ISY needs to know if drapes are open or closed

[someguy]

here is my set-up: I have a Somfy drape controller that is connected to an IOLinc. I have the IOLinc connected to a nearby Icon switch that I can use to open and close the switch. The system is like a garage door. Each press of the button either closes or opens the drapes completely (unless you press the button while it is moving and in that case, it stops the drapes).

 

Let's assume that I never stop the drapes from moving while they are running. Is there a way to make a program or a setting that will allow my ISY to know if the drapes are open or closed so that when I want them to open in the morning and close in the evening, the opposite thing won't happen?

 

thanks,

someguy

[MikeB]

How about using the sensor input on the IOLinc with some sort of contact closure?

[someguy]

That sounds like the hard way.

 

I was hoping one of you guys could come up with an idea of a program that toggles on and off that could somehow indicate whether the drapes are open or closed.

[someguy]

okay, I think I figured it out and it seems to work. I am using three programs. they are:

 

the first one is called "Drapes are open":

If
  - No Conditions - (To add one, press 'Schedule' or 'Condition')

Then
       Set 'Hearth-6-Drapes I/OLinc' On

Else
       Set 'Hearth-6-Drapes I/OLinc' On

 

the next one is called "Drapes Open Drapes":

If
       Program 'Drapes are open' is True

Then
       Run Program 'Drapes are open' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

the next one is called "Drapes Closed Drapes":

If
       Program 'Drapes are open' is False

Then
       Run Program 'Drapes are open' (Then Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

I cannot take much credit for this line of logic. I nearly plagiarized it from "Sub-Routine" from this thread:

 

http://forum.universal-devices.com/view ... highlight=

[someguy]

with these programs, I can call either "drapes open drapes" to open them or "drapes close drapes" to close them. If they are already closed and I call the program "drapes close drapes", nothing happens. I use this to open the drapes (only if they are closed) in the morning and vice-versa in the evening.

 

also: I have these two programs set up to toggle the ISY to the other setting when I manually open or close the drapes:

If
       Program 'Drapes are open' is False
   And (
            Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched On
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Fast On
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Fast Off
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Off
         Or Control 'Hearth-2-Controls Drapes' is switched On
         Or Control 'Hearth-2-Controls Drapes' is switched Off
         Or Control 'Hearth-3-West Light, by TV' is switched Fast On
         Or Control 'Hearth-3-West Light, by TV' is switched Fast Off
       )

Then
       Run Program 'Drapes are open' (Then Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

If
       Program 'Drapes are open' is True
   And (
            Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched On
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Fast On
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Fast Off
         Or Control 'Remotelinc 3 - drapes' is switched Off
         Or Control 'Hearth-2-Controls Drapes' is switched On
         Or Control 'Hearth-2-Controls Drapes' is switched Off
         Or Control 'Hearth-3-West Light, by TV' is switched Fast On
         Or Control 'Hearth-3-West Light, by TV' is switched Fast Off
       )

Then
       Run Program 'Drapes are open' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[MikeB]

That sounds like the hard way.

 

True, but also the most reliable way. Keep in mind that if your drapes are controlled by some other method, or the ISY is rebooted, you won't be guaranteed to know the state of the drapes.

 

Might not be a big deal for you, but for example something like a garage door I would want an actual sensor.

[someguy]

yes, I agree that a hard-wired sensor would be more reliable and that this would make sense for a garage door. It wouldn't really do any harm for my living room drapes to get out of sync, though.

[gregoryx]

... It wouldn't really do any harm for my living room drapes to get out of sync, though.

 

hehehe... not that any of us HA folks would ever go too far... but that was funny to point out.

 

I was thinking "man, you've got to get the trigger for it to be 100% accurate"; but, really... it's just the drapes.

[MikeB]

It wouldn't really do any harm for my living room drapes to get out of sync, though.

 

I guess it depends on the wife.

[David D]

It wouldn't really do any harm for my living room drapes to get out of sync, though.

 

I guess it depends on the wife.

 

Yes, you must add the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) to every equation!

[someguy]

Yes, you must add the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) to every equation!

 

My wife is actually against most automation ideas. She doesn't really see much use for it and seems to think that I'm wasting my time on it. I see it as a hobby.

 

If the drapes are open or closed when they "shouldn't be", she probably wouldn't even notice it.

[Brian H]

Smarthome just announced a kit basically doing what you are doing now.

Like you beat them to the glory.

 

http://www.smarthome.com/318276I/I-O-Li ... Kit/p.aspx

 

There is a Quick Guide on the web page. Maybe it can give you some clues to how they intend to do it.

[someguy]

Smarthome just announced a kit basically doing what you are doing now.

Like you beat them to the glory.

 

http://www.smarthome.com/318276I/I-O-Li ... Kit/p.aspx

 

There is a Quick Guide on the web page. Maybe it can give you some clues to how they intend to do it.

 

this is different than what I have, but I believe that a person would still have the same dilemma (if you want to call it that). I thnk that this controller is just a toggle, so if you use automation to open or close them, the automation may do the opposite of what you intend, because the automation system will not know the status of the blinds/drapes.