Setting up random vacation lighting

[satwar]

Could someone point me to an article that will get me started. I'm using Insteon toggle switches and would like to get a "lived in" look while away from the house.

 

The first problem is how to setup the ISY to run in "Vacation" mode only when I request, otherwise ISY should run in "Home" mode.

[oberkc]

I am unaware of any article about such a topic, but there have certainly been other threads on this topic.

 

I generally have three categories of programs:

 

- run all the time

- run only in "home" mode

- run only in "away" mode

 

If programs are to run in home mode, they go in a program folder called "home". Likewise, if only while away, they go into the "away" folder.

 

I use a keypad button as the tool for setting home or away modes. If the button is on, then I am "away", off is "home". The program folders use this button's status as condition.

 

As far as the "lived-in" look, the most likely option is to create a program with a bit of randomness. I believe the best way to do this is through the wait statement, with "random" selected.

 

Hopefully, this gives you some ideas. Have fun.

[satwar]

Oh no, this may be too much "fun" for me.

 

Can you show me an example of the "wait" function turning a light on at random times and duration ?

[oberkc]

This is a quickly generated program where I expect a light to come on and off at variable intervals between the time of 8p and 11p. It uses the "wait" statement. Hopefully, this won't peg your fun meter.

 

If
       From     8:00:00PM
       To      11:00:00PM (same day)

Then
       Set 'Family Room / KP FRM A Table Lamp' On
       Wait  30 minutes  (Random)
       Set 'Family Room / KP FRM A Table Lamp' Off
       Wait  30 minutes  (Random)
       Repeat 4 times

Else
       Set 'Family Room / KP FRM A Table Lamp' Off

 

The wiki is also worth checking out, if you have not done so. Try here:

 

http://www.universal-devices.com/mwiki/index.php?title=ISY-99i/ISY-26_INSTEON:Action

[satwar]

Thank you very much

[C Martin]

Here is one that I use to cycle my HVAC fan on during the evening. The purpose is to just circulate air in the house after a set time for certain times.

 

If
       Time is 11:30:00PM
    Or Time is 12:30:00AM
    Or Time is  1:30:00AM
    Or Time is  2:30:00AM
    Or Time is  3:30:00AM
    Or Time is  4:30:00AM
    Or Time is  5:30:00AM

Then
       Wait  10 minutes  (Random)
       Set 'Thermostats / Main Stat / Thermostat - Main' Fan On
       Wait  15 minutes 
       Set 'Thermostats / Main Stat / Thermostat - Main' Fan Auto

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

 

You could make the "Wait" for the "Time On" random and use this with a Lamplinc for a live-in at home setting for security when you are away from home.

 

 

Clarence

[Illusion]

Just another suggestion:

 

I always use fixed waits in conjunction with random waits to ensure enough "on" time as random 30 minutes could be 1 minute.

 

If
       From    Sunset 
       To       1:30:00AM (next day)
   And Folder  'Security' is True

Then
       Repeat Every  0 seconds
          Wait  20 minutes 
          Wait  20 minutes  (Random)
          Set 'Livingroom / Livingroom Lamp' On
          Wait  20 minutes 
          Wait  20 minutes  (Random)
          Set 'Livingroom / Livingroom Lamp' Off

Else
       Wait  30 minutes  (Random)
       Set 'Livingroom / Livingroom Lamp' Off

 

Also, since I do not have my motion detectors directly linked to anything but the ISY I can also do conditional control of lights based on motion plus other event. So when I am in away mode, the security folder will be true. Now if my motion detector outside by the bedroom triggers, and it is night the flood lights near that corner of the house will turn on. This sequence of events will cause this program to run, making it look like I am moving around in the house near that area.

 

If
       Status  'Front Yard / Floods - Bedroom' is On

Then
       Wait  5 seconds
       Wait  5 seconds (Random)
       Set 'Bathroom / Bathroom Vanity' On
       Wait  10 seconds
       Wait  15 seconds (Random)
       Set 'Livingroom / Livingroom Lamp' On
       Wait  10 seconds
       Wait  20 seconds (Random)
       Set Scene 'Garage Flos' On

Else
       Wait  10 seconds
       Wait  30 seconds (Random)
       Set Scene 'Garage Flos' Off
       Wait  10 seconds
       Wait  30 seconds (Random)
       Set 'Bathroom / Bathroom Vanity' Off
       Wait  10 seconds
       Wait  30 seconds (Random)
       Set 'Livingroom / Livingroom Lamp' Off

[apostolakisl]

The one thing the OP asked that has just barely been touched on is how to have them only run when away. Put all of these programs that cause lights to turn on/off at somewhat random intervals into a single folder. With ISY, you can write conditions for the entire folder to run. You will notice in the program details page, if you click on a folder it will give you an if/then option. In the "if" section, put some condition that is only true when you are not home. For example, you could have a kpl button next to the door that you push when you go away. You could also set that same kpl button to turn your alarm on for you provided you have an Elk or some other security system that can respond to Insteon commands.

[oberkc]

The one thing the OP asked that has just barely been touched

 

I would like to think that I touched upon this a little more than "barely".

[Illusion]

since it was the central theme of your first response post?

[apostolakisl]

The one thing the OP asked that has just barely been touched

 

I would like to think that I touched upon this a little more than "barely".

 

 

Not to get pissy here, but yeah, in your first post you said "I put them in the away folder". There is tremendous detail about creating programs inside that folder, but the fact that you can set folders conditions and how you do it seems to be assumed knowledge. If you are new to ISY, you may have no clue that you can set an entire folder to run on various conditions and how you might do that. You are really quite vague on that point and I am only clarifying something that a person new to ISY can easily have missed.

[satwar]

Lot of great help, thank you everyone

[evilpete]

One thing I do in my "not home" program is brighten and dim lights with random(ish) timings, causing brightness "shift" between different area's of the house.

 

I figure this will produce a move lived in look by (hopefully) emulating movement, while also saving power by keeping any lights below 100%.

 

This script is setup to run for approximately an hour, I run it a few times from from sunset +20 till 11pm, alternating with a different script to keep the pattern from being recognized as a light time setup.

 

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

Then
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Delilah' Off
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Living Room' On
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Dinning' On
       Set 'Front Light' 40%
       Set 'Living Room Lgt' 50%
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Hall' Off
       Set 'Dinning Room Light' 33%
       Wait  8 minutes  (Random)
       Set 'Living Room Lgt' 36%
       Set 'Dinning Room Light' 52%
       Wait  20 minutes  (Random)
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Hall' On
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Living Room' Off
       Set 'Dinning Room Light' 25%
       Set 'Front Light' 60%
       Wait  10 minutes
       Set 'Front Light' 90%
       Wait  6 minutes  (Random)
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Delilah' On
       Set 'Front Light' 40%
       Set 'Delilah Room' 52%
       Wait  5 minutes 
       Set 'Dinning Room Light' 75%
       Wait  6 minutes  (Random)
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Hall' Off
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Living Room' On
       Set 'Dinning Room Light' 33%
       Set 'Living Room Lgt' 36%
       Wait  30 minutes  (Random)
       Set 'Front Light' On
       Wait  5  minutes 
       Wait  12 minutes  (Random)
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Delilah' Off
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Living Room' Off
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Hall' Off
       Set Scene 'House Scenes / Dinning' Off
       Set 'Front Light'  55%

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

 

'Front Light' is a 9w LED light set up for default indirect lighting near the front door/ living room.

[Bernman]

I know I am dredging up an old thread, but there is a ton of great info here and was exactly what I was looking for my away program, so thank you to all the contributors (even if it was 2.5 years ago).

 

I did want to put one thought out. We all like to believe that our lives have a large element of randomness, but I'd be willing to bet that most of the lights that go on and off in your house (and mine) are far less random than it seems. Most of us wake up at the same time every morning (except maybe weekends), and most of us come home, watch TV, and go to bed pretty close to the same time every night. Sad as it seems, our lives are generally quite predictable (apparently 93% according to these guys...)

http://www.northeastern.edu/news/storie ... ience.html

 

And just so I can offer something semi-relevant to this thread other than getting all philosophical about our dreary, predictable, lives, here is a link to a discussion on toggling variables that can be used for home/away programs.

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14031&p=109821

 

Thanks again to all the forum posters that provide help to this community

 

Fun times,

Bernman