How do I.....

[adambuild]

I have two switches that make up a virtual 3-WAY scene for hi hats in a kitchen. There is an additional single switch that alone controls a center light fixture in the center of the kitchen. Is there a way to make that center fixture go on and off along with the other virtual 3-WAY scene? If so, what's the best way to do that? I tried making a new scene but when I drag the virtual 3-WAY scene into this new scene something doesn't look right. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance! Adam

[paulbates]

You can add the center switch to the existing scene...but be sure to click the box to make it a controller. If you didn't do that, remove it from the scene and re-add it as a controller

[oberkc]

10 hours ago, adambuild said:

Is there a way to make that center fixture go on and off along with the other virtual 3-WAY scene?

If all you want is for the center fixture to go on and off with the virtual 3-WAY (but not control the 3-WAY), then add the center fixture to the 3-WAY scene as a responder.

[adambuild]

Thanks so much to both of you.

[paulbates]

Another thing is that devices can be dragged into scenes, but scenes cannot be dragged into other scenes.

However, you can have almost unlimited scenes (in most installations) and can create many similar ones to create the lighting effects you want for different switches, programs, etc

[dbwarner5]

4 hours ago, paulbates said:

However, you can have almost unlimited scenes (in most installations) and can create many similar ones to create the lighting effects you want for different switches, programs, etc

this may be a bit of a wish.. there is a limit of 1000 "devices in scenes". So for example in my basement I have ~20 switches.. if I put tougher 10 scenes with those 20 switches, I have used up ~ 200 of the 1000.

I had to replace all my basement scenes with programs (much slower) to avoid overloading this limitation 

And to be clear, this limitation is with the PLM, nothing else. 

 

(disclaimer, I may not have all the correct "technical aspects" of the above, but the concept is relatively close to correct) 

 

 

[lilyoyo1]

On 10/28/2024 at 8:31 PM, dbwarner5 said:

this may be a bit of a wish.. there is a limit of 1000 "devices in scenes". So for example in my basement I have ~20 switches.. if I put tougher 10 scenes with those 20 switches, I have used up ~ 200 of the 1000.

I had to replace all my basement scenes with programs (much slower) to avoid overloading this limitation 

And to be clear, this limitation is with the PLM, nothing else. 

 

(disclaimer, I may not have all the correct "technical aspects" of the above, but the concept is relatively close to correct) 

 

 

I don't use Insteon anymore but when I did, I had a few tricks that I used to save link/scene space. For basic multi-way setups, I simply linked the devices together outside of the isy. If a simple timer controlled those devices, I'd use programs to control each of the switches individually (Controlled switch first). That way, I received the benefits of linked devices and the program turning off the individual devices was irrelevant since I wouldn't be looking at the individual switches. 

For larger items such as keypads, I'd create scenes with all devices set as responders to minimize how many links I used by setting controllers in the scene. I would then create a program for my control conditions. 

Additionally, I would reuse scenes where I could. For example, each room had it's own all off button. Each device would be set in the scene as a responder with the button for triggering it being programmed. I then used those all off scenes as part of my away program instead of creating 1 big away scene. 

My all off scenes were also configured to be my goodnight scenes. Devices that I wanted to turn on (would be configured on and devices that needed to be off were configured as off. When I hit the goodnight button, the program would turn the scene on. Then after the final count, would turn the scene off where applicable. 

Edited October 31 by lilyoyo1

[dbwarner5]

very similar. I also use most of those strategies, but still got way up and had to revert all of my basement scenes (low importance) to programs as there are over 20 switches for each scene.  I use programs to notice if a switch for example over the pool table is on and then is switched on, the whole basement goes into "playing pool" scene. Same for other focal points in a large game room. 

Was in the high 900's and seeing issues when I had all these in scenes, even with the program being the trigger ie, no controllers.

Now I am in the high 700s so that is good so that I can occasionally add a new scene or two. 

Cheers.

[Ross]

@dbwarner5

Is there an easy way to  see a count in the Admin Console?  Thanks, Ross

Ross

[dbwarner5]

Under Tools / Diagnostics / Show PLM Link table.... then hit start.

I am not as knowledgable as others on this forum about this, but I am pretty sure if you have programs running or adjustments happening to your system at the same time, it will throw the count off.  So you need to stop your programs and let it run.

Just ran mine.. 886.... big shortcoming of the PLM

Edited November 2 by dbwarner5