Programs and folders questions

[DirkM]

Hi,

 

I'm trying to get an "all lights off" program working and get strange results as soon as I involve folders in the logic.

 

I have a scene Sc.Test.Light.Status is containing a KPL button Test.KPL.B as responder. Test.KPL.B is in non-toggle-off mode, so if someone presses the button, it will blink a few times and then turn off.

 

I'm using the following program to check if a light is turned on and if so, turn the Sc.Test.Light.Status scene on which then turns Test.KPL.B on:

If
       Status  'Basement / Bsmnt.Ceiling' is On
Then
       Set Scene 'Test / Sc.Test.Light.Status' On
Else
       Set Scene 'Test / Sc.Test.Light.Status' Off

I have also a re-check program for the case that someone presses the status only button:

If
       Status  'Test / Test.KPL.B' is Off
Then
       Wait  3 seconds
       Run Program 'A.Light.Is.On.Check' (If)
Else
  - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

 

If the Test.KPL.B button is lit and someone presses it, the program should turn off the light if it's not already off.

If
       Status  'Basement / Bsmnt.Ceiling' is On
   And Control 'Test / Test.KPL.B' is switched Off
Then
       Set Scene 'Basement / Sc.Bsmnt.Ceiling' Off

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

 

So far, so good, if I turn the basement ceiling lights on, the B button on the KPL turns on and when I press the B button while it's on the program turns the ceiling lights off.

 

I'm going to have eventually quite a few scenes to check for and turn off, therefore I thought I would move the condition Control 'Test / Test.KPL.B' is switched Off to a folder condition and then have lots of programs inside that folder.

 

I created a folder 'Check.All.Lights.Off' with the following condition:

If
       Control 'Test / Test.KPL.B' is switched Off
Then
  Allow the programs in this folder to run.

 

I then modified the basement ceiling program to look like this:

If
       Status  'Basement / Bsmnt.Ceiling' is On

Then
       Set Scene 'Basement / Sc.Bsmnt.Ceiling' Off

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

 

The result is that as soon as the ceiling light is turned on, the basement ceiling program turns it back off. It's like the folder condition is not evaluated and the program inside the folder 'Check.All.Lights.Off' run even though the folder condition is not true.

 

Am I doing something wrong or is this by design?

 

Thanks,

Dirk

[LeeG]

DirkM

 

Try changing the Folder condition to If Status rather than If Control.

 

Edit: the If Control is an event based condition, used to trigger a Program when a particular command flows from a device. The If Status checks for the current state of the device.

 

Lee

[oberkc]

I must admit that I wanted to respond to this one, but, after reading through it a couple of times, I was simply not sure that I had the brain cells left to follow the trail.

 

One question that bothered me regarding your first program:

 

I'm using the following program to check if a light is turned on and if so, turn the Sc.Test.Light.Status scene on which then turns Test.KPL.B on:

Code:

 

If

Status 'Basement / Bsmnt.Ceiling' is On

Then

Set Scene 'Test / Sc.Test.Light.Status' On

Else

Set Scene 'Test / Sc.Test.Light.Status' Off

 

Why are are doing it this way? Why not just create a scene with both Bsmnt.Ceiling and Sc.Test.Light.Status?

[DirkM]

oberkc,

Sorry for the lost brains cells. Your approach is indeed easier and seems to work reliably too. I have once in a while a situation though where the switchlinc status in ISY shows off but the switchlinc (and load) is still on.

 

LeeG.

I tried changing the condition to Status but had the same issue. I will go back later to test folder conditions, maybe I can foind out exactly what happened.

[oberkc]

I have once in a while a situation though where the switchlinc status in ISY shows off but the switchlinc (and load) is still on.

 

Every time I hear of this condition, I recall issues I had with communication between the PLM and the rest of my system. Is your PLM on a plug or circuit with lots of other computer stuff? It is not on a surge supressor or power conditioner is it? What about next to one of these devices?

[DirkM]

The ISY PLM is plugged directly in about 6ft away from the breaker (that has a phase coupler too), no power strip or surge suppressor for the PLM. There is a UPS on that same line that several computers are plugged in. I will try to add a FilterLinc between that UPS and the outlet and see if that makes a difference.

 

The interesting thing is that ISY thinks the scene is off (and all devices in that scene) but all controllers in that scene are still on. I have 4 light scenes linked now and if it happens it is usually not the same scene twice that stays on.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello DirkM,

 

Also, please right mouse click on your scene, and then choose Scene Test. If you see bunch of failed messages, then:

If you have any SwitchLinc v35s in your installation, then they are the culprits. Otherwise, as oberkc suggested, it might be noise/signal issue.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[oberkc]

I will try to add a FilterLinc between that UPS and the outlet and see if that makes a difference.

 

If you don't already have a filter, you can temporarily remove the surge suppressor. Alternatively, find an extension cord and use it to power the PLM from another circuit. See if this makes any difference.

[DirkM]

Ok, as it turned out, I had quite a few failures when doing a scene test. Everything worked fine when using the switches or controller KPLs but when using the PLM/ISY I got failures and unreliable results. I don't have any v.35 devices, so that's not the issue.

 

I put a 10A FilterLinc in front of the UPS, cleaned up the setup with PLM/ISY and SmartLinc and now all the failures are gone (at least on the scenes that I tested). I still have to go back and test folder conditions but that's for another day.

 

Thanks for all the responses, it's still a long way before I will know what I'm doing and especially what the ISY can do for me.