Change light "on" value during overnight hours

[Geddy]

Is there a way to program/control a light to only come on at a set percentage when it's the middle of the night?

Situation: master bathroom light is on a dimmer switch. Rather than touch/hold to brighten I just want to turn the light on, but have it only reach 30% brightness. I've attempted scenes and programs, but the lights still come on at 100% then ramp down to 30%. I'm trying to avoid that bright "flash" of light. The lights in the area are incandescent globe lights.

Firmware: 4.6.2

Current program:

Night-MasterBath -

If
        From    11:45:00PM
        To      Sunrise - 15 minutes (next day)
    And Control 'Master Bath' is switched On
 
Then
        Set Scene 'Night-Bathroom' On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

 

Scene settings are "Master Bath On Level = 30% Ramp rate = 2 seconds"

I only have one switch for the master bath, and it's set to responder. 

 

 

During daylight hours I want it to be a "normal" light and come on at 100% when turned on. So, I only want the scene/action to be active overnight. 

 

I tried just using it in a program, but that didn't seem to work either...or my program wasn't right. So, I've settled on the scene method, but it's still not doing what I wanted it to do. Is it possible? How's the best way to design this action?

 

Thanks!

 

[lilyoyo1]

There's post on the first page of how to's and tutorials section on how to accomplish this.

 

 

[Geddy]

Great. Thanks. Tried some searches, but never came up with this post.  Even pinned (long list of pinned threads) it doesn't appear in searches. Will give it a try. I think adjusting scene was my missing point.

 

Although, in reading it they reference two devices. I don't have a device for the lights themselves.

This references:

Bathroom Switch (SwitchLinc Controller)

Bathroom Light (LampLinc Responder)

 

I only have a switchlinc/dimmer.  Hopefully works the same.

 

[oberkc]

If I recall correctly, the syntax for this action has changed in software versions 5.X.  Which software are you on?

In the version 4.x software, it seemed to confuse a lot of people.  Assuming your two devices (switchlinc and lamplinc) are in a scene together, the action looks something like:

in scene [controller device] adjust [responder device] to xx%.  (Keep in mind this is all from memory.  Please accept my apologies if I don't remember correctly.)

[Geddy]

I'm on 4.6.2 (haven't taken the plunge to update yet...ain't broke and all that stuff). I only have one device (just the switchlink). Hopefully it will work, I had something similar setup this way, but was relying on the program to trigger when the switch was on. This looks like it makes the scene active during the overnight hours and should work for just the one device. I've got to test when home.

 

It will be interesting to see how it looks in 5.x once I finally have the need to go up to that. 

 

[Geddy]

@lilyoyo1 Tried this tonight by setting time to  current...this didn't work. The only thing that did work was seem to slow the ramp rate. So it's almost there, but the value that the light came on to was still 100%.

 

Made a change to just control the device itself and seemed to work. Rather than being part of a scene.

 

Thanks for pointing out the prior post!

 

[lilyoyo1]

4 minutes ago, Geddy said:

@lilyoyo1 Tried this tonight by setting time to  current...this didn't work. The only thing that did work was seem to slow the ramp rate. So it's almost there, but the value that the light came on to was still 100%.

 

Made a change to just control the device itself and seemed to work. Rather than being part of a scene.

 

Thanks for pointing out the prior post!

 

You're welcome. My pleasure. Post the program you wrote. Sometimes it's the smallest details we forget that causes problems. 

[Geddy]

Well, it's odd, but I still needed a scene to have the "Master Bath" device to show up in the Adjust Scene...for some reason.

 

Final program that worked (again, in 4.6.2):

Night-MasterBath -

If
        From    11:00:00PM
        To      Sunrise - 15 minutes (next day)
 
Then
        In Scene 'Master Bath' Set 'Master Bath' 30% (On Level)
        In Scene 'Master Bath' Set 'Master Bath' 2.0 Sec (Ramp Rate)
 
Else
        In Scene 'Master Bath' Set 'Master Bath' 100% (On Level)
        In Scene 'Master Bath' Set 'Master Bath' 0.2 Sec (Ramp Rate)
 

 

I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing if I hold the dimmer up now it will exceed the 30%, but as far as my intention of just being able to tap the light to come on it comes on at a nice "slow" ramp of 2 seconds to 30% brightness. I'll have to tweak the actual brightness for middle of the night as needed, but this way it won't come on super bright and doesn't need to be held to come up to a provide enough light not to stumble around in the dark.

 

 

[oberkc]

Your program will, I expect, set the local rates (the rates for a device when it is controlled directly) for the device "master bath".  While it seemed a little convoluted to me, I understand that this is the only way to do so.  If the load that you want to adjust is connected directly to this device, then this should work.

 

[larryllix]

Here is what I use for my ensuite lights so I don't get blinded during night trips, when I operate the SwitchLinc paddle.. This has been working for a few years now.

I avoid the usage of scenes.

This may take V5. I have used it for 3-4 years (since v5.0.0) and never had any problems with Insteon devices.

Ensuite Lights Level.adjust - [ID 012F][Parent 00FA]

If
        From    Sunrise
        To      11:00:00PM (same day)
 
Then
        Set 'Master Bedroom / Ensuite Lights' On Level 100%
        Set 'Master Bedroom / Ensuite Lights' Ramp Rate 0.5 seconds
 
Else
        Set 'Master Bedroom / Ensuite Lights' On Level 20%
        Set 'Master Bedroom / Ensuite Lights' Ramp Rate 2.0 seconds