ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I've just installed 3 motions sensors (1 in each bathroom) which trigger the main light set to a preset on level (50%) as full brightness is blinding. That said I've discovered a potential problem if I want to raise the light level to full brightness on let's say cleaning day, as soon as motion is detected it will override full brightness and set it back to the preset level... I haven't found a way around this, any ideas? FYI, I'm using an ISY-99i however currently the motion detectors are linked directly to the lights and not the ISY, so if the solution requires a program I'm all ears...
LeeG Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Hope the Motion Sensor(s) were linked using the ISY. Otherwise the ISY will eventually wipe out those links because it is not aware of their existence. If the Scene was an ISY Scene linking the Motion Sensor to the light switch the light switch Responder On Level can be changed from 50% to 100% with a Program Adjust Scene Action statement. Then restore to 50% when cleaning is done. Something like a particular KeypadLinc button used to signal "cleaning dayâ€. The KeypadLinc button On command would trigger a Program Then clause to set the Scene Responder On Level to 100%. The KeypadLinc button Off command would trigger the same Program Else clause to set the Responder On Level back to 50%. If cleaning is always on a certain day during a particular time range a time/day driven Program could always set the Scene On Level to 100% on a specific day at a specific time and set it back to 50% at the end of the time range. That may only be half the problem. Does the Motion Sensor turn the lights Off after the timeout interval or are they turned Off manually?
ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 I'm rather new to using the ISY and have learned a lot however I don't know how to set up links through the ISY. This might explain why I keep loosing my links between my TriggerLinc's and their respective devices... In answer to your question, the motion sensors are set to turn the lights off after a 1 minute timeout...
LeeG Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Under Link Management click on New Scene. Assign some meaningful name and click Ok. The Scene names will be listed after the devices in the My Lighting tree. Right click on the nodes in the My Lighting tree and select Add to Scene ... Select the Scene name and select whether the node should be a Controller or Responder to a Scene. Motion Sensors and TriggerLincs can only be Controllers. Light switches such as SwitchLincs can be Controllers or Responders. Once the Scene has been defined and the nodes added the Program Adjust Scene statement can be used to adjust the responder On Level for the light switch. The problem is the motion sensor is going to turn the lights out after 1 minute regardless of the On Level setting. The solution is to set the motion sensor to On Only mode. In this mode the motion sensor sends only On commands (no Off commands). This also means an ISY Program has to be used to turn the lights Off after some interval if automatic Off is desired. This automatic Off Program would be triggered by a motion On message. The Program If could be ANDed with the KeypadLinc button Status On and prevent the Program from issuing the light Off if cleaning day. There is a lot here is just starting out. I suggest reading the ISY User Guide and the ISY Wiki for information on writing ISY Programs before starting.
oberkc Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 I'm rather new to using the ISY and have learned a lot however I don't know how to set up links through the ISY. This might explain why I keep loosing my links between my TriggerLinc's and their respective devices... Have you checked out the wiki? The user manual? These are great places to start. First steps would be to add all your devices to the ISY. There is a little symbol near the top that initiates the "start linking" process. Press it, putting the ISY into linking mode. Once there, go through your house and put your other devices into linking mode (usually press and hold "on" for a few seconds until it beeps). When done, you should see the devices listed in your ISY admin panel, under my lighting. Once added, you create a scene (another button along the top). Create a scene, giving it a descriptive name. Drag various devices into the scene, making them controller if you want them to control the scene, or responder if you want them only to respond to a controller. This is how one sets up links through the ISY. To use the ISY effectively, this is how you must create links, or relationships, between devices. The process described in the various device manual for creating scenes no longer applies.
ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 I've done all of what you have described already. I guess it was the verbiage that confused me. Every single device is linked through my ISY. However, is it a bad practice to link two devices directly together, for example a Triggerlinc for a door linked directly to a nearby light?
LeeG Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Nothing wrong with that so long as the linking was done by defining an ISY Scene and adding the devices to the Scene. That way the ISY is aware of the link records. It is my preference to link devices together directly (using ISY Scenes). Fastest response time and things continue to work should the ISY be down for maintenance.
ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 Now I'm confused again I have all of my devices linked and registered through the ISY, however I don't have the Triggerlinc devices integrated into a scene. Are you suggesting that by doing so, it will retain the current links between them should something happen? Sorry for all the questions as I'm still learning... Thank you so much!
LeeG Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 How did you create the link between the TriggerLinc and the light switch?
ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 I simply held down the set switch for 5 seconds on each and then they were mated...
LeeG Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 Never do Set button links while using an ISY. The ISY is not aware of them and will over write them. Define an ISY Scene. Add the TriggerLinc to the Scene as a Controller, the light switch as a responder. If the light switch is in a multi-way configuration (more than one switch controlling the same load) all the switches should be added to that one ISY Scene as Controllers. The ISY will cross link them as needed to keep them in sync. There are some exceptions to creating Set button links but they are spelled out in the Wiki and they are for special devices. Most Insteon device should never be Set button linked.
ahwman Posted January 12, 2012 Author Posted January 12, 2012 That sure explains a lot! So should I delete those devices which I have manually used the set button on from my ISY and resync them?
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 The links can be removed by using the Set button to unlink the devices or a Restore Device can be done which will rewrite what the ISY is aware of and delete other links that may exist. Be sure to Restore Device to both devices so broken links are not left behind if you chose to use Restore Device. Since it sounds like no ISY Scenes have been created it may be just as easy to delete the devices from the ISY and add them back with the erase existing links option. That will also insure there are no unexpected links.
ahwman Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Thank you, thank you, thank you! That solved another issue I was having where it would not report the correct state of my 3-way dimmer's, now they show the correct status... What about all of my other standard devices which I added through the ISY using the default settings as "Responder"? Should I go back and restore then add each again as a controller? I now notice that the controllers are in bright red italics...
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 ahwman When a device is added to the ISY its Device Type indicates whether it is a Responder Only device (blue), a Controller only device (red) or both (also red). This is determined by what hardware/firmware capability the device has. Only when the device is added to a Scene can a choice be made about whether the device should be added to the Scene as a Responder Only or as a Controller. This choice can be made only for devices that have both Controller and Responder capability. When added as a Controller is also functions as a Responder. For Controller only devices and Responder only devices they are added to the Scene as what they are as a Responder only device cannot function as a Controller and a Controller only device cannot function as a Responder. Lee
ahwman Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Thank you Lee for your thorough explanation. With that said however I want to be sure I understand. I've set up my Insteon dimmer's which serve as 3-way switches as controller's (primary and secondary switches), TriggerLinc's and motion sensors as controller's as well. The rest of my hardware is a combination of Insteon dimmer/relay switches in single function roles which I set up as responders. Does this sound correct? Again, thank you so much for your help!
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 The part about the multi-way switches as Controllers of the Scene and Motion Sensors and TriggerLincs as Controllers is correct. Defining the devices in a multi-way configuration as Controllers causes the ISY to cross link the devices such that any device can control the load and they will all stay in sync. Do not understand the last part about the remaining switches which are single function. If the switch is only controlling its local load there is no need to have the switch in a Scene at all. Making it a Responder in a unique Scene provides no additional function and it adds to the link record count in the PLM.
ahwman Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Excuse my terminology. What I meant by single function was that they weren't linked to anything or in a 3-way configuration but simply directly controlling the load. With that in mind if I want to control those devices using MobileLinc on my iPad/iPhone, wouldn't they have to be incorporated into a scene?
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 No, a Scene is not necessary. The devices are listed and commands can be issued directly to the device. A single device can be a Responder or Controller (controller assumed to also be responder) in the Scene and control the Scene through the mobile app but that is not necessary. Direct device control is normal.
ahwman Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Gottcha. So in essense it makes no difference for a single device to be a controller or responder. This only comes into play when a device is linked in some way to another, would that be a fair statement?
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 Yes, that is correct. There are a few devices such as the ControLinc and RemoteLinc that are Controller only devices that cannot be added to a Scene as a Responder but for most single device situations either Controller or Responder works. Either will accept Scene commands.
ahwman Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 Thanks so much, you've helped me tremendously and I'm so appreciative! Have a blessed weekend and thanks again for your valuable time...
LeeG Posted January 13, 2012 Posted January 13, 2012 You are very welcome. Post back anytime. Lots of really good folks on this forum. Best forum community I have found.
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