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syonker
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Posted: September 28 2010 at 22:01 | IP Logged Quote syonker

Hi Gang,

I apologize if I am repeating something that's already been discussed, but I am lost, and it's late, and I've wasted altogether too much time on my own instead of just asking outright, so here goes...

I have used and worked with Powerhome's features, and the "regular stuff" including forumlas, macros, timers, triggers, globals, etc. (some of you old-timers like TonyNo and Grif might remember me ). I have read the Insteon Background, and other help articles in Insteon Explorer.

I have several main problems relating to the fact that I just cannot seem to conceptually wrap my head around the exact use and interaction with the Insteon Explorer to get my Insteon devices to do what I want them to do:

1) I understand I need to link devices to the PLM, and that only newer devices (of which I have a mix) can do this through the console, but how to do this exactly eludes me.

2) Does the above concept represent a "PLM GROUP" to which I can issue "INSTEON GROUP" commands? It seems you can enter a PLM group, but I can't see how to put it to use, and assign devices to it (or do I?).

3) Could someone do a few screen snaps for a step-by-step setup of an INSTEON LAMP module and a PLM so that you could create a group, set normal ramp (1 sec?) and on (75%) values, and setup a macro to do a dim it up from zero over a period of about 20(ish) seconds so we can see how something like this might be accomplished?

If yes to #3, we should put this in the WIKI.

Regards,


-S

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grif091
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Posted: September 30 2010 at 19:17 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Devices that are controlled by Insteon Direct commands issued from PowerHome2 do not use or need links.

Device A to device B control uses Insteon Group commands which require links between the devices. This is true whether Device A is a KPL, SwitchLinc, ToggleLinc, (and so on) or Device A is the Powerhome2 PLM. All Insteon Group command usage must have links between the Controller (device issuing Group command) and the Responder (device receiving the Group command).

The Insteon Explorer Links tab is used to define and establish links between devices.   KPL A controlling SwitchLinc B (device hardware always uses Insteon Group commands for device control) or PowerHome2 PLM controlling SwitchLinc C using Insteon Group commands are examples were links must be defined.

For PH2 to issue Group commands through the PLM to other Insteon devices, along with the link definition that all Group communication requires, you also need to define a PLC/PLM Group. The PLC/PLM Groups tab assigns an “ID” string to the Group number associated with the link defined in the Links tab. This ID is used in ph_insteongroup() function which causes Insteon Group commands to be used for Group (Scene) control.

In a Group of responders, each individual responder device has a Bright level and Ramp rate associated with the particular Group.   When a ph_insteongroup() issues an On command, each responder turns On using the Bright level and Ramp rate in the responder device link record. This allows each responder device in the Group (Scene) to respond to different Bright levels and with different Ramp Rates.

Insteon Direct commands can specify a Bright level for the specific device to turn ON to. This command cannot control the Ramp rate the device uses.   It is the “Local” ramp in each device that controls the Ramp rate used.


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syonker
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Posted: September 30 2010 at 19:46 | IP Logged Quote syonker

Hi Grif - thank you so much for explaining what I *should* see when I'm looking at the links for a device. Here's the "duh" moment: With the knowledge that I *am* successfully using PH2 to control these devices (which by your definition means it MUST be linked), and the fact that when I click the device I saw *nothing* in links...I went out on a limb and (whoa, holy revelation, wow do I feel smart after this) DOUBLE-CLICKED the device in the list. Voila - there were all the links. My moron factor just went down *very* slightly. Now that I have that figured out (wow, what a leap of faith - holy smartz), I'll play around with the group commands.

...and I have a graduate-level degree in technology. Hooboy.

-S

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syonker
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Posted: September 30 2010 at 19:50 | IP Logged Quote syonker

...now on to figuring out how to properly link my Insteon thermostat controller (which I have *never* had setup properly).

-S

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syonker
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Posted: September 30 2010 at 20:24 | IP Logged Quote syonker

Ok, for those following this thread, now that I figured this out, I'm switching over to the thread below, which goes into significantly greater detail about this:

http://www.power-home.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2232

Regards,

-S

Edited by syonker - September 30 2010 at 20:25


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