Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Sorry I'm not big into programming. Most of my system is made entirely of scenes. I added in an ApplianceLinc to run a hot water recirculator when the bath fan is turn on and to only allow the circulator to run for a certain amount of time in case someone forgets to turn the fan off when their done. I can handle the fan being left on but the hot water circulator running will cause the hot water heater to run way too much. Could someone just look this over and tell me if they see any issues? So far from initial testings it seems like it will work. [/img]
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 The code you got there should work fine as long as the fan switch is not included in any other scenes. Another option is you could use a "Control" to isolate it from being triggered by an scenes, it would be like this... If Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched On Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fast On Then Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' On Wait 1 hour Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' Off If Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Off Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fast Off Then Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' Off
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Thank you Marksanctuary, The fan switch has it's own scene that turns on the bath fan and it's also included in my "Master All Off" scene. I like what you have there and may end up using that if what I have don't work right.
oberkc Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 I like the solution by marksanctuary. I second the concern about this switch being part of other scenes. I assume that the switch is not a dimmer? If so, there may be better (or additional) "if" conditions, such as "not on" or "not off" or "dim" or "bright". The only thing that jumps at me is the possibility that someone could leave the light on, at which point the next person entering the room would have to know to turn it off, then back on, to get the pump working again (assuming that this is important). For that reason, I think I would program the light to go off with the pump.
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 The fan button is on a 8 button keypad which does have the capability to dim but we know not to use it that way. This fan button only control the main bath fan (and hot water recirculator) so the only thing that would happen if the button was left on would be that fan constantly running which is fairly noticeable. Sadly my original programming did not want to function this morning which made for a cooler shower I'm not sure why, I tested it before hand and it kicked on the circulator but it wasn't running this morning. Guess I'll be switching over to marks program.
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 The fan button is on a 8 button keypad which does have the capability to dim but we know not to use it that way.This fan button only control the main bath fan (and hot water recirculator) so the only thing that would happen if the button was left on would be that fan constantly running which is fairly noticeable. Sadly my original programming did not want to function this morning which made for a cooler shower I'm not sure why, I tested it before hand and it kicked on the circulator but it wasn't running this morning. Guess I'll be switching over to marks program. I will have to test when I get home but I think Control check for On is looking for if the switch has the on side of the switch tapped, but the part I can't remember is if you do the tap and hold to dim up will the Control check pick this up or not. I will test and confirm this evening. That may be a communication problem more than your program, because your program looks fine with the Status check.
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Found it, if your wanting to also capture the Fade Up or Fade Down here it is... If Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched On Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fast On Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fade Up Then Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' On Wait 1 hour Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' Off If Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Off Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fast Off Or Control '10.A3.C6.C' is switched Fade Down Then Set 'Hot Water Rec ApplianceLinc' Off
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Mark, Just wanted to make sure you understood, we do not use the dim feature. We just tap the button to either turn the fan on or off. Thanks for the help!
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 True. Just wanted to complete the thought just in case you do dim up from time to time.
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Nope because the only thing that button control is a bath fan and I don't think it's a good idea to try and dim down the fan. I would think that would shorten the life of it rather quickly.
oberkc Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Just wanted to make sure you understood, we do not use the dim feature. We just tap the button to either turn the fan on or off I understand it is your intention not to use the dim feature, but I think it possible that one could use it inadvertently, simply by holding the button a little too long. I also do not believe that the dimmer switches are "rated" for motor (inductive) loads. While I have no doubt that many use them for this purpose, I also suspect that it can lead to problems (load non responsive, communication, switch life) in certain cases.
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 This is a good point aberkc about using dimmers on inductive loads, this would be better on a relay than a dimmer.
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Actually in reality the bath fan is on a relay. My whole house is setup with Insteon switches and is setup probably a little different than most and way over-kill thanks to a Master Electrician father in-law. None of the wall switches or keypads in the house actually control any lights or fans. We have another whole set of Relays and Dimmers in our mechanical room that control the actual loads. The house switches are just programmed to turn on/off these relays and dimmers. The 8 button keypad 2486DWH8 actually controls a Switchlinc relay 2476S that then actually controls the power to the fan. Like I said; over-kill.
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Nothing is overkill when it comes to home automation. Lighting control is fun... Sanctuary Christmas Lights
Zick Posted July 30, 2010 Author Posted July 30, 2010 Very nice! Too bad Youtube took down your video.
Mark Sanctuary Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 That's ok, I ended up putting them on my smugmug account instead. I updated the Sanctuary Christmas Lights forum post with the latest links and info.
Zick Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 Well I think I figured out why my program doesn't work and also I tried Marks but that didn't work either (no fault of marks programming). I hit the keypad button which the fan turns on no problem but still no circulator. So I check the system via my ISY and find that the scene that controls my bath fan does not appear to be updating correctly. The C button is lit up but ISY doesn't show that it's on, yet it enables the bath fan relay just fine. Anyone know why ISY doesn't think the C button state is on?
oberkc Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 I may be predispositioned to assume things, but this starts sounding like a communication problem to me. I suggest a couple of steps to further troubleshoot: a. open tools>diagnostics>event viewer b. press your C button c. confirm you see an event on the event viewer corresponding to the button press (three lines of incoherent gobbledygook in my event viewer). If you don't see this event, then I would conclude that you are not getting good insteon signals from your device to your PLM Another test is tools>diagnostics>scene test. From the available scenes, choose one or two that include your devices in question. You may even want to create a temporary dummy scene to include all the devices in question. Run the scene test and see if you have any failures. This would be further indication of comm failure. A quick check of your setup....do you have any access points? Do you use any filters? Do you have a UPS, conditioner, and/or surge protector on your computer? Is the PLM plugged into this, or adjacent to it?
LeeG Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 The Scene posted does not look like it includes whatever you are using to control the circulator pump.
oberkc Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 The Scene posted does not look like it includes whatever you are using to control the circulator pump. LeeG, I thought the circulator pump was controlled via program. I percieve the problem being with the two-device scene (button C and fan). He presses button C, but the ISY does not show it as on.
Zick Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 Ok, thanks oberkc for the diag information that was very helpful! Looks like I may have a communication issue that I did not know about. I tried the first step (event viewer) and after pressing the C button I did not get any new events showing. I then tried the Scene test and got this; My setup has two access points (one is right next to the PLM and the other is next to the Appliancelinc and they are approx 50-75 feet away from each other. I do not have any filters. Since this setup was first installed the only surge protectors I had were the small power stripe units that I have my TVs & Computers plugged into The PLM is not connected to a surge protector. I howere did just install a new Whole House surge protector yesterday. (http://www.smarthome.com/4860/Leviton-Whole-House-Surge-Suppressor-Surge-Protector-51120-1/p.aspx). I have tested the diag with it both turn on and turned off. I would assume that just turning off the breakers for the Leviton would be good enough and that I don't have to physically unwire it? LeeG, I am trying to create a program to run the circulator that when the program see's the C button turned on it will turn the circulator on for a certain amount of time and then turn it off.
Zick Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 When I run the scene tests (E.G. office lights) if the lights are on and I run the test it does turn off the lights but the test comes back as all Failed.
LeeG Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 Sorry about that misdirect. I should have gone back to page 1 before posting. The KPL device name is a little unusual. Did you assign the KPL Name as the Insteon address. The Event Viewer did not show any Insteon message from the KPL. Could well be a communication problem with the way the Access Points are placed. It is good to have one at the PLM site but they still have to be on opposite 120V legs. With an Access Point at the PLM and one at the ApplianceLinc you may not have an Access Point on the 120V leg containing the KPL.
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