Arm ELK with press of KPL button?

[jtbellush]

I am trying to command ELK to arm away via a KPL button that also runs a program in ISY. Sometimes it arms the ELK and sometimes it does not. I can't figure out what makes it work sometimes. Is this a known issue? I simply created a rule that arms the ELK if a certain ELK lighting device (imported from ISY) is pressed off.

 

Thanks

JT

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi JT,

 

I think what you want to do is the negation since "On" can be from 1% to 100%. So, perhaps you could use:

When KPL is NOT OFF

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

I am trying to command ELK to arm away via a KPL button that also runs a program in ISY. Sometimes it arms the ELK and sometimes it does not. I can't figure out what makes it work sometimes. Is this a known issue? I simply created a rule that arms the ELK if a certain ELK lighting device (imported from ISY) is pressed off.

 

Thanks

JT

[ulrick65]

Likely Michel is right (he usually is). But just to understand the situation better it would be good to know how you monitor the KPL and what the program looks like.

 

What Michel is referring to is the fact that a dimmer is only reported as "ON" when it is at 100% bightness. Anything less than that and the status is a percentage. So if your program is looking for the light to be NOT ON thinking that whenever you turn the light OFF it will trigger, then this is a problem. This is because if you turn the light on to something less than 100%, then turn it off...the program will not work as intended because the ON state was never achieved, therefore the NOT ON trigger will not trigger.

 

Hope this helps. If not, post some more detail about what you have setup.

 

 

I am trying to command ELK to arm away via a KPL button that also runs a program in ISY. Sometimes it arms the ELK and sometimes it does not. I can't figure out what makes it work sometimes. Is this a known issue? I simply created a rule that arms the ELK if a certain ELK lighting device (imported from ISY) is pressed off.

 

Thanks

JT

[jtbellush]

Ulrick and Michel,

 

My event in elk says that whenever KPD button F is set to less than 100%, then ARM area 1 to away immediately.

 

I set my keypad button to non-toggle OFF. This button also serves to run a program in ISY to turn all lights off and create a lighted path in the garage.

 

The program works fine every time but the ELK rule only works some of the time. I am thinking that it has to do with me connecting/disconnecting from the RP software in ELK and how that effect communication with ISY. But, I have not been able to narrow it down exactly.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

JT

[ulrick65]

I am not familiar with the Elk system, so I can't really say for sure. I am sure if when you say "KPD button F is set to less than 100%" that means gets a command to be set there or if that is actually looking at the status. Two different things really. In ISY "switched off/on" is different than "status off/on).

 

I wonder though if because you are using a less than 100% trigger and the status that ISY see's is actuall OFF if this could be a problem. In other words ELK is watching for a percentage change rather than a state of OFF.

 

In ISY, I would set this up to to watch for it to be "switched off". I don't know if Elk has that capability or not.

[apostolakisl]

This is an old thread but I might know the answer. The elk can only maintain a connection via the xep to one thing at a time. So, if you are connected with the rp software, then the isy can not communicate with it. I have this problem on a regular basis becuase I will be playing with some elk rules and forget to disconnect, then none of my elk initiated events (via isy) work.

 

I have a kpl button next to my bed that I have programmed to turn the alarm on to night mode. I did not allow the kpl button to turn the alarm off, however, figuring that you should really not have a non-code way of shutting the alarm off. I did write a rule in the elk to turn the kpl button light on/off to match the status of the alarm. My kpl button does work as planned, although randomly it fails. I then push it off/on again and it usually works. I assume this is just an insteon communication failure.

[MikeB]

I did write a rule in the elk to turn the kpl button light on/off to match the status of the alarm.

 

Would you mind sharing your ELK rules to do this?

[apostolakisl]

It takes a few rules.

 

You need to put the kpl button into a scene of its own using the isy. This is necessary to be able to have the elk turn the button's back light on and off to indicate status of the alarm. This way the button accurately reflects the status of the alarm. If you don't do this, then if you turn the alarm on or off elsewhere the button will linger in its last state and thus may require you to cycle it to the off state and then back to the on state to turn the alarm on using the button. The only caveat here is that if you push the button when the alarm is on, it will turn the light off but not the alarm itself unless you write a fourth rule allowing the kpl to turn the alarm off. I thought this was a bad idea to have a non-code requiring way of turning the alram off. If you wanted to let kpl turn the alarm off then you need a fourth rule saying the oposite of the first rule.

 

Whenever mstr bed key d [12 (A12)] is turned on

then arm area 1 to night immediately

(this rule uses the pure "my lighting" button, not the scene)

 

Whenever main house (area 1) arm state becomes armed

then turn mstr bed key D [62 (D14)] on

(this rule uses the "scene" version of the button)

 

Whenever main house (area 1) arm state becomes disarmed

then turn mstr bed key D [62 (D14)] off

(this also uses the "scene" version)

[MikeB]

Thanks! I'm doing something similar, but with a "Good Night" button that also activates lighting, etc... I also do not have the button disarm the Elk.

 

I pretty much use the same logic as you, except I do check the status of the KPL button before having the Elk change it. There are instances where the Elk might be armed and my "Good Night" button not be lit, so I don't necessarily want it to try to turn it off every time I disarm.

 

Something like this:

 

WHENEVER button IS TURNED ON

and Area 1 ARM STATE = DISARMED

then ARM AREA 1 TO STAY IMMEDIATELY

 

 

WHENEVER Area 1 ARM STATE BECOMES DISARMED

and button IS ON

then TURN buttonscene OFF

[apostolakisl]

You inspired me to fix the problem with being able to shut the kpl backlight off when the alarm is still on.

 

First create a counter (in this case "master key d" counter)

 

Whenver mstr bed key d [12 (A12)] is turned off

and Main House (area 1) arm state = amred

then set Master Key D counter (counter 3) to 2

 

Whenever every 1 seconds

then subtract 1 from master key d (counter 3)

 

Whenver master key d (counter 3) changes to 0

and main house (area 1) arm state=armed

then turn mstr bed key D [62 (D14)] on

 

With these rules in place, if you push the button while the alarm is on, it will just turn back on 2 seconds later.