mikebr25 Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 Hello all. I just purchased ISY994i and tried out the X10 lamp module and Insteon LampLinc blinking rate. For X10, it's about 1 blink cycle for every 3 seconds. For Insteon, it's much slower, about 1 blink cycle for every 5 seconds. I want to go much quicker than that, around 1 blink a second would be good, prefer around 2 blink a second. Reason is to alert me of something is happening and the alerting part is just a small part of my project I am working on. In the past, I created and developed a MCU based controller using X10 protocols and depend on TW523 or PSC05 two way interface. By using that, I had succeed 3 blinks a second. So for ISY994i, I am pretty sure it can do the same rate or even close to it. Sadly, X10 no longer manufactured the two way interface and ISY994i should be the solution to my problem. For testing ISY994i commanding the blink rate, I used ISY994i program tap and fed in if condition then action function. The if condition is received X10 house code C unit 5 on and the action is alternating house code B all light on and house code B all unit off several times. This test blink rate shows around 1 blink cycle for every 3 second for X10. I did the same thing for Insteon but turning fast on and fast off several times and result is much slower than X10. I definitely did not add a pause between the on and off action. I know for sure, increase blink rate to around 1 a second or faster is possible. Looking at X10 protocol and so is Insteon, it can be done. So my question is, how can it be done using ISY994i.
KeviNH Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 So you need just one lamp to go into blinkenlight mode when you trigger it? How about an appliance model and a small 120VAC strobe light? Seems like there must be a handicap aid product designed to do exactly this, like the "Sonic Alert" that flashes a lamp when the phone rings.
mikebr25 Posted March 7, 2017 Author Posted March 7, 2017 Not one lamp. Goal is group of lamp modules and wall switch. For X10, just set house code the same such as letter B and send code all light on and all unit off. I am not sure about Insteon but I am sure there is a "group" similar as X10 house code.
stusviews Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 Power a strobe using any X10 or Inseon appliance module.
KeviNH Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 The "Sonic Alert" products I mentioned accomplish multiple lamp blinking through something like X10 powerline signaling. Insteon's closest thing to group codes (X10 "House code F all on"), would be a scene. That said, doing ongoing flashing by sending fast ON/OFF commands to a scene is still a lot of Insteon traffic, not something you want to do for more than a few seconds due to collisions, etc.
mikebr25 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Posted March 8, 2017 So you need just one lamp to go into blinkenlight mode when you trigger it? How about an appliance model and a small 120VAC strobe light? Seems like there must be a handicap aid product designed to do exactly this, like the "Sonic Alert" that flashes a lamp when the phone rings. Goal is to have a cozy home along with lamps and or wall switch. Strobe has a commercial or industrial feel and is more suitable for workshops, basement and other rooms that not need a "cozy" feel. I presently are using X10 lamp and wall switch and I like it. Sadly, X10 is old stuff (sorry for those who feel insulted) and I must move on to more high tech stuff.
mikebr25 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Posted March 8, 2017 The "Sonic Alert" products I mentioned accomplish multiple lamp blinking through something like X10 powerline signaling. Insteon's closest thing to group codes (X10 "House code F all on"), would be a scene. That said, doing ongoing flashing by sending fast ON/OFF commands to a scene is still a lot of Insteon traffic, not something you want to do for more than a few seconds due to collisions, etc. Yeah, I am aware of "Sonic Alert" stuff. I really want to go beyond that lowly tech devices. For more than 15 years, X10 is a one step and hopefully ISY994i is my second step to live in a futuristic age... Smile. Definitely not going to sending alternating commands for more than 5 seconds. Right now, press number 5 causes my MCU based controller to send 3 quick blinks indicating need ones attention. That doesn't create a lot of traffic for long. Again, I would love to migrate up to ISY994 all because it offers tons of features. So why not!! Are you telling me the ISY994 cannot do several commands per second? It looks like it that way. Looks like ISY994i command once every 3 seconds or so. Correct?
mikebr25 Posted March 8, 2017 Author Posted March 8, 2017 Power a strobe using any X10 or Inseon appliance module. Strobe is more for commercial or industrial. I live in a lovely home and want to feel cozy, not in a factory. Smile.
jtara92101 Posted March 8, 2017 Posted March 8, 2017 It isn't likely that the ISY994i itself is a bottleneck. More likely X-10/Insteon traffic, or how you have implemented this. You haven't shared any details - can you post the program you are using? Are you trying (at the moment) to blink 1 light, or several? If several, have you created a scene, or are you turning every light individually on/off in a program? Turning every light individually on/off in a program is a losing strategy! Create a scene. ---- I just tried this myself. I had no difficulty blinking a light at a 1-second cycle. However, ISY WAIT timer has a minimum resolution of 1 second. If you remove the WAIT, it is unreliable. I think the ISY tries to turn it on/off as fast as possible, but that is WAY faster than the Insteon network is capable of. You might make a request to UDI for a smaller WAIT minimum interval. Repeat 5 Times Set 'Living Room/Red Lamp' Fast On Wait 1 second Set 'Living Room/Red Lamp' Fast Off Wait 1 second It has no difficulty with 1 second. I'd imagine if you could program the WAIT to a shorter interval, you might get the rate that you want. Just leaving out the WAITs seems a non-starter, as you are simply at the mercy of the ISY's program cycle, with no way to control the rate. What is an "MCU based controller?" Does it have a make and model number?
KeviNH Posted March 8, 2017 Posted March 8, 2017 To get a delay of less than one second, place a command that takes extra time to execute, such as transmitting X10 or sending a notification where you would have used "WAIT 1 second" Are you telling me the ISY994 cannot do several commands per second? It looks like it that way. Looks like ISY994i command once every 3 seconds or so. Correct? Can't answer your questions blindly. Post the programs you have tried, and the results you've seen for each. Try a scene instead of sending to many lamps individually. Goal is to have a cozy home along with lamps and or wall switch. Strobe has a commercial or industrial feel and is more suitable for workshops, basement and other rooms that not need a "cozy" feel. They make tiny (but bright!) strobes, you can hide them where the unit itself is invisible but the reflected light is very visible. Reflection also gives less of a photoflash feel.I think blinking lights would make things feel less cozy? I prefer a voice announcement with an English accent.
jtara92101 Posted March 8, 2017 Posted March 8, 2017 I can think of another way, but it will slam the ISY. It will be a good test of how fast the ISY can cycle programs, though! You will need 3 programs - a "start" program, and "on" program and an "off" program. You will need two variable counters, one for the number of times to flash, the other is a wait counter. You will need to experiment to determine an appropriate value for the wait counter. It might be 10 or 100 or 1000 or 10000! The start program will initialize the counters. Say, you want to blink 5 times. And you've experimentally determined that a good wait counter value is 100. The start program sets the blink counter to 5, and the wait counter to 0. Then it runs the "on" program. The on program tests the value of the wait counter. If it is 0, turn the light on, set the wait counter to 100, and run the off program. If it is not 0, decrement the counter and run the on program. (yes, run yourself) The off program works in a similar way to the on program. The timing will be inconsistent, as any activity on ISY will alter the timing. It would be better to have 0.1 second timer interval in a future firmware release!
mikebr25 Posted March 9, 2017 Author Posted March 9, 2017 It isn't likely that the ISY994i itself is a bottleneck. More likely X-10/Insteon traffic, or how you have implemented this. You haven't shared any details - can you post the program you are using? Are you trying (at the moment) to blink 1 light, or several? If several, have you created a scene, or are you turning every light individually on/off in a program? Turning every light individually on/off in a program is a losing strategy! Create a scene. ---- I just tried this myself. I had no difficulty blinking a light at a 1-second cycle. However, ISY WAIT timer has a minimum resolution of 1 second. If you remove the WAIT, it is unreliable. I think the ISY tries to turn it on/off as fast as possible, but that is WAY faster than the Insteon network is capable of. You might make a request to UDI for a smaller WAIT minimum interval. Repeat 5 Times Set 'Living Room/Red Lamp' Fast On Wait 1 second Set 'Living Room/Red Lamp' Fast Off Wait 1 second It has no difficulty with 1 second. I'd imagine if you could program the WAIT to a shorter interval, you might get the rate that you want. Just leaving out the WAITs seems a non-starter, as you are simply at the mercy of the ISY's program cycle, with no way to control the rate. What is an "MCU based controller?" Does it have a make and model number? Ahhh.... It worked! I recently tried what you suggested and worked. I will work on it more this weekend. Thanks!!! MCU based controller is my present little toy that I built way back in late 90's. It uses Motorola 68HC05 MCU chip along with crystal power supply and serial communication to X10 two way interface. I wrote the program in assembly language.... Geee. I don't want to do that again.
mikebr25 Posted March 9, 2017 Author Posted March 9, 2017 I can think of another way, but it will slam the ISY. It will be a good test of how fast the ISY can cycle programs, though! You will need 3 programs - a "start" program, and "on" program and an "off" program. You will need two variable counters, one for the number of times to flash, the other is a wait counter. You will need to experiment to determine an appropriate value for the wait counter. It might be 10 or 100 or 1000 or 10000! The start program will initialize the counters. Say, you want to blink 5 times. And you've experimentally determined that a good wait counter value is 100. The start program sets the blink counter to 5, and the wait counter to 0. Then it runs the "on" program. The on program tests the value of the wait counter. If it is 0, turn the light on, set the wait counter to 100, and run the off program. If it is not 0, decrement the counter and run the on program. (yes, run yourself) The off program works in a similar way to the on program. The timing will be inconsistent, as any activity on ISY will alter the timing. It would be better to have 0.1 second timer interval in a future firmware release! I like your thinking. I can experiment on it this weekend. Agree!!. It would be better to have 0.1 second timer interval. Thanks!
TrojanHorse Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Confucius say Minimal power line traffic is cozy
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