some basic setup questions from newbie

[joefly]

Hi this may be some basic question but I figure I ask is better than playing around endlessly as a newbie..

 

To keep things simple, i have isy99i, lamplinc, venstar linc and 2 remotelincs. All linked and working, now trying to figure out how to program it to do what I want. Somethings making things confusing me.

 

1) What exactly does a scene do and how to use it

2) with this setup, is it best to program activities directly with remotelinc, or is it best to not link the devices to remotelinc but to only program the controls through ISY?

3) when i program the isy that when Remotelinc is on, the lamplinc turns on, but only the status of the remotelinc button is updated but the lampinc is old unless i refresh it. Do I need to manually program a refresh on each comand to lamplinc?

 

Ok I have one example that I am trying to specifically setup that may address some of the question above:

 

I would like the heat to be 70degrees during 9am to 9pm and set to 60degrees during other times. I have a lamplic that may be turned on/off manually through remotelinc. However, when I am out of the house, I like to be able to hit a remotelinc button to 1) set heat to 60 degrees indefinately and only turn on the light between sunset and sunrise 2) when I return, I like to be able to hit another remotelinc button to run the heat on the normal operation and not control the lamplinc on schedule.

 

So if I can have some guidance on what is the ideal method of programming this..whether through scenes or individual programs or folders..

 

Sorry for the long list of questions, but I am hoping that the experts can guide me in a broad stroke of how to get the systems to work properly..

 

Thanks in advance.

[MikeB]

Hi Joe

 

1 - A scene is a group of devices that are linked together in ways that you specify. Some devices can be controllers (when pressed, they control other devices in the scene) or just responders (they simply respond to controllers in that scene). For example, if you want to link 2 switches together so they both control your kitchen table lights, you would create a scene and add them both in as controllers. Or, if you want to link a switch and a lamp module together so the switch controls the lamp, you would create a scene and add the switch as a controller and the lamp module as a responder.

 

2 - You should ALWAYS link your devices through the ISY (using scenes). If you link them manually, the ISY will not be aware of those links and you will have problems.

 

3 - Sounds like you linked the RemoteLinc and LampLinc outside of the ISY, so your ISY does not know that the RemoteLinc turned the LampLinc on. You should unlink these devices manually, then re-link them using the ISY.

 

As for your example, you can certainly create ISY programs to do what you ask - but since the RemoteLinc does not have any visual feedback like the LED on a KeypadLinc, you won't know for certain what your current mode is (without looking at the Admin Console). Personally I'd find a KeypadLinc much more suited to this.

[matapan]

The Venstar thermostat has a Program Mode which enables one to set up 4 time periods during a day and how the area covered by the thermostat should be controlled. I use the Program Mode and let the thermostat run this independent of the ISY.

 

I use the ISY and a Keypadlinc button to run the exception case, like the 60 degree continuous setting you described. The Thermostat must be taken out of Program mode to override a temperature setting through ISY. The setpoint override is in effect until the thermostat is placed back in Program mode, at which time the program setpoint will be in effect when the next period starts.

[joefly]

Hi Mike and matapan

 

Thanks matapan, I am now using the program mode as the default and only using the isy for exceptions.

 

Mike thanks for the venstar example, that was helpful.

 

About scenes, i have tried using that with the thermostat but seems it is not compatible with the scene function. is it safe to assume that it is good only for switches and controllers?

 

Thanks