TomNow2 Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 Hi All, I was reading up this old post: https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/8469-follow-up-to-good-night-scene/ where it talks about creating a scene that would turn off all lights in the house. Is this still the best route where it's done with a combination of a scene (with no controller) and a program (that says, if button is ON, then run 'All Off' scene.... the all off scene has all the switches in it as responders to respond with the 'off' setting). Just wanted to check to see if this is best practices before I set it up, thank you!
stusviews Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 If you do not have a lot of links (show PLM links table), say 500 or less, then the quickest result is to use a scene with all the devices as responders with an On-level of Off. But, how will you turn the scene off without a controller? If you do have lots of links, then it's best to use a program which doesn't use links. A scene will turn off all devices concurrently, a program will turn them of sequentially.
TomNow2 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Posted January 30, 2018 If you do not have a lot of links (show PLM links table), say 500 or less, then the quickest result is to use a scene with all the devices as responders with an On-level of Off. But, how will you turn the scene off without a controller? If you do have lots of links, then it's best to use a program which doesn't use links. A scene will turn off all devices concurrently, a program will turn them of sequentially. Hi Stu! Glad you are still around, you helped me in the past I was thinking of turning off the scene with a program that if any of those lights in the scene are set to 'on' it will turn off the scene.
stusviews Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 If you do that, then you'll never be able to keep a light on. If the light is ever turned on, then the program will turn it off.
TomNow2 Posted January 30, 2018 Author Posted January 30, 2018 If you do that, then you'll never be able to keep a light on. If the light is ever turned on, then the program will turn it off. Interesting, so I can't create a program that would turn the scene off AND set the button control state to off as well?
asbril Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 Hi Stu! Glad you are still around, you helped me in the past I was thinking of turning off the scene with a program that if any of those lights in the scene are set to 'on' it will turn off the scene. we are all glad that Stu is around to guide us....... (even if sometimes we disagree )
lilyoyo1 Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 There really is no wrong way of creating an all on/off. The best way is one that works for your lifestyle and situation. For example, I have a lot of devices so I break mine down into zones (or groups). I add them to different scenes as responders and then create a program that runs anytime I hit the corresponding button. This allows me to easily set up programs whether its for my goodnight, away, or emergency scenes.
lilyoyo1 Posted January 30, 2018 Posted January 30, 2018 Interesting, so I can't create a program that would turn the scene off AND set the button control state to off as well? When it comes to all off/on type scenes, it is best to have some type of manual control over it. This way it only runs when you want it to. Its one thing if you want it to run in the middle of the night when you are certain you want things off, its another to have it run during the early evening when you need it most. For example, all of my lights will automatically turn off after 1am as I am most likely in bed at that time. Even though I have motion sensors everywhere and different programs running to turn off lights, this is done as a backup should there be a glitch in the system. Should a light be turned on after that time, the system will automatically turn it off after 30 minutes should it be left on.
stusviews Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 There really is no wrong way of creating an all on/off. The best way is one that works for your lifestyle and situation. For example, I have a lot of devices so I break mine down into zones (or groups). I add them to different scenes as responders and then create a program that runs anytime I hit the corresponding button. This allows me to easily set up programs whether its for my goodnight, away, or emergency scenes. Yes, of course there is. But you indicated that you did not want a controller. I have several All Off scenes and/or programs, but each has a dedicated button as a controller to turn the scene off as needed. I even have a program that illuminates a KPL button if any one or more of several lights are/is on. One tap extinguishes all lit loads
lilyoyo1 Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 Yes, of course there is. But you indicated that you did not want a controller. I have several All Off scenes and/or programs, but each has a dedicated button as a controller to turn the scene off as needed. I even have a program that illuminates a KPL button if any one or more of several lights are/is on. One tap extinguishes all lit loads The OP didnt want a controller not me. Our setup has similarities to one another.
stusviews Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 The OP didnt want a controller not me. Our setup has similarities to one another. Oops, sorry. I did mean to address the OP.
TomNow2 Posted January 31, 2018 Author Posted January 31, 2018 Actually, I'm not opposed to having the controller be in the scene, I just wasn't sure the best way to do it. Sounds like I should. @lilyoyo1 Can you let me know a little more about your zones? I have a feeling I have mine set up in a similar way. Example: For my basement, I have a scene that has all my lights in it so when i press the button on top of the basement stairs, it turns on all the basement lights. I have a similar setup in my foyer and kitchen. I'm interested how you add these scenes into programs to simplify administration. What I'm hearing about my initial question is that I just add my kpl as a controller for the scene and keep the program as is? I'll be home tomorrow so i'll get to mess with it. Thanks again for the tips!
stusviews Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 Unless you don't mind a delay and don't have a specific condition, then it's best to use only scenes and not a program at all. Add all the devices you want to control as responders and one button as a controlller. That's it. BTW, an ISY controller is also a responder. A reason for having the other devices as responders is that then they can be controlllers for other scenes is and as needed. A button or paddle can be a controller for one and only one scene, but can respond to hundreds.
ScottAvery Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 There is no need for a controller for a scene that doesn't need physical control. Particularly something like all on/off that you wouldn't want someone to stumble on, but also any secondary presets that you would only call by a program or non-physical interface (SOAP, Alexa, etc.)
lilyoyo1 Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 I have alot of devices and rooms so I break them up. Instead of having 1 huge scene get triggered, I have 5 smaller scenes. My foyer, laundry, mudroom, hallways, outdoor LR and spare baths is part of 1 scene. The livingroom, dining, breakfast nook and kitchen is part of another. Media room, study, and family room is the 3rd zone. The spare bedrooms are part of zone 4 and finally my master bedroom is its own zone. When I leave the house (whether through front door or garage) I can hit my away button which then triggers each zone 1 at a time. I have a 2 second wait between each one triggering as I have found it decreased the likelihood of something not triggering. (There's more details but those are unique to my setup) By setting up like this, the individual devices can go into a scene and behave how I want. I can turn the scene "on" and set devices to whatever level I want (including off) or simply turn the whole scene "off". Hitting my goodnight button in the family room automatically triggers the hall lights to turn on as well as the kitchen. This allows someone to grab a drink/snack before heading to bed. There's a 5 minute wait added which then shuts down everything once done. I can also DBL tap my goodnight button which then sets my bedroom up the way I like. There's much more detail to my setup but that stuff is irrelevant since it's geared towards my lifestyle. However by creating a few zones I'm able to control multiple things with different programs without having to set up additional scenes.
Goose66 Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) I have a 2 second wait between each one triggering as I have found it decreased the likelihood of something not triggering. It is worth noting that if the ISY turns a Scene on or off, e.g., by way of a Program, there is no Insteon Scene Clean-up Sequence such as would occur if the Scene was triggered directly from a controller Insteon device. Therefore, it should make no difference to putting a Wait between scene commands because there is just a single command put on the Insteon network to turn the scene off with no followup cleanup commands. Edited January 31, 2018 by Goose66
lilyoyo1 Posted January 31, 2018 Posted January 31, 2018 It is worth noting that if the ISY turns a Scene on or off, e.g., by way of a Program, there is no Insteon Scene Clean-up Sequence such as would occur if the Scene was triggered directly from a controller Insteon device. Therefore, it should make no difference to putting a Wait between scene commands because there is just a single command put on the Insteon network to turn the scene off with no followup cleanup commands. That is true. However when I simply ran things a had devices that didn't respond. Once I put a wait in there all responded properly which is what mattered most. The wait actually gives it a cool effect
Recommended Posts