30.BA.D4 - Red Controller

33.B6.A8 - Red Controller

 

Scene "downstairs lights"

30.BA.D4 - Responder

33.B6.A8 - Responder

other Responders

[fryfrog]

You probably want *all* the devices you add to your "Downstairs" scene to be responders, otherwise every switch will control every other switch.

[doug95630]

To have one switch control the other, and visa versa, don't they each need to be a controller of the other?  If I make them both a responder, the 3 way option will not work, right?  1st priority is that my wife can use them as before I changed to these fancy switches.  My automation sceens are a secondary goal.

[stusviews]

A device can be a controller of only one scene. You already have have a switch that controls another switch. If you also want it to turn off all the lights downstairs then it would turn them on, too. Most likely, you want it turn off the downstairs lights only, but not on. If so, then use a program., not  a scene.

[LeeG]

"To have one switch control the other, and visa versa, don't they each need to be a controller of the other? "

 

Yes, that is correct.  See my post #2 above.   That is what Scene "entry light" does.  it causes the two switches to be cross-linked so both switches operate the other. This is the arrangement you should have now. 

 

 

"If I make them both a responder, the 3 way option will not work, right? "

 

Wrong.  The "entry light" Scene has linked the two switches as Controller/Responder to each other.  Creating another Scene that I called "downstairs lights" which has the two switches as Responders (and other devices also as Responders) does not affect the "entry light" Scene.  The "entry light" Scene creates the three way switch configuration.  The additional Scene "downstairs lights" with those same switches (and others) as Responders allows all the downstairs lights to be turned Off.  Again, the "downstairs lights" Scene does not alter the cross link 3 way arrangement created by the "entry light" Scene.

[doug95630]

Thanks LeeG, I'll give that a try.  It is confusing to hear that a device can be a controller in one sceen, yet a responder in another.

[stusviews]

A device can be a controller of only one scene, but it can be a responder to hundreds of scenes, responding differently to each. Here's an example.

 

Device A is a controller/responder for scene A.

 

Scene A controls general lighting and turns on device A to an On-level of 50% and a ramp rate of 2 seconds.     Device A is a responder to scene A.

Scene B controls mood lighting. Scene B turns on device A to an On-level of 50% with a 5 second ramp rate.      Device A is a responder to scene B.

Scene C controls cleaning lighting. Scene C turns on device A to 100% with the fastest ramp rate.                       Device A is a responder to scene C.

Scene D is a night time controller. Scene D turns off device A.                                                                               Device A is a responder to scene D.

 

Each scene requires its own controller. BTW, a scene can have hundreds of controllers.

[doug95630]

Ok, that worked just fine.  Once I finish buying enough switches, this will be real cool.  When my kids leave lights on downstairs, I'll be able to turn them off without leaving my room.  I just ordered 4 more switches from Smarthome.  Some each paycheck for a while.