Multiple Dim Levels

[DualBandAid]

Enclosing folder:

 

Folder Conditions for 'Multi-Dim 4 OVERNIGHT'

Add conditions to limit when programs in this folder are allowed to run.

 

 

 

If

From 10:00:00PM

To Sunrise (next day)

 

Then

Allow the programs in this folder to run.

 

 

 

And the program itself...

 

If

Folder 'Multi-Dim 4 OVERNIGHT' is True

 

Then

In Scene 'LIVING RM - Sconces' Set 'LIVING RM - Sconces' 30% (On Level)

 

Else

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

 

 

 

I have other folders with other times...and those seem to have worked. This particular one didnt.

[LeeG]

I would expect the Folder to become True at 10 PM which would trigger the Program to run Then clause at 10 PM.

 

Basic things to check, no pending saves for Folder or Program and Program is Enabled.

 

What does the Programs | Summary show for the Last Run Time and Status for the Folder and the Program?

[DualBandAid]

Unfortunately, I cannot check the last run time since I ran it manually shortly thereafter - and it worked. I'll check the other and run tonight.

 

Not sure if this is the thread to do it - but my 4-way set up is super wonky.

 

I have a switchlinc controlling a light. Then two more also controlling the light.

To make that happen, I set-up all three in a scene as controllers. However, all three don't always reflect the same settings. I will lower the light manually on one but the other wont reflect that. I do know when I was initially setting it up, I MAY have tried manually linking first before realizing I only needed to do via the ISY. Also, when adding new devices, I was selecting "keep old links" - and sometimes I would delete and add them a few times (I would hit a snag and wanted to restart). I didn't realize I should delete old links. Could there be something lurking link- wise that is the problem? For that matter, should I clean slate ALL the devices I did that with (about five).

[LeeG]

Depending on when the various parts were established the Program might not have been triggered at 10 PM. The Folder status has to change to True for the Program to trigger at 10 PM. If the Folder status was already True at 10 PM it would not have triggered the Program as the Folder status has to change and also be True.

 

Not sure what the Folder/Program relationship is trying to accomplish. Could just have easily put the time range in the Program and eliminated the Folder altogether. Of course if the Folder is meant to gate various Programs with the intent to change the trigger times and affect all the Programs the Folder accomplishes that.

 

 

Regarding the 4-way question, yes I would factory reset any of the devices that had manual links established and do a Restore Device to establish the link database with only those links the ISY is aware of. Defining a single ISY Scene with all three SwitchLincs as Controllers is the correct way to cross-link the three SwitchLincs.

 

If all the SwitchLincs will correctly show status and stay in sync with On and Off paddle pressed but not stay in sync with a press and hold paddle operation there are normally two possibilities. The Responders are estimating the actual level of the load control SwitchLinc by measuring the time between when the paddle press and paddle release messages are received. This calculation can be off a little between different devices. The other possibility is a less than great comm. between the devices. Unlike On and Off messages which are actually multiple messages that are ACKed and can be retried automatically if needed, the Start Manual Change and Stop Manual Change messages are a single message for each and they cannot be ACKed and not retried because multiple devices can be reacting to them. If comm. is marginal between the devices a Start or Stop Manual Change message can be missed altogether.

[DualBandAid]

The Folder status has to change to True for the Program to trigger at 10 PM. If the Folder status was already True at 10 PM it would not have triggered the Program as the Folder status has to change and also be True.

 

I'm sure that's it. I was manually triggering the programs while I was testing it. Doesn't manually triggering a program's THEN statement change it's state to true?

 

Not sure what the Folder/Program relationship is trying to accomplish. Could just have easily put the time range in the Program and eliminated the Folder altogether. Of course if the Folder is meant to gate various Programs with the intent to change the trigger times and affect all the Programs the Folder accomplishes that.

 

That is why I'm doing it - because I have several programs in that folder and want to be able to change them all at once. I'm not sure I'm going to stick with this -- and may break out each program individually - but while I'm sorting out my timing, I figured this would be a better way to go.

 

Regarding the 4-way question, yes I would factory reset any of the devices that had manual links established and do a Restore Device to establish the link database with only those links the ISY is aware of.

 

I assume that that, contrary to what I have read a few places, I should NOT delete the devices from the ISY first -- just factory reset the devices and add them back to the ISY (via the Restore Device option)?

 

Thank you for the info rounding out under what conditions a 4-way SwitchLinc will - and will not sync -- and for the info on how to properly sync them. I think that answers another question I had, actually.

 

Currently, in order to control the local On Level on a SwitchLinc via the Adjust Scenes command, I created an scene for just that one SwitchLinc (adding the SwitchLinc as a controller). I soon realized that to achieve this functionality for all my SwitchLincs, I would need to create such a scene for all of them. I was going to ask you if I could create just one scene, adding ALL my SwitchLincs as controllers -- just to avoid having so many scenes for just technical reasons. However, if I did that, I would just be creating one giant multiway switch -- whereby every SwitchLinc controlled every light in the scene.

 

I guess I can just take what I am call my "technical scenes" and throw them all in a folder?

 

Thank you again!

[LeeG]

You are very welcome.

 

It is the Folder condition that has to change since it is what is triggering the Program. Running the Program Then or Else will change the Program Status.

 

If the devices had Set button links before adding to the ISY and were added with ‘keep existing links’ I would Delete the devices from the ISY, factory reset and add them back from scratch with ‘Remove existing links’. There won’t be any links after the factory reset but it keeps the ISY from looking for them. Then add the devices to the ISY Scene(s).

 

You are spot on about what would happen if all the SwitchLincs were added to one giant Scene. Press one of the On paddles and the entire house (well much of it) would light up. For SwitchLincs that are part of a multi-way configuration they are already in a Scene as a Controller. Just need a dummy scene for each SwitchLinc that operates independently and the Local values will be changed programmatically.

[DualBandAid]

If the devices had Set button links before adding to the ISY and were added with ‘keep existing links’ I would Delete the devices from the ISY, factory reset and add them back from scratch with ‘Remove existing links’. There won’t be any links after the factory reset but it keeps the ISY from looking for them. Then add the devices to the ISY Scene(s).

 

In that case, if I delete the device from the ISY, won't it disappear from all the scenes and programs it is in - thus I won't b able to do that "Replace Device" feature? Or is there some sort of "echo" of the device still present in all my scenes and programs to facilitate replacement?

[LeeG]

It is correct that a Restore Device is not possible once the device is Deleted from the ISY. The alternative is to factory reset the device and do a Restore device. That will keep the Set button links the ISY found when the device was added if the 'keep existing links' was selected.

[DualBandAid]

But your recommendation is to delete first from the ISY and just start from scratch?

[LeeG]

Yes, that would be my recommendation. I have seen too many cases where the link database has stuff/junk left over from Set button links that were not unlinked, or only half eliminated resulting in strange hard to diagnose symptoms. Even straight out of the box devices have been known to have link records left over from device testing before shipment. I know it is a pain but Deleting the devices, factory reset and adding them back with 'remove existing links' insures the device link database is pristine to begin with.

[DualBandAid]

I will do that with the trouble switches. However, I just installed two new SwitchLincs -- to replace a 3-way set-up -- and with virgin installs, I'm still having problem.

 

Here's what's happening:

 

(et's call the SwitchLinc connect to the light/load the Load Switch and the other one the Dummy switch).

 

Both correctly control the switch locally -- and both correctly reflect the light levels as set by the other. Other, with my Adjust Scene program set to put the brightness level at 50%, here is what they are doing.

 

When I turn on the light via the Load Switch, the light goes to 50% and the Load Switch LED reflects 50%. HOWEVER, the dummy switch LED goes up to 100%.

 

When I turn on the light via the Dummy Switch, the opposite occurs. The LED reflects 50%...but the light itself brightens to full brightness. Very weird. Thoughts?

 

Also, I have another question. Is there any reason I couldn't have one program for each dim, and just have multiple Adjust Scene dim levels for every device in my house? I understand the lack of flexibility this gives me for timing (since they all have to follow that one time)...but would that work? Or do I need a separate program for each individual SwitchLinc?

 

EDIT: I think I figured it out -- still curious as your thoughts, they're always very helpful. Also still curious about that question....

[DualBandAid]

Here's the program:

 

If

Folder 'Multi-Dim 3 SUNSET' is True

 

Then

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed' 50% (On Level)

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed Slave' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed Slave' 50% (On Level)

 

Else

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

 

Since it's a 3-way, I added both SwitchLincs to the program (which is what gave me the idea that I could probably just add every SwitchLinc to a single program like this).

[DualBandAid]

I actually tried this:

 

(making both scenes the SwitchLinc connected to the load -- but then calling each 3-way switch after that)

 

If

Folder 'Multi-Dim 3 SUNSET' is True

 

Then

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed' 50% (On Level)

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed Slave' 50% (On Level)

 

Else

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

 

It actually works partially better.

 

All LEDs properly reflect the 50% light level when you turn them on. But the dummy SwitchLinc still brings the lights to full brightness.

[DualBandAid]

Well, I reversed it...

 

If

Folder 'Multi-Dim 3 SUNSET' is True

 

Then

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed' 50% (On Level)

In Scene 'KITCHEN - Recessed Slave' Set 'KITCHEN - Recessed' 50% (On Level)

 

Else

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

 

Working right now! I kinda understand why...maybe.