Weather Bug Module

[jkraus]

Hi, just purchased the Weather Bug Module to start my pool pump when it gets near freezing. To test it out first I wrote a program to just send a text alert when "Temp > 50F". Seem to work great as it rose above 50F this morning, but now I get alerts every few minutes. I am guessing that as long as it is above 50F it will keep sending me alerts (very annoying ) . So how do I set up the program to only send one alert because eventually I only want to turn on the pump once

Joe

[LeeG]

When temp > 50 and pump Off turn pump On

[jkraus]

ahh, that would work if it were Insteon, but alas it is my LAST x10 device, a 220V x10 switch

[brad77]

The WeatherBug module fires events each time it gets updated data from the feed. I believe that's every minute or so.

 

If you cannot read status from your X10 pump, try as LeeG suggested, but use a program's status rather than a switch:

 

When temp > 50 and Pgm_Pump_On is false then turn pump on and set Pgm_Pump_On to true (run-then).

 

You'll need to sort out another program to set that program to false (run-else) when the temp rises again, but that should prevent duplicate notifications.

[jkraus]

Brad77

thanks much, makes sense. However, for some reason I have a mental block about how to use programs as flags. I have tried before, but does not seem to sink in. It would seem to me that if a program is running it is true if not it is false, but it does not seem to work that way. is the only way to change a program status to True or False is by telling it to do so from another program? Any help you can give me would be appreciated, as I have not grasped this fully

Thx

Joe

[jkraus]

adding to this , is there any X10V 220V switches that isy99 can read the status, as Insteon 220V do not conveniently fit in my current enclosure as would love to upgrade to Insteon but do not have a neutral at the switch

[TJF1960]

Here are 3 programs I use to make sure the updating of WB doesn't refire programs.

 

Sprklr Cold 40 Dwn Ini:

 

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature <= 40 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is False

Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Then Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Sprklr Cold 40 Up Ini:

(for some reason using the arrow symbol in the second program causes the post of code to malfunction so the "more than" symbol is replaced with "over")

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature is over  = 41 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is True 
Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Sprklr Cold Flg:

 

If
  - No Conditions - (To add one, press 'Schedule' or 'Condition')

Then
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[brad77]

Just as Tim says. A program is true when it is running or has last run its Then path. It is false when it is running or has last run its Else path.

 

To toggle a program, use Run-Then or Run-Else either via another program, the Admin Console, or any other ISY interface that can control programs.

[Illusion]

The new Insteon 220V switches no longer need a neutral.

[jkraus]

seriously? do you mean 2477SA1, ? wont fit need a standard light fixture size and outdoor rated

[Illusion]

I did mean the 2477. I did not realize you wanted it in a normal switch size. The only mention I saw in the discussion above was a limited enclosure size and no access to a neutral, but I did not realize that the limited enclosure size was that of a standard switch.

[jkraus]

sorry that commet about size was in differnt thread, not this one. Thanks, but yea need stadrad size and outdoor rated as for pool pump and the 2477 is not after talking to SH

[Sub-Routine]

Hi Tim,

 

Good examples.

 

You have to be careful because the WB reports temperatures to one tenth of a degree.

 

If your first program is <40>40. Otherwise temps between 40 and 41 will be in limbo.

 

Rand

 

Here are 3 programs I use to make sure the updating of WB doesn't refire programs.

 

Sprklr Cold 40 Dwn Ini:

 

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature <= 40 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is False

Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Then Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Sprklr Cold 40 Up Ini:

(for some reason using the arrow symbol in the second program causes the post of code to malfunction so the "more than" symbol is replaced with "over")

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature is over  = 41 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is True 
Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Sprklr Cold Flg:

 

If
  - No Conditions - (To add one, press 'Schedule' or 'Condition')

Then
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

[TJF1960]

Hi Rand,

 

Thanks for pointing that out. But for some reason if you use a left arrow and a right arrow in the same post the software of the forum completely changes the print of whatever is inbetween the arrows, like happened in the first part of your last post (<40>40). I was attempting to figure out what part of the code was making that happen and I forgot to change the values of the second code back to the original value.

 

The second code should look like

Sprklr Cold 40 Up Ini:

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature > 40 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is True

Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

Thanks,

Tim

[art]

Y'all have saved me lots of time trying to figure out why my freeze protection programs kept firing - Thanks!

 

Query: Is there a way to know if the ISY is no longer receivng weather bug updates, i.e. the site goes down, etc. Since I will be relying on the ISY to keep my wife's plants from freezing, I was thinking that a failure in weather bug (not the infallable ISY) could put me in dog house and I would be reduced to installing a light switch in the green house that I would have to remember to turn on when it gets cold (or might get cold).

 

I was thinking there may be a heart beat monitor or weather bug watchdog script that could change a parameter in the ISY that we could test for to know the weatherbug update status.

 

Thoughts?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi art,

 

Unfortunately there are no such parameters in ISY and we do not have any requirements (thus far) to support such a feature except for some indication on the UI.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[art]

Although I don't have a lot of experience with weather bug (yet), I think I would welcome that functionality and peace of mind. Maybe something else for the low priority list.

 

(On the list just above installing a sound output jack on the ISY)

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello art,

 

With pleasure!

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Sub-Routine]

Hi art,

 

You could reset the flag program every hour. To add to Tim's example:

 

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature <= 40 °F
   And Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' is False

Then
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Then Path)
       Wait  1 hour 
       Run Program 'Sprklr Cold Flg' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Rand

 

 

Y'all have saved me lots of time trying to figure out why my freeze protection programs kept firing - Thanks!

 

Query: Is there a way to know if the ISY is no longer receivng weather bug updates, i.e. the site goes down, etc. Since I will be relying on the ISY to keep my wife's plants from freezing, I was thinking that a failure in weather bug (not the infallable ISY) could put me in dog house and I would be reduced to installing a light switch in the green house that I would have to remember to turn on when it gets cold (or might get cold).

 

I was thinking there may be a heart beat monitor or weather bug watchdog script that could change a parameter in the ISY that we could test for to know the weatherbug update status.

 

Thoughts?

[backinthelab]

I just purchased this module and I've been excitedly writing programs tonight!

 

A quick question for all of us that live in the regions that often require a shovel and 4-wheel drive to get out of our driveways....how would one set up a notification for snow fall?

 

Obviously, there is no selection for "snow", but can the rain/humidity/temperature settings be combined to accomplish this? If so, any examples that could be posted (I flunked out of meteorology school).

 

So far, I'm very impressed with this module (as I've been with the others), I just don't know why I waited so long to buy it! Can't wait to see what's in store for 2011!

[Sub-Routine]

From burakk: http://forum.universal-devices.com/viewtopic.php?t=1996&highlight=yeild+yield+snow

 

I added dropping pressure:

 

Snow Check

If
       Module 'Climate' Dew Point < 32 °F
   And Module 'Climate' Humidity > 75 %
   And Module 'Climate' Pressure Rate < 0 mbar
   And Program 'Snow Probable' is False

Then
       Run Program 'Snow Probable' (Then Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Snow Not

If
       (
            Module 'Climate' Dew Point >= 32 °F
         Or Module 'Climate' Humidity <= 75 %
         Or Module 'Climate' Pressure Rate >= 0 mbar
       )
   And Program 'Snow Probable' is True

Then
       Run Program 'Snow Probable' (Else Path)

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

 

Snow Probable

If
  - No Conditions - (To add one, press 'Schedule' or 'Condition')

Then
       Wait  30 minutes 
       Send Notification to 'Text to Blackberry'

Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

Rand

 

 

I just purchased this module and I've been excitedly writing programs tonight!

 

A quick question for all of us that live in the regions that often require a shovel and 4-wheel drive to get out of our driveways....how would one set up a notification for snow fall?

 

Obviously, there is no selection for "snow", but can the rain/humidity/temperature settings be combined to accomplish this? If so, any examples that could be posted (I flunked out of meteorology school).

 

So far, I'm very impressed with this module (as I've been with the others), I just don't know why I waited so long to buy it! Can't wait to see what's in store for 2011!

[art]

Rand,

I am still stuck on the WB reporting getting stuck, or the station going off-line.

You could reset the flag program every hour. To add to Tim's example:

 

 

If I did this then it would flash my green house and pump house lights and heaters every hour if the stored temp in the ISY was greater than 35 degrees and wouldn't change anything at night when it's cold. But, if I understand how the whole thing works looking at the event viewer, ISY only receives a data blip for parameters that change and the rest of the time the data is stored in the ISY. (I think) So if the temp was 70 during the day and then a student at the high school transmitter unplugged the weather station then when it got to 25 degrees, my heaters and lights would flash when the program went true and then would immmediately reset based on the 70 degrees stored in the ISY.

 

Am I understanding the WB - ISY interface correctly? i.e. it stores data unless a change is transmitted by WB? If not, how does it work and why does the event viewer only fire when their is a change in data?

[Sub-Routine]

The program should suppress notices for one hour unless the change crosses the threshold. Then you should get as notice.

 

If the temperature doesn't cross the threshold but changes by 1/10th of a degree after an hour you should get a notice.

 

It's a bit backwards but if you don't receive a notice for several consecutive hours you will have to suspect something is not working.

 

Rand

[wrj0]

I've also pondered how to verify that the data provided by Weatherbug is indeed valid, and found that for my local Weatherbug station, certain variables are set to zero when not being properly reported (or received). So, my programs that depend on valid Weatherbug data are in a folder with the conditions shown below. It's worked out well for me since the inital release of Weatherbug support in the ISY.

 

Folder Conditions for 'Weather'

If
       Module 'Climate' Temperature is not 0 °F
   And Module 'Climate' Temperature High is not 0 °F

Then
  Allow the programs in this folder to run.

Both Parameters default to 0 if invalid data.

[art]

Thanks! I will include these conditions in a monitoring program, although in my specific case a default to zero will turn on my heaters and keep the pipes/plants from freezing, BUT could be a huge waste of electricity. This will definitely help.

 

I was also contemplating storing outside temperature in a KPL and then checking the temperature an hour later and comparing the two, but that's a lot of code.