Scenes vs. Programs

[cmerlino]

Hi all, I'm new to ISY and very confused. This is long - so apologies up front...

I've used x10 since the 70's (yes, I have a Sears branded mini timer that still - sort of - works), but I never needed to use scenes. Moved into my new house an went for Insteon. I'm adding slowly, and reusing some old x10 stuff meantime. Here's the setup...

 

One 8 button Keypad link, load tied to kitchen sink light.

Buttons are a=sink, b=ceiling, c=island, d=music, e=blue led, f=white led, g=work, h=dine

Switchlinc (1) tied to Island lights, switchlinc (2) tied to ceiling lights, switchlinc (3) with no load (for ceiling)

x10 appliance for music (d7)

x10 appliance for blue led (d5)

x10 universal to add the white leds to the blue (d6)

 

I created scenes for:

Island (switchlinc 1 and keypad c, both controllers)

Ceiling (switchlinc 2, switchlinc 3, keypad b, all controllers)

 

These work fine, status lights track, etc..

 

The problem is with the Work and Dine "selections"

 

When I press work, I want everything on. I created a scene, and it sort of works, but the status lights on the keypad don't track.

For the dine scene, I want the sink off, and the ceiling and island at 40%, and this didn't work at all - everything came on 100%. I tried programs, and that worked better, but the status on the keypad still didn't track.

 

The music and leds each have scenes with just the controller button, and programs to send the x10, but it is flaky at best...

 

Just not getting the concept of scenes and programs....

 

When are the "Ifs" evaluated, only on state change, or polled??

When are devices controllers, and when are they responders??

How do the status lights work??

How do I switch from a 100% "selection" to a 40% "selection" without the lights going out??

How do I send x10 when the "selection" button (dine) is pressed.

 

I write code for a living, but this has me a little frustrated!!

 

Any direction is GREATLY appreciated.......

 

Thanks,

Chris

[fitzpatri8]

Hi Chris, welcome!

 

Disable your programs attached to buttons G & H until you get your scenes set up.

 

Create a button G Scene with button G as the only Controller. Add buttons A through F as Responders. Then add all the devices linked to buttons A-F as Responders as well.

 

Create a button H Scene with button H as the only Controller. Add buttons A-F as Responders. Then add the devices linked to buttons A-F as Responders as well.

 

Now click on the button H scene. In the lower right adjust the sliders for your sink dimmer to 0% and the other dimmers to 40%. The ISY will pause while it updates the device link databases. Now, on the left, click on the red button H Controller within the button H scene. Mid-screen, click the button that says "Copy scene attributes from button H scene" to copy those 0% and 40% settings over. The ISY will then update those links as well.

 

Lastly, you'll need programs to send out your x10 commands. One program should run when either the Control button G or Control button H is turned ON but not off, waiting 2 seconds for the Insteon commands to finish then sending the x10 on commands, else waiting 2 seconds then sending the x10 off commands.

[cmerlino]

Wow - great advice!

 

Didn't see the part to add ALL the devices to the scene, and the "Copy scene attributes..." Still one issue, though...

 

When I select "Work" (KPL-G) the scene comes up fine, then I select "Dine" (KPL-H), the scene adjusts, but KPL-G stays lit. How do I turn the button off? I looked at the button grouping, but the warnings are dire!

 

Many thanks again!!

[cmerlino]

Ok, found it in another post...

Create a scene with KPL-G (Work) as a responder, then set the scene off in the program that runs when KPL-H (Dine) is switched on.

 

It works!!!

 

If there is a better way, I'm all ears. Love to learn from the "pros"

THANKS