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Lenny
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| Posted: January 06 2008 at 21:10 | IP Logged
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I have searched the forum and have not been able come up with a solution for my problem. First, I'm new to power home and Insteon and have only been using it a few days. It is a great product and I was able to setup client/server and add all my devices in no time. Nothing like trying to work with EZIO 2x4  ...That thing is real close to going back to simplenet/smarthome. I'll post questions on that if I keep it.
Getting back on topic, I have 4 keypadlincs (8 button mode) and would like button 8 (In NonToggle OFF) to Turn Off all of the lights. I'm not sure what the best approach to doing this is. I was initially thinking hardware only but links and crosslinks to every light and furture lights could be a maint. nightmare. From what I read using powerhome I think I need a PLC Group, Links, and a Trigger.
I created a PLC Group "ALL_LIGHTS" Group #1. I went to links, and I'll be honest this confuses me. I know it's the foundation of the whole network and I'm sure it will make more sense with time. When to use button number and when to use a group number is one thing that gets me. With the PowerLinc Controller selected would I add all of the the others as responders or controllers? I'm thinking responders because the PLC is controlling the group? I also created a trigger:
TRIGGERID (ALL_OFF)
TRIGGERDESCRIPTION (ALL OFF Trigger)
Device Control
INSTEONGROUP+GLOBALGROUP(ALL_LIGHTS)+FASTOFF
Queued ----??
Active
Insteon Group In
ID of FASTOFF switch (Not sure here, Want button on multiple keypads)
1
Fast Off
1
If someone could help me out and point me in the right direction that would be great!
Lenny
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Lenny
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Joined: January 06 2008
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| Posted: January 08 2008 at 07:37 | IP Logged
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*** UPDATE ***
Just a quick update before I head out for the office...
I created my PLC Group, Linked my load bearing keypads and switches to the plc as responders with the plcgroup id. Tested the plc group with a simple macro using the plc group to send "fast off" (insteon group command).
Lights went out instantly. So group and links appear ok.
I also have controlling switches as controllers linked in the PLC.
Upon evaluating the status/log I saw some x10 incomming but no insteon. I verified all x10 address' have been removed from devices and I have no more x10 in log. However I still don't see any incoming insteon from local switch/key presses.
Looking at other forum articles, Dave said for someone with a simular problem it sounds like a classic issue of the PLC not having the addresses of all off the devices and not receiving incoming group commands.
So I did what he suggessted for that person, Cleared the PLC and did an ADD Min and that showed all my device addresses and 100% complete. However I still have no incomming Insteon Group traffic.
The trigger will never fire at this point, I'll get to that bridge when I resolve the incoming group problem.
Anyone else experiece this. My Insteon traffic looks very good, so I don't think thats it.
Edited by Lenny - January 08 2008 at 07:39
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bhlonewolf
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| Posted: January 08 2008 at 09:49 | IP Logged
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Regarding the trigger, change the ID from 1 to 8 (column to the right of the device ID), since that's the button you want to trigger off of. If you were triggering off of, say, a switchlinc, it would always be 1, but in the case of a keypad, it can be 1 through 8.
Give that a try.
Removing/adding devices to the plc is fine, shouldn't create an issue. The reason for that is that is, in a nutshell, if the device ID is not in the PLCs database, it simply won't hear that traffic.
You might want to do a factory reset on the device, then have PH recreate the links. Sometimes the devices come with X10 addresses on them -- I do a factory reset upon installation just to clear out any x10 or phantom links.
Brian
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Lenny
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| Posted: January 08 2008 at 10:55 | IP Logged
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Thanks for the Reply Brian. I did figure on changing that to and 8 because of it being a keypad. That was one of the things I played with that I should have mentioned. I also did try changing the trigger to respond to a switchlinc as is just as a test too.
I can go back and do the test some more when I get home tonight.
The trigger aside, shouldn't I see the incoming insteon event in the log? None of my local button presses cause anything to be logged in the powerhome monitor/log.
To Factory reset should I disable the device in PH, Disable Status Poling, factory default the device, then use PH Rebuild to recreate the links in it an other devices?
Thanks again.
Lenny
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bhlonewolf
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| Posted: January 08 2008 at 13:23 | IP Logged
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There are 2 logs: the insteon log created by the SDM, and the powerhome log. The powerhome log in general doesn't show individual activity. The SDM log can be seen by opening the SDM in the systray, or by watching the upper right window in the insteon explorer within Powerhome.
So, if you're not seeing on/off/etc from switches in the insteon SDM log, then there's something wrong. Most likely it's 1 of 3 things:
1) The device ID is not in the PLC. (already tried that...)
2) Noise is blocking communication.
3) The switch itself has no links. If a switch/device has no links, it will not broadcast changes because it's smart enough to know no one is listening. Easiest way to solve this is to simply add the PLC as a responder to the device. Open up the links page in insteon explorer, click the device id of the switch, and then drag the PLC over as a responder, and save. Sounds like you already did this, though.
I would recommend trying this with a switch first, as it's a bit easier (there is only 1 group, instead of 8, on a switchlinc).
I'd also disable polling in the insteon explorer. Then, toggle the linc a few times and see if you can see the activity in PH...
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Lenny
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| Posted: January 08 2008 at 20:38 | IP Logged
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Watching the SDM, I was looking at the hex strings I see why my trigger isn't firing. The other article I was looking at said to use "FASTOFF" for a trigger value. A keypad button in "nontoggle off" sends 0x13. FastOff is 0x14 and a Double tap of the off button would fire the trigger that example. Perhaps that example may have been refering to the physical "All OFF" on a control/remote link. Any way all seems well now, I got all of my keypads 8th button working now.
I actually had a good night tonight. I created a "Midnight Snack" PLC Group and created all of the links with ramp rates and on levels. I created "on" and "off" triggers and even have the other keys on the keypads getting updated.
I wasn't sure if I should use a plc group or just links and internal groups in the keypad. Its tons easier using the PLC and as far as reliablity goes they are just "scenes" anyways. If the PLC pukes then I'll have basic lighting control still.
Whats the diffence between "Insteon Device Chg" and "Insteon Group In". Will one trigger on state change and the other only trigger on group broadcast?
Is there insteon command reference available without buying the developers kit? It could be handy.
One wouldn't think a light switch would make someone so happy  I hope the hardware lasts. I really don't want to get into those 4 gang boxes on a regular basis.
Lenny
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Topic: KeypadLinc and ALL OFF
