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adoute
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Joined: February 15 2006
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| Posted: February 22 2006 at 14:07 | IP Logged
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I am using the latest Beta (1.03.4.6), and am going to add a SwitchLinc V2 Dimmer and 3 ICON Appliance Modules. I want to have the 3 appliance modules turn on when the new SwitchLinc is turned on, and turn off when it is turned off. Also, I want all the devices to respond to single X10 code (A10, to be specific).
What is the easiest way to add and link these new devices? Should I turn auto discovery on to add all the new devices, then manually link them? Can the X10 code be set from PowerHome without going through the manual programming process?
The main reason for the question is that I had several strange occurances of random X10 device behavor (lights randomly turning on and off) until all my Insteon devices were linked in PowerHome. The current WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) can't handle any more random light activity...
Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can offer -
Allan
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dhoward
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| Posted: February 22 2006 at 14:25 | IP Logged
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Allan,
Do you have an Insteon PLC? If so, I would use the autodiscovery feature. Just open the "Insteon DM Control" and turn autodiscovery on. Then walk to each device and place it into link mode. As soon as link mode is entered, cancel link mode by pressing a button. Move on to the next device.
Open the PowerHome Explorer and navigate to Devices->Insteon->Units. You should see your 4 devices. If you have problems, then you can always manually add them.
The linking will be very simple and can be done from PowerHome. After your devices are showing in the Insteon->Units screen, navigate to Devices->Insteon->Groups->By Controller. Right-click and open the "Create/Edit" window. Select your SwitchLinc in the "Group Master" dropdown. Select a group number as 1. In the "Available Devices" pane, double click each of your 3 appliance modules. Since they're appliance modules, you dont have to worry about levels and ramprates. Just press the "Save Group" button and exit the window.
Sit back and wait for PowerHome to create the links. Shouldnt take more that 5 minutes.
As far as programming the X10 codes, PowerHome can send the required X10 address 3 times, but you must manually each device in link mode before sending the X10 address (you must do each device separately. If you place a device in link mode and then go to place the second device into link mode, then the two devices will just link to each other). So, go to device 1, place into link mode, have PowerHome send A10 three times, go to next device and repeat. Im hoping to streamline this process a little for the next beta, but SmartHome has not provided any method to completely automate this process.
Concerning the X10...if you have an Insteon PLC, I don't understand why you would want to assign X10 addresses. This will just create extra traffic on your network and increase the chance of false turnons. If the goal is to control the group from the PLC, then just create a new group with the PLC as the controller and the 3 appliance modules and 1 switchlinc as the responders. You can then control the group of lights just as if the switchlinc had been used to turn them on.
Let me know,
Dave.
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adoute
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| Posted: February 22 2006 at 14:39 | IP Logged
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Thanks for the quick response. Yes, I do have an Insteon PLC. I'll use the "Discover Mode" and the short walk around the house to add the deives, then use the software to handle the linking. Then several more walks around the house to program each device with the X10 "A10" code.
As for the X10 codes, I'd love to get rid of them entirely, but I have a wireless X10 switch that I need to be able to turn all of the new devices in question on & off. When someone sells am Insteon capable wireless 4 button wall switch, I'll be able to get rid of the X10 compatability necessity.
What is the best way to use PowerHome to send the A10 code to each device? Something like ph.x10(1,"A",10,0) + ph.x10(1,"A",103,0) 3 times? If so - is the 103 in the second part of the command necessary - and what does it do?
Thanks again -
Allan
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Topic: Adding Insteon Devices
