How to: Create slow fade up alarm clock

[blartyo]

I thought I had read an example of someone who fades their lights on very gradually in the morning. I searched, but could not find that thread.

 

In any event, here is what I came up with. Can you critique or let me know if there is a better method?

 

If
       Program 'Run Weekday Alarm' is True
       And On Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
       Time is  6:00:00AM

Then
       Repeat 33 times
          Set 'MBR Bed Main' Brighten
          Wait  1 minute 

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

 

Run Weekday Alarm is just an empty program that I can set True or False based on whether I want to run my ISY-clock.

 

Thanks.

[Sub-Routine]

Interestingly it needs to repeat 37 times to achieve full brightness. I tried on a LampLinc and a SwitchLinc. The lamps will reach 99% with 36 repeats.

 

Of course you could use less repeats if you don't want to reach 100%. Apparently there are 36 steps to bright instead of the 32 we've been told so many times.

 

 

Now for another oddity. Beginning at 100% and using the Dim command the lamp will reach Off with 32 repeats.

 

Rand

[psa928]

Now to do something really slick: Is there a way to use a variable for the time (instead of the 0600 above)? Then you could make this a true alarm clock, where the system knows what time you want to get up and takes appropriate actions (ligths, HVAC, music, etc).

 

(Of course, that would also mean you need an easy way to select/change an alarm time, maybe some kind of GUI interface?)...

[Chris Jahn]

In the next release you can use 'Fade Up'/'Fade Down'/'Fade Stop' instead of bumping it using repeated Dim/Bright actions.

 

(Of course, that would also mean you need an easy way to select/change an alarm time, maybe some kind of GUI interface?)...

 

Not sure what you are getting at here; the program is created through a simple GUI ... what other GUI were you thinking of?

 

You could enhance this program as well, for example, make a 'snooze' button using using a button on a remoteLinc or controlLinc.

[psa928]

Think about when you go to bed at night, you reach over to your alarm clock and adjust the alarm time for the next morning.

 

It would be great to have something that quick and easy to tell your home automation system what time you want to wake up tomorrow!

[aLf]

Don't know how many different times you get up, but an 8 button KPL would work. IF A is on, then do 7:00AM, If B is on, then do 7:15, etc. IF A&B are on, then do 7:30. Endless possibilities. Oh and by the way. No box for another KPL, then just remove an outlet and put a KPL in there. It might be low, but still works. Just hope the cat doesn't rub up agianst it, you might oversleep.

 

aLf

[blartyo]

Yes, I was thinking about using a KPL to do something like that. The catch-22 issue is that the KPL lights are so bright we hate them in our bedroom!

 

Very clever idea about the outlet.

[aLf]

You could use one of those Table Top holders SH sells or make one yourself that would hold a KPL. If you were real creative you could build one into a nite stand side. There has to be an outlet somewhere that is hidden from veiw. If only we could get ISY to turn off all backlighting during hours we didn't want it!

 

Is there a way to do that Chris or Michel?

 

aLf

[MikeB]

You could use one of those Table Top holders SH sells or make one yourself that would hold a KPL. If you were real creative you could build one into a nite stand side. There has to be an outlet somewhere that is hidden from veiw. If only we could get ISY to turn off all backlighting during hours we didn't want it!

 

To expand on that further, you could get the black tabletop enclosure to help cut out the light. I don't have one myself, but my understanding is that the black KPL buttons DO NOT let light shine through like the white buttons do, so it might be more appropriate in your bedroom.

 

http://www.smarthome.com/2486pbk.html

[Sub-Routine]

Something similar to the suggestion at the end of this thread?

 

Rand

[AD8BC]

You know, I had been meaning to bring that suggestion over to this thread....

 

Remember that old X10 alarm clock that would send X10 commands to a specific address at a specific time?

 

Would be great if UDI created a networked alarm clock that would send updated alarm times as variables to the ISY over the Ethernet connection. You could write specific programs and then enable/disable/set the time for each one remotely.....

[Sub-Routine]

I don't think it would have to be networked, just send Insteon messages.

 

Of course it will need a snooze button or two (for me, not Michel or Chris)

 

Rand

[Algorithm]

Remember that old X10 alarm clock that would send X10 commands to a specific address at a specific time?

 

Would be great if UDI created a networked alarm clock that would send updated alarm times as variables to the ISY over the Ethernet connection. You could write specific programs and then enable/disable/set the time for each one remotely.....

 

I don't think it would have to be networked, just send Insteon messages.

 

Until the Insteon version is available, how about just using the X-10 one to trigger ISY via X-10 commands? It would make a great interface to setting your alarm times for your ISY programs.

 

Just checked the x10.com site. It sells for $30, and there are about 67 different packages which include it, going up in price. But the cheapest I could find at this time, is HERE. Buy a Socket Rocket (even if you don't need it) for $20, and get a Mini-Timer included! (Of course, you could likely find it cheaper on eBay.)

[Illusion]

On the topic of alarm clock:

 

The KeypadLinc with variable times is brilliant. I know you are all crazy (I have been reading all your posts with programming tidbits) so I will introduce some of my own craziness here.

 

I would like to know if there is a way to set events to happen BEFORE a set time hits. I see that we can do this in relation to sunrise and sunset but not with a set time.

 

I get up at a different time every day, somewhere between 3am and 9.30am in 15m breakdowns. In the winter I like to sleep in the very cold. Currently I set two alarms (one back-up) and the schedules on two thermostats every night for the next day, so that when I wake up the house is already warming up nicely. Then I manually activate the IR and Floor Heat in the bathroom. I would love to automate this by just setting one device next to my bedside before going to sleep.

 

If it is very cold outside then the bedroom zone for the HVAC should kick in 2 hours before my wake up time as well as the bathroom heaters.

 

The house zone for the HVAC should kick in 1 hour before wake up time.

 

The Lights should turn on 10m before wake up time.

 

The "Before" offset would be variable based on current outside temperature and inside temperature.

 

Any thoughts on how to accomplish this without a programming session every night before sleep?

 

And while I am on this kick, is there any website that feeds raw weather prediction data that a future release of the ISY could look to to make decisions on the HVAC/ Exhaust fans / Sprinklers?

[Sub-Routine]

That's a cool idea! I suppose if you knew the offset of your alarm compared to sunrise you could modify the offset of the other actions, compared to sunrise, by the same amount.

 

Variables are promised in Triggers 2.0.

 

Rand

[Chris Jahn]

On the topic of alarm clock:

I would like to know if there is a way to set events to happen BEFORE a set time hits. I see that we can do this in relation to sunrise and sunset but not with a set time.

 

You can't do that directly, but you could instead do the reverse ... change your set time to the earliest time, and have the program(s) either run at that time, or wait until the appropriate time.

[DEGoodrich]

I noticed something very interesting today!

I have been having problems with ramp rates when controlling lights from the remote control. I have had this problem ever since I upgraded to the /IR. Now I have the touchscreen and it does the same thing. The ramp problem is only on certain lights, but not all the time.

 

It appears that the ramp rates are changed by the "Scenes" (on and off). And stay the same unless it is changed back by another scene. When controlling localy is is not a problem.

 

This is not really a bug, just writting the programs and scenes correctly.

 

I have a timmer program tat turns on a scene at 6am and off at 7am.

It turns on all the lights I need to get ready for work. This scene has a ramp rate of 5min. The glitch in my programming is, that I have the scene turn off at 7am. So my "wake-up" scene turns on and sets the ram rate to 5min. Then I leave the house for work (about 6:45), and I press the "all off" button on the keypad, which turns off another scene, and sets the ramp rates back to 2 sec. Then at 7 the "wake-up" scene turns off and sets the ramp rate to 5min again.

 

So, I just changed my program to only turn on the lights.

Then when I press the "all off" button, it puts the ramp rates back to normal.

 

Strange it took me this long to figure that out!

 

Like Mr. Slowsky (the Comcast turtle) says "Yes, and/or DUUUHHH.

Sorry, and/or my bad"

[Sub-Routine]

Why don't you just create another scene for your 7AM timer? Then you can set the ramp rates to whatever you like.

 

Aren't the remote and touchscreen using scenes to control the lights? The lights should use the rate for that scene when the remote or touchscreen are used.

 

Rand

[DEGoodrich]

I have Over 60 scenes. Most all of the are actually just "groups" that are strictly used for my 600+ programs. There is only about 8 "scenes" that I directly control.

Mostly I use the TS and Remote to control lights individually.

 

I have set up a few "scenes" for the remote ony.

For example: I have a scenes for "snack, doorbell, telephone, bathroom.

When I press the associated button on the remote, it pauses the DVD or Live TV, turns on the lights for the task. Then when I return, Press the return button, and the lights go off and the TV resumes.

 

The Ultimate couch potato remote!

 

Read my post on how I am using the remote.

http://forum.universal-devices.com/viewtopic.php?t=997

 

I have fixed the problen by adding seperate scenes for on and off, like you suggested. On for the rates that I wish, and off to return the rates to 2sec.

 

Thnaks,

Dennis