Alarm zone bypass automation

[willards007]

I am trying to create a program or scene to automate bypassing three highly use zones on my alarm panel and I am having trouble using scenes or programs to do this for the following reasons.

Scene - I need to delay the zone bypass command for each zone as sending the command all at once results in only the first one being accepted by the panel.  I have not been able to find a way to put a pause or Delay between each zone that needs to be bypassed using the scene function.

Program - I don't have a logical trigger to start the program.  For example I am not toggling a switch to cause the scene to occur.  I need something like a virtual switch to trigger the function then the program would send the bypass command to eat zone and then wait in between.  My intent is to use an Amazon echo and send a command to trigger the program.  

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[elvisimprsntr]

If you are using the Elk M1, have you considered using Areas?  For example:

Area 1: First Floor

Area 2: Second Floor

Area 3: Third Floor

Area 4: Garage

Then program the Elk to only Arm Area 1 and Area 4 in Stay Modes.  Arm All Areas in Away Modes.  

Prevents tripping the alarm when someone opens a Window when armed in Stay mode.  

 

 

 

[Goose66]

You say you don’t have a “logical trigger” to start the program. But there must be at least one controller device for the scene, right. Otherwise, what triggers the scene?

Or if you are just manually triggering the scene from the Admin Console or UD Mobile, then you could  similarly just run the program from the Admin Console or UD Mobile (Run Then Branch).

Edited June 14, 2023 by Goose66

[willards007]

11 hours ago, Goose66 said:

You say you don’t have a “logical trigger” to start the program. But there must be at least one controller device for the scene, right. Otherwise, what triggers the scene?

Or if you are just manually triggering the scene from the Admin Console or UD Mobile, then you could  similarly just run the program from the Admin Console or UD Mobile (Run Then Branch).

This would and does work if you use the admin console or even UD mobile etc, but I don't think I can trigger the "then" branch from the Echo device without something in the "if" logic check.  The echo device needs to toggle a switch or scene.  

[willards007]

17 hours ago, elvisimprsntr said:

If you are using the Elk M1, have you considered using Areas?  For example:

Area 1: First Floor

Area 2: Second Floor

Area 3: Third Floor

Area 4: Garage

Then program the Elk to only Arm Area 1 and Area 4 in Stay Modes.  Arm All Areas in Away Modes.  

Prevents tripping the alarm when someone opens a Window when armed in Stay mode.  

 

 

 

Its a DSC and in my case I would have to reconfigure the zones or split the zones into a 2nd partition.  This would then make using the keypad not so user friendly.  

[tazman]

The virtual node server can be used to create a switch. I never tried it but you might be able to change a variable from Alexa.

[willards007]

1 hour ago, tazman said:

The virtual node server can be used to create a switch. I never tried it but you might be able to change a variable from Alexa.

I'll give it a try.  I was also going to try and setup a scene that just changes a variable from 0 to 1 and then wait some time and change it back.  During the "1" state, a program could be triggered to toggle the zone bypass with wait time between each zone signal.  In that way, the scene would reset for the next time it's needed since the zone will toggel back on its own when the alarm is disarmed.  I'll give it a try and see.. 

[willards007]

4 minutes ago, willards007 said:

I'll give it a try.  I was also going to try and setup a scene that just changes a variable from 0 to 1 and then wait some time and change it back.  During the "1" state, a program could be triggered to toggle the zone bypass with wait time between each zone signal.  In that way, the scene would reset for the next time it's needed since the zone will toggel back on its own when the alarm is disarmed.  I'll give it a try and see.. 

lol,  well that didn't work..  I guess there is no way to bring in a variable into a scene..

[tazman]

14 minutes ago, willards007 said:

lol,  well that didn't work..  I guess there is no way to bring in a variable into a scene..

For variables you would have to use them with programs. 

[Goose66]

13 hours ago, willards007 said:

This would and does work if you use the admin console or even UD mobile etc, but I don't think I can trigger the "then" branch from the Echo device without something in the "if" logic check.  The echo device needs to toggle a switch or scene.  

It was my understanding that turning ON a Program setup in the Alexa integration runs the "Then" branch and turning OFF the Program runs the "Else" branch (see, e.g., https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration_V3#Programs). The "trigger" (really a condition) is not considered.

But if that's not the case, then try a condition that is always true, e.g. "If From 0:00:00 to 23:59:59" and then disable the program so that the ISY won't trigger the program on the condition's boundaries. Alexa should be able to Turn that ON (run the Then branch). 

Edited June 15, 2023 by Goose66

[MrBill]

14 hours ago, willards007 said:

but I don't think I can trigger the "then" branch from the Echo device without something in the "if" logic check.

You absolutely CAN trigger the "then" branch from the Echo device with a blank "if": https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration_V3#Programs

[brians]

I can't remember how DSC worked in IoX but I did have all the zones able to by bypassed using toggle in UD Mobile so I am sure this is possible somehow.

Do you have to use scene to send a bypass command?

If you say you cannot delay in a scene, then just use three scenes with only one zone in each, with a delay in between running each one! I think the bypass on DSC is a toggle, not a discrete on/off.

In Alexa I think you can set it to turn on a variable which triggers a program using a custom phrase... I did this years ago so cannot remember exactly but it wasn't that difficult.

 

 

[willards007]

9 hours ago, MrBill said:

You absolutely CAN trigger the "then" branch from the Echo device with a blank "if": https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration_V3#Programs

So would the "if" condition just be left blank and then the Echo device would trigger the "than" by turning on the "program name"?

 

[willards007]

10 hours ago, Goose66 said:

It was my understanding that turning ON a Program setup in the Alexa integration runs the "Then" branch and turning OFF the Program runs the "Else" branch (see, e.g., https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration_V3#Programs). The "trigger" (really a condition) is not considered.

But if that's not the case, then try a condition that is always true, e.g. "If From 0:00:00 to 23:59:59" and then disable the program so that the ISY won't trigger the program on the condition's boundaries. Alexa should be able to Turn that ON (run the Then branch). 

I will live this a go.  sounds like this will work.  Thanks 

[willards007]

11 hours ago, Goose66 said:

It was my understanding that turning ON a Program setup in the Alexa integration runs the "Then" branch and turning OFF the Program runs the "Else" branch (see, e.g., https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_Amazon_Echo_Integration_V3#Programs). The "trigger" (really a condition) is not considered.

But if that's not the case, then try a condition that is always true, e.g. "If From 0:00:00 to 23:59:59" and then disable the program so that the ISY won't trigger the program on the condition's boundaries. Alexa should be able to Turn that ON (run the Then branch). 

This worked.  Thank you