Mark Sanctuary Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 Here is two ways you can implement an away from home vacation button. Version 1: Create a "vacation folder" then set this program to the folder. If Control 'Vacation Button' is On Then Allow the programs in this folder to run. And in the rest of your "normal folders" that you don't want to run while on vacation set those folders with this program. If Control 'Vacation Button' is Off Then Allow the programs in this folder to run. This will give the least amount of code by only needing the programs to be in folders that will run when the button is on and when it is off. Version 2: Create a program call "On Vacation". If Control 'Vacation Button' is On To allow triggers to run during Vacation; us this as one of your tests. If Program 'On Vacation' is True To prevent triggers from running during Vacation; use this as one of your tests. If Program 'On Vacation' is False Any programs that do not have one of the above tests will effectively ignore the Vacation Button. Toggling the LED: To control the LED you can: Create a scene and add the KPL "Vacation Button" button to it as a responder, Then you can then turn that scene on/off using ISY Programs, thereby turning on/off the KPL button/backlight. This however does not count as a button press.
sceaton Posted October 2, 2007 Posted October 2, 2007 How do I "reset" the KPL button? For example, if I turn on an "Away" button, but I forget to turn it off, a program will run each day at 6am and turn it off for me, so that it doesn't trigger events the next day which check that button's status. (or CONTROL, since it's a weird KPL!) When I try to set an Action when making a program, the KPL buttons (other than the load) are not options. Thanks! ~shawn
sceaton Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 I don't know if this is the best way to do it, but I created a scene and add the KPL "Away" button to it as a responder, I can now turn that scene on/off using ISY Programs, thereby turning on/off the KPL button/backlight.
Mark Sanctuary Posted October 3, 2007 Author Posted October 3, 2007 I think that is the only way you can do it because the LED on the non-load buttons of keypadlincs only follows scenes.
Mark Sanctuary Posted October 3, 2007 Author Posted October 3, 2007 Sorry I did not provide this answer in the top of this post. I will add that detail at the top for others to find next time quickly.
Mark Sanctuary Posted October 3, 2007 Author Posted October 3, 2007 I added the LED info and I also added another version of the vacation button idea.
Chris Jahn Posted October 3, 2007 Posted October 3, 2007 You can use a Folder condition and put the vacation programs in that folder. Whenever the 'Keypad A' button is switched On (your vacation button), the 'Vacation' folder will allow programs within it to run up until 6:00AM the next day. NOTE: The 'is not' part of 'Vacation On' may not work correctly for the current 2.4.9 beta. It will work for the next beta drop. Folder 'Vacation' (put your vacation programs in here): Folder Conditions for 'Vacation' Add conditions to limit when programs in this folder are allowed to run. If Program 'Vacation On' is True And From Last Run Time for 'Vacation On' To 6:00:00AM (next day) Then Allow the programs in this folder to run. Program 'Vacation On' -- do NOT put this program in Folder 'Vacation' If Control 'Keypad A' is switched On and Control 'Keypad A' is not switched Off Then - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Finally - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
Sub-Routine Posted November 6, 2007 Posted November 6, 2007 So to reset the button should we use: If Time is 6:00:00AM Then Set Scene 'Vacation Button' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') within the Vacation On drawer? And Mark, is 'If Control is On' supposed to be: If Status 'Family Room KPL 2' is On And Control 'Family Room KPL 2' is not switched Off Then - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Thank you, Rand
Chris Jahn Posted November 6, 2007 Posted November 6, 2007 Yes, if you want that button to be switched to off when the time expires then you will have to use a scene to do it.
MikeB Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 Thought I'd try to jump start this topic. I'd be interested to hear what others are using for 'vacation programs'. I'm thinking there would be at least 3 types of programs: - conserve energy (lower thermostats, etc.) - simulate occupancy (lights going on at random times, etc.) - security notifications (email based on unexpected activity, such as motion, door openings, etc.) For this post, I'll concentrate on randomizing some commonly used lights to simulate someone being home. Here is a program we might want to use for a young child's bedroom that typically goes to bed around 8pm: VACATION YOUNG CHILD BEDROOM If Time is 8:00:00PM Then Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'ChildBedroomLamp' On Wait 10 minutes Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'ChildBedroomLamp' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') This would turn on the bedroom lamp between 8:00pm and 8:10pm, and turn it back off 10-20 minutes later. For an older child's bedroom or master bedroom, you might want to adjust the times and/or increase the wait time to simulate typical use. For a more lived-in room, such as a kitchen or living room, I'm using 2 separate programs since 'turn on' time is more related to sunset, but 'turn off' time is typically still related to time of day: VACATION KITCHEN ON If Time is Sunset + 20 minutes Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' On Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') VACATION KITCHEN OFF If Time is 10:00:00PM Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') This would turn on the kitchen light between 20 and 40 minutes after sunset, and turn it back off between 10:00pm and 10:20pm. For a bathroom, you might want shorter duration spurts, like this: VACATION BATHROOM If Time is Sunset + 20 minutes Then Repeat 5 times (Random) Wait 1 hour (Random) Set 'BathroomLight' On Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set 'BathroomLight' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') This would turn on the bathroom light between 20 and 80 minutes after sunset for between 1 and 10 minutes, then repeat up to 5 times randomly every 1-60 minutes. I'd love to hear what others are doing!
Chris Jahn Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 VACATION KITCHEN ON If Time is Sunset + 20 minutes Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' On Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') VACATION KITCHEN OFF If Time is 10:00:00PM Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Hi Mike, These programs look good, but I'd also like to point out how the From/To can be used for this because I think it may not be well understood for most people. By the way, this is just an alternative; having seperate programs is fine. To clarify - When the From time arrives, the schedule entry 'Becomes True', When the To time arrives the schedule entry 'Becomes False' - Then should be thought of as 'Becomes True', and Else should be thought of 'Becomes False'. Therefore the Then runs when the schedule becomes true (the only If condition for this program), and the Else runs when the schedule becomes false. VACATION KITCHEN ON/OFF If From Sunset + 20 minutes To 10:00:00PM (same day) Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' On Else Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' Off You could expand this to shut off the lights at 11:30pm + 0-20 minutes on Fri/Sat, and 10:00PM + 0-20 minutes on the other days ... VACATION KITCHEN ON/OFF with weekends If On Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu From Sunset + 20 minutes To 10:00:00PM (same day) Or On Sat, Fri From Sunset + 20 minutes To 11:30:00PM (same day) Then Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' On Else Wait 20 minutes (Random) Set Scene 'Kitchen' Off
MikeB Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 Doh! I don't know what I was thinking, I've used the FROM/TO in that manner before. Thanks for the tip Chris! Based on Chris' FROM/TO tip, it might be cleaner to change the bathroom program to something like this: VACATION BATHROOM If From Sunset + 20 minutes To 10:00:00PM (same day) Then Repeat Every 1 hour Wait 45 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' On Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
Chris Jahn Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 VACATION BATHROOM If From Sunset + 20 minutes To 10:00:00PM (same day) Then Repeat Every 1 hour Wait 45 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' On Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' Off Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Hi Mike, Your original program was fine but you certainly can change it to use From/To as you have done. When using From/To (or in fact any condition that can make your program 'become false') you must take one more thing into consideration. I'll explain it as an example: 1) The program is currently running the Then, and is in the 'Wait 10 minutes (Random)' action 2) 10:00:00PM Rolls around, causing the schedule to become false 3) The Then is stopped, and the Else is run. In this case, the 'Bathroom' light will remain 'On' because the Then was stopped before it could be turned off. To prevent this situation, the Else path must do the cleanup: VACATION BATHROOM If From Sunset + 20 minutes To 10:00:00PM (same day) Then Repeat Every 1 hour Wait 45 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' On Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' Off Else Set 'Bathroom' Off You must consider this type of situation in general. For example, if you decided to use an 'Away button' instead of a Schedule, you would have to do the same thing: AWAY BUTTON BATHROOM If Status 'Away Button' is On Then Repeat Every 1 hour Wait 45 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' On Wait 10 minutes (Random) Set 'Bathroom' Off Else Set 'Bathroom' Off
MikeB Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 Makes perfect sense. The only thing I didn't like about my original program was that the amount of time between sunset and 10pm changes dramatically around here. I prefer fixing the time range with a FROM/TO instead. Thanks for the clarification!
MikeB Posted July 2, 2008 Posted July 2, 2008 For security, some people might want the ISY to notify you via email and/or text message if something unexpected happens while in 'vacation' mode. For example, a garage door opening. If your garage door is Insteon-enabled, you can use the ISY to notify you if it opens. For example: VACATION GARAGE NOTIFICATION If Status 'GarageInput1' is On Or Status 'GarageInput2' is On Then Send Notification to All Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') If your garage door is not Insteon-enabled, see this post for a solution: http://forum.universal-devices.com/view ... arage+door
someguy Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 Here is two ways you can implement an away from home vacation button. Version 1: Create a "vacation folder" then set this program to the folder. If Control 'Vacation Button' is On Then Allow the programs in this folder to run. And in the rest of your "normal folders" that you don't want to run while on vacation set those folders with this program. If Control 'Vacation Button' is Off Then Allow the programs in this folder to run. This will give the least amount of code by only needing the programs to be in folders that will run when the button is on and when it is off. Version 2: Create a program call "On Vacation". If Control 'Vacation Button' is On To allow triggers to run during Vacation; us this as one of your tests. If Program 'On Vacation' is True To prevent triggers from running during Vacation; use this as one of your tests. If Program 'On Vacation' is False Any programs that do not have one of the above tests will effectively ignore the Vacation Button. Toggling the LED: To control the LED you can: Create a scene and add the KPL "Vacation Button" button to it as a responder, Then you can then turn that scene on/off using ISY Programs, thereby turning on/off the KPL button/backlight. This however does not count as a button press. I'm a beginner, so please forgive me for such a simple question, but I understand the plan for two folders, one for vacation and one for not vacation. But how do I toggle the switch to vacation or not? To be more specific, in version 1, what is "Vacation button" and how do you switch it on / off?
Sub-Routine Posted December 4, 2008 Posted December 4, 2008 The 'Vacation Button' is any device you want to turn on to indicate that Vacation On is True. I have a button on a keypad that I can use if we have an unplanned away period. I also use a series of programs for specific dates. I have one program that checks for the button to be On or any of those programs to be True, thus enabling the Vacation timers. Rand
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