Controlling a light's intensity at different times of day.

[LarryM]

After reading different threads from the "Questions" forum.

Here is a way to change the ON intensity of a light to different levels at different times of the day.

You have a device (2477D) called “TestDimmer”.
- Make this device’s “On Level [Applied Locally]” = 1% (zero will not work)
- Make a Scene called “TestDimmerSceneDifferent%”.
- Place our “TestDimmer” in the above Scene as a Responder.
- Write two Programs:
#1  “TestScenePgm%” Looks for an ON control from our 2477D dimmer switch.
       If we see an ON, run our scene.

#2  Check for a desired time period.
       If we are in this period, adjust the Scene's “On Level” as needed.
       If we are outside this time period, adjust the  Scene's “On Level” as needed.

Since we are using a program to control the lights level, there is a time delay.

 

Edited October 9, 2018 by LarryM
Moved images

[larryllix]

Read down about four posts.

 

[LarryM]

@larryllix thank you for that.

Yes, using a Motion Sensor makes things more responsive as does a button on a remote.

The above example used, as seen in the program, a wall dimmer switch connected to the light in question.

It would be nice if you could change the physical devices ‘On Level [Applied Locally] setting, then things would ocure at normal speeds.

 

Side note:   @larryllix, I believe you mentioned somewhere about wearing out the EEPROM inside a switch.  I have seen some EEPROMS that support 100,000 write cycles. If similar here, and since scenes are stored in the actual device, we should keep this limitation in mind when changes are made in our devices.

 

Edit:

For new users like me, one last point.

If you set your devices ‘On Levels [Applied Locally]’  to say 40% (or what every) then lights will come on at a low level on a single press and you still have the option of 100% on a double press.

Using your switches in this fashion makes for a responsive lighting system, you just have to remember double tap for full light, no programming or scenes needed  .

 

 

Edited October 9, 2018 by LarryM

[larryllix]

1 hour ago, LarryM said:

@larryllix thank you for that.

Yes, using a Motion Sensor makes things more responsive as does a button on a remote.

The above example used, as seen in the program, a wall dimmer switch connected to the light in question.

It would be nice if you could change the physical devices ‘On Level [Applied Locally] setting, then things would ocure at normal speeds.

<snipped>

 

The "On" level is changed twice per day. The On times are the same and use the exact same method...MS ---->Scene On--->Dimming Device. The On level from the MS is immediate no matter what level of brightness is used.