ricke Posted November 25, 2011 Posted November 25, 2011 I had a number of INSTEON SwitchLincs that were manually cross-linked so that they could each control the same light switch. But I created scenes for a few of them once I added the ISY-99i and that broke their multi-linking. For example I have a set of hallway floods with 2 SwitchLincs that each controlled the lights and then I created an on/off scene for them in the ISY-99. Once they were programmed the lights were no longer linked together and the non-load could not control the load and vice versa. If I manually cross-linked them again using the paddles any programming change seems to break that link again. Same thing with a hallway chandelier that has a 3-way switch. It was really hard getting them linked originally using the manual method and I created a scene for the chandelier and their links are broken too and now I can only manually get 2 of them linked together and not the 3rd. I had a reverse situation in another room. Its an entertainment room and I have one SwitchLinc that controls the floods and another that controls wall sconces. I thought it would be fun to create a movie time scene which would bring the floods down to 0 (off) and slowly ramp the sconces down to about 30% on. I got that scene to work but then the next time I used the physicaly switchlincs in that room they are now linked together so that if I turn on one of the lights it operates the other at the same time? How do I properly program my SwitchLincs so that the expected behavior is left constant at the physical switches while having the flexibility to create and adjust the scenes for those lights? Thanks a lot, Rick
oberkc Posted November 25, 2011 Posted November 25, 2011 To "cross-link" two insteon devices, create a new ISY-99 scene, with both devices as controller. But I created scenes for a few of them once I added the ISY-99i and that broke their multi-linking. I doubt that the creation of scenes broke anything. I suspect is was the adding them to the ISY that removed the existing link records. How do I properly program my SwitchLincs so that the expected behavior is left constant at the physical switches while having the flexibility to create and adjust the scenes for those lights? I am unsure what your "expected behavior" is. It may help to describe what you want to happen in response to an "on" and "off" command from each switch.
LeeG Posted November 25, 2011 Posted November 25, 2011 ricke oberkc covers just about all the issues. That is why manual Set button links should never be done while using an ISY (a few device specific exceptions described in user guide and wiki). Whenever the ISY writes link records to create a Scene or update a Scene it is NOT aware of manual Set button links and they can be overwritten as it sounds like happened. When a device is added as a Controller to an ISY Scene the ISY assumes it is also a Responder. As oberkc described adding both SwitchLincs as Controllers to a Scene will cause the ISY to cross-link the devices as they are assumed to also be Responders. These links will not be overwritten if the devices become part of additional Scenes as the ISY is aware of what it wrote. Lee
ricke Posted November 27, 2011 Author Posted November 27, 2011 Thanks all I get it now. Setting an item as a controller cross-links it and provides status information between devices. Works great and now that I understand it its incredibly easier than the old, flaky manual cross-link process. Rick
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