mitch236 Posted June 6, 2010 Posted June 6, 2010 Ok guys another question about folders. I am using two main folders that run when alarm conditions are met. If the alarm is off, the Alarm Off folder runs and if the alarm is on the Alarm On folder runs. In the alarm On folder I have thermostat settings that are designed to save electricity. In the Alarm Off folder the thermostats settings are designed for comfort. The question is this: If the alarm is on and then is turned off at 9:00pm , the Alarm Off folder becomes true at 9:00pm. But I have a thermostat change program at 8:00pm in the Alarm Off folder. Is there a way to get those programs to run even though the time to run them has past?
Sub-Routine Posted June 6, 2010 Posted June 6, 2010 You will have to create a time range and then add a check of the folder condition Mitch. That way the program will run at the beginning time if the folder is true and during the range when the folder state changes. Example program IN folder Alarm Off: If From 1:00:00PM To 6:00:00PM (same day) And Folder 'Alarm Off' is True Then Set 'Family Room Lamp' Fade Up Wait 5 seconds Set 'Family Room Lamp' Fade Stop Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Rand
mitch236 Posted June 6, 2010 Author Posted June 6, 2010 I was thinking that would work but it would preclude any changes within the house. IOW, if you are sitting in the bedroom and decide it is too cold and change the thermostat, wouldn't it reset itself back to the programmed setting?
mitch236 Posted June 6, 2010 Author Posted June 6, 2010 It would be great if there were a way to have a program run based on a change in status. Like an If statement: If status Alarm changes from On to Off Then.....
Sub-Routine Posted June 7, 2010 Posted June 7, 2010 Hi Mitch, No. The program would only run at the specified times or when the Alarm Off program changes state. Another Condition would have to be added to watch for a change in the thermostat. I was thinking that would work but it would preclude any changes within the house. IOW, if you are sitting in the bedroom and decide it is too cold and change the thermostat, wouldn't it reset itself back to the programmed setting? You can use the Alarm On or Alarm Off program state. It would be great if there were a way to have a program run based on a change in status. Like an If statement: Rand If status Alarm changes from On to Off Then.....
mitch236 Posted June 7, 2010 Author Posted June 7, 2010 Rand, I'm so sorry but I'm not getting this. If I have a program in my Alarm Off folder that looks like this: If From 8:30:00PM To 8:00:00AM (next day) Then Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' 60° (Heat Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' 76° (Cool Setpoint) Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') And at 10:00pm I decide the room is too cold and turn the thermostat up to 80, wouldn't the ISY see that change and change it back to 76?
Sub-Routine Posted June 7, 2010 Posted June 7, 2010 Hi Mitch, No need to apologize, I enjoy these questions. The program will trigger at 8:30PM and 8AM. At 8:30 it will execute the actions in the Then section. At 8AM it will perform the actions in the Else section (none). When the folder is True. The program has no Condition depending on the thermostat so a change in the thermostat will not run the program. You may like to write another program that, during these hours, AND alarm condition, then... So if you change the thermo an hour later it reverts if all the conditions are met. You can use Run (Then) on this existing program. I use Conditions that watch for local changes to modify my motion sensor reactions. Rand Rand, I'm so sorry but I'm not getting this. If I have a program in my Alarm Off folder that looks like this: If From 8:30:00PM To 8:00:00AM (next day) Then Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' 60° (Heat Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Master Suite / HVAC Master Suite' 76° (Cool Setpoint) Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') And at 10:00pm I decide the room is too cold and turn the thermostat up to 80, wouldn't the ISY see that change and change it back to 76?
mitch236 Posted June 7, 2010 Author Posted June 7, 2010 So what you're saying is that if I write a program like this: If From 8:00:00AM To 11:00:00PM (same day) Then Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 65° (Heat Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 80° (Cool Setpoint) Else Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 84° (Cool Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 46° (Heat Setpoint) And put it in my Alarm Off folder it will run if the folder becomes true at 10:00pm and change the thermostat to the above criteria? Also, if I decide (while the Alarm Off folder is true) that I want to change the thermostat manually to 76 degrees at 10:00pm it will not revert to 80 degrees as soon as the ISY sees the changed thermostat?
Sub-Routine Posted June 8, 2010 Posted June 8, 2010 Hi Mitch, The program you posted will run at 8AM IF the folder is true AT THAT TIME. Otherwise you will have to add a line to test the folder condition. If the folder is False at 8AM the program will not run. And Folder 'Alarm Off' is True will trigger the program when Alarm Off becomes True AND the time frame is within the specified period. The machine will not keep trying to set temperature when you manually change it unless you add a condition to watch for that change. Rand
mitch236 Posted June 8, 2010 Author Posted June 8, 2010 How does this look? For the Alarm Off state: If From 8:00:00AM To 11:00:00PM (same day) And Folder 'Alarm OFF (or Stay)' is True Then Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 65° (Heat Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 80° (Cool Setpoint) Else Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Mode Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 84° (Cool Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 46° (Heat Setpoint) For the Alarm On state: If Folder 'Armed Away' is True Then Wait 10 minutes Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' Fan Auto Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 36° (Heat Setpoint) Wait 5 seconds Set 'Indoor / Thermostats / Main House / HVAC Main House' 82° (Cool Setpoint) Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
Sub-Routine Posted June 8, 2010 Posted June 8, 2010 It looks good Mitch. I think those programs will do what you want. Rand
mitch236 Posted June 8, 2010 Author Posted June 8, 2010 Even though those programs reside in the folder named in the If statement?
Sub-Routine Posted June 8, 2010 Posted June 8, 2010 Even though those programs reside in the folder named in the If statement? Yes. When the folder becomes true the programs will be evaluated. Rand
mitch236 Posted June 9, 2010 Author Posted June 9, 2010 Next problem! Ok, so now I have the thermostats figured out. I have a new issue. There are three possible states the alarm can be in; Armed Away, Armed Stay and Disarmed. I only need two main folders to handle this, one for Armed Away (when nobody is at home) and Disarmed/Armed Stay (when someone is home). Nothing should change when the alarm is changed from Disarmed to Armed Stay because the occupants haven't changed. So for the Armed Away folder's If statement I used If Alarm Away is true but for the Alarm Stay/Disarm folder I used the statement If Alarm Away is False thinking that if the status of the alarm changes from Disarmed to Alarm Stay nothing would happen (since the status of the If statement has not changed) but any change in the alarm's status causes the folder's contents to be reassessed. Is there a way around this?
TJF1960 Posted June 9, 2010 Posted June 9, 2010 Next problem! Ok, so now I have the thermostats figured out. I have a new issue. There are three possible states the alarm can be in; Armed Away, Armed Stay and Disarmed. I only need two main folders to handle this, one for Armed Away (when nobody is at home) and Disarmed/Armed Stay (when someone is home). Nothing should change when the alarm is changed from Disarmed to Armed Stay because the occupants haven't changed. So for the Armed Away folder's If statement I used If Alarm Away is true but for the Alarm Stay/Disarm folder I used the statement If Alarm Away is False thinking that if the status of the alarm changes from Disarmed to Alarm Stay nothing would happen (since the status of the If statement has not changed) but any change in the alarm's status causes the folder's contents to be reassessed. Is there a way around this? Hi Mitch, Not sure if this will help you out or not but I have all my programs that run when "Away" in a folder with an "If Program Alarm Away is True" so the folder only becomes true when the alarm is set for away. I will put an "If Folder Away is true" in the first line of all the programs I want to run right when the folder becomes true. The programs in the Away folder that do not have that line in them will not run until there is a change in their If statements. In other words if a program is in a folder that becomes true that program will not automatically run unless it is called upon or its If statement turn true while the folder is true. I also have a "Run when Home" folder that is used in the same way for all programs to be run while I am home. Tim
mitch236 Posted June 9, 2010 Author Posted June 9, 2010 Tim, I was thinking the same thing, that I should only have two states for my alarm status. Either Home or Away since the Alarm Stay state really requires no change in any programming anyway! I think it would be best to change that at the DSC interface so the ISY doesn't see a state change when the alarm is changed from Disarmed to Alarmed Stay or visa versa.
TJF1960 Posted June 9, 2010 Posted June 9, 2010 I think it would be best to change that at the DSC interface so the ISY doesn't see a state change when the alarm is changed from Disarmed to Alarmed Stay or visa versa. Yes, there may be a way to do that but in thinking it over I am not sure how. In my situation I simply added "If Alarm Away is False" to the "Run if Home" folder. That way both folders toggle as the status of the "Alarm Away" program changes states. Its been working very well, and is fairly simple. Plus if there ever are some programs I want to run if the alarm is armed "stay" it will be easy to add and control just by adding another folder.
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