New Guy is baffled

[TDO]

Hi there,

I just set up the isy994.  I wanted a simple program to turn off the bathroom fans after 5 minutes.

I am using exactly the same code for the Master and Guest Bathrooms save for the different fan, and one runs and the other does not.  The trigger for the Master is ignored for some reason.  I can look in the log and see that it saw the fan turn on, but the program doesn't run

 

Any ideas?

 

[lilyoyo1]

5 minutes ago, TDO said:

Hi there,

I just set up the isy994.  I wanted a simple program to turn off the bathroom fans after 5 minutes.

I am using exactly the same code for the Master and Guest Bathrooms save for the different fan, and one runs and the other does not.  The trigger for the Master is ignored for some reason.  I can look in the log and see that it saw the fan turn on, but the program doesn't run

 

Any ideas?

 

Post your programs.

[MrBill]

to post the programs right click the name in the tree and pick Copy to Clipboard from the context menu, then paste each into your next reply.   Be sure and post both.

[TDO]

Thanks!

This one works

 

Master Bathroom Fan  - [ID 0005][Parent 0001]

If
        'Master Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Wait  1 second
        Set 'Master Bath Fan' Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

 

This one does not

Guest Bathroom Fan - [ID 0003][Parent 0004]

If
        'Guest Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Wait 1 second
        Set 'Guest Bath Fan' Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

[Techman]

If the program doesn't turn the Master bath fan on or off then it could be a communication issue between the switch and the ISY.

If you turn the fan on and off from the ISY does the fan correctly respond?

 

[TDO]

It does.  I have tried numerous other programs that are contingent upon a switch being turned on.  None of them work, but the ISY is clearly seeing the status change.  At this point what seems weird is that the one program works.  

 

[TDO]

The other piece of diagnostic information worth mentioning is that the icon next to the working program is green, and the icon near every other program is red.  

[TDO]

How do I change Program status?  The one program that runs is the one whose "status" is "true".  The "status" of other programs are all set to "false" and they won't run despite the ISY994 clearly sending & receiving communication reliably.  I think I just need to know how to change the a program's status to "true".  Anyone know how I do that?

 

Getting closer...

[Techman]

GREEN means that the THEN clause has executed

RED means that the ELSE clause has executed

If you right click on a program then click on run THEN, the then clause should execute

Try manually turning on the fan at the switch, then right click on the THEN clause to see if the fan turns off. Let me know what happens

Edited May 8, 2021 by Techman

[hart2hart]

How do I change Program status?  The one program that runs is the one whose "status" is "true".  The "status" of other programs are all set to "false" and they won't run despite the ISY994 clearly sending & receiving communication reliably.  I think I just need to know how to change the a program's status to "true".  Anyone know how I do that?
 
Getting closer...

Are there any If conditions on the folder that contains the non running programs. If a folder is not true no programs in it will run.

Also I’d put wait 15 seconds to get a picture of what’s going on. It’s on so short at 1 second before it gets turned off. The second it’s off the program will revaluated and become false.

One more consideration is that those fans are big electrical line noise generators. I did similar so I repeated the off command 3 - 5 times with 1 second in between to try snd get through. Especially true if switches are not dual band or do not another dual band device nearby to serve as alternative path to control it.

[MrBill]

I agree you need at least 15 seconds for valid testing.   Another solution/ troubleshooting step might be to use "Control". i.e.:

      If 'Guest Bath Fan' is switched on.

You could also open the event viewer (Tools > Diagnostics > Event Viewer) and change the dropdown to level 3 and show us what happens when it fails.

[TDO]

Hey All,

Thanks for the suggestions. 

I am reasonably certain the issue is not network communication.  I have tested the system both ways, and it has never failed in over a hundred trials   The fan switch is always seen by the ISY994, and the ISY994 can always turn on/off the fan, no fails, ever.   

The 1 second off works flawlessly on the only program that works.  I shortened it to 1 second over time just to make my troubleshooting faster. 

Here's what I know:

1. The ISY sees the command, but does not execute the program. 

2. The program whose status is "True" and is colored green on the directory tree works

3.  The programs whose status is "false" and are "red" do not work

 

I am pretty sure it is something super basic as I am new here, so whatever it is once uncovered will likely have a resounding chorus of "duh".  

 

Thanks Again,

Mike

[TDO]

The status column below means what?  How do I change it?

[TDO]

See How one is green?  What's up with that?

[Techman]

If the IF clause is true then the THEN clause will run

If the IF clause is false then the ELSE clause will run

 

I've attached the ISY cookbook which is an excellent guide to using and programing the ISY

 

35358288_ISYCookbook.pdf

[TDO]

Thanks Techman, the cookbook is super helpful.

 

If it is the case that 

"If the IF clause is true then the THEN clause will run

If the IF clause is false then the ELSE clause will run",

then I do not understand why the Guest Bath and Master Bath programs are a different color.  They are the same program, save for a different switch.

 

This one is green

Guest Bathroom Fan - [ID 0003][Parent 0001]

If
        'Guest Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Wait  1 second
        Set 'Guest Bath Fan' Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

This one is red

Master Bath Fan - [ID 0005][Parent 0001]

If
        'Master Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Set 'Master Bath Fan' Off
        Set 'Master Bath Lights' On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

 

Weird, right?

[Techman]

31 minutes ago, TDO said:

Thanks Techman, the cookbook is super helpful.

 

If it is the case that 

"If the IF clause is true then the THEN clause will run

If the IF clause is false then the ELSE clause will run",

then I do not understand why the Guest Bath and Master Bath programs are a different color.  They are the same program, save for a different switch.

 

This one is green

Guest Bathroom Fan - [ID 0003][Parent 0001]

If
        'Guest Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Wait  1 second
        Set 'Guest Bath Fan' Off
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

This one is red

Master Bath Fan - [ID 0005][Parent 0001]

If
        'Master Bath Fan' Status is On
 
Then
        Set 'Master Bath Fan' Off
        Set 'Master Bath Lights' On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

 

Weird, right?

The only reason I can think of is if the ISY isn't getting the signal back from the fan. Sometimes a motor or other device can create noise on the powerline and interfere with the Insteon signal.

Are you able to turn the fan on and off from the ISY without using the program?

Try changing the OFF to ON in you program and then right click on the program and run the THEN clause to see if the fan turns on.

I've come across instances where a device will turn on but won't turn off due to the noise the device creates on the powerline. This is especially true if you have a UPS, Computer or other electrical device on the same circuit as the ISY or the device you're trying to operate.

Edited May 8, 2021 by Techman

[TDO]

The Insteon communication is impressively solid, I am 99% sure it's a non-issue.  There's something wrong with triggering.

 

This program  should turn on my office light when I open the sensor.

 

Open Close Sensor - [ID 0008][Parent 0001]

If
        'Open-Close Sensor Open' Status is On
 
Then
        Set 'Office Lights' On
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 

 

It does not work, but I can watch the status change back and forth in the console.  I can get nothing to trigger save Guest Bath Fan.

[TDO]

@hart2hart had it, I just didn't understand what was meant by "folder conditions".  I apparently had set one in the parent folder.  It's removed and everything works.

Thank you all for your help,

 

[Mustang65]

Just checking, and not sure if it will be an issue,  are both switches on the same line? What line is the PLM on? Do you have a signal bridge between L1 and L2". I am guessing it is an Insteon switch.

Just wondering

Edited May 8, 2021 by Mustang65

[TDO]

@hart2hart had it, I just didn't understand what was meant by "folder conditions".  I apparently had set one in the parent folder.  It's removed and everything works.

Thank you all for your help,