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Lazyman
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| Posted: December 04 2006 at 14:11 | IP Logged
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Now that I have the new version working, I am trying to create PLC groups. I do not have any yet.
The first group I am trying to create will have all devices in it. That way, all devices will have a link so that all switches will send a signal to the PLC when used, even if they really do not effect anything else.
My second group will have a switchlink with a load, and should also connect to another switchlink, and button 3 of a keypadlink. That way, each switch will control the load and all buttons will reflect the state of the load.
This should be basic, but I cannot figure out how to do it in the new version. Thanks.
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dhoward
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| Posted: December 07 2006 at 14:30 | IP Logged
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Lazyman,
Ok, it sounds as if for the first item (not really a PLC group since the PLC is not controlling anything) you want to have all of your Insteon devices with a link to the PLC as a responder. This is fairly simple to setup.
First, open the Insteon Explorer and navigate to the "Links" tab. Find your PLC in the middle window titled "Devices" and highlight it. All devices that are currently linked to the PLC as a controller will show in the top window (Controllers) and all devices that are linked to the PLC as Responders will show in the bottom window. You're wanting to create links so that every device is a "Controller" of the PLC. In the right-hand window, click on the heading (or anywhere that is not directly on a row) and all the rows will be highlighted. You can hold the Control key and click on rows to unselect them if they are already showing in the "Controllers" window. With your rows selected, press the left facing arrow button at the top of the right window to copy the selected rows into the "Controllers" window. Now go through the controller windows and look for any columns that need to be filled in with additional information (most likely just the Button number for KeypadLincs). Press the "Save" text above the middle Devices window and these links will then be queued for creation.
To perform the second task, again go to the "Links" tab. In the middle window (Devices), find and select one of your 3 devices. In the right-hand window, select the other two devices (you can use shift and control keys to highlight multiple rows). With the other two devices selected in the right-hand window, click the left facing arrow at the top of the right-hand window to add the devices as controllers of your selected device. Next click the left facing arrow at the BOTTOM of the right hand window to add the two devices are responders of your selected device. Look for red background columns and fill in appropriate values (KPL group 3 in your example). Click the "Save" text. In the middle Devices Window, select your next device. It will already have 1 of your devices set as the controller and responder from the previous step. Just highlight the missing device in the right hand window and add the missing device to both the controllers and responders. Save. Select the last device from the "Devices" window just to verify that it already has the other two devices set as controllers and responders.
HTH,
Dave.
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Lazyman
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| Posted: December 07 2006 at 14:46 | IP Logged
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Thanks Dave.
Now if I want that to be a group so that I can have it triggered as a timed event - so that each switch, and keypad link will reflect the current status, when triggered by Powerhome?
Also, what isn't anything controlled by the PLC? Seems to me whenever Powerhome changes the state of a switch, the PLC is acting as a controller, not a responder. I get that you are correct, I am just looking for a better (albiet basic) understanding of Powerhome.
Thanks again.
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dhoward
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| Posted: December 07 2006 at 15:10 | IP Logged
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Lazyman,
Ahh, I see what you mean. The terms Controller and Responder as Im using them (as used in the links screen) is in reference to Insteon groups (links). Even though the PLC is directly "controlling" Insteon devices via PowerHome, most of the time this control is coming as a "direct" device to device command and has nothing to do with Insteon linking or groups.
With Insteon groups, you will have a single device acting as the "Controller" or the initiator of an Insteon group command (a SwitchLinc, KPL, or ControLinc can be a "controller" but a LampLinc cannot). Each group can have 1 or more "Responders", devices that act upon the controllers group command.
In PowerHome, if you are using the Device Status screen, the PLC is sending a direct command. In order to use a PLC group, you would need to use either the ph_insteongroup or ph_insteonrawgroup functions or their equivalent macro commands.
Oftimes, it is not necessary to create a group from a device to the PLC (PLC as responder) as long as the device is controlling at least one other device. IOW, in order for the PLC to know that a switch has changed status locally, that switch must send a group control command out. A switch will ONLY send a group control command if it is the controller of at least one other device. Most people just go ahead and make the PLC be a responder of every device just to handle this basic requirement, but it's not necessary that the "at least one device" be the PLC, just more convenient for most people.
Now if you want to have the PLC trigger a group via timed event, etc, then you would just need to create a PLC group with the individual devices set as responders. Then using one of the above methods, just issue the appropriate Insteon on or off command and all of the devices set as responders of that particular PLC group will act in unison.
Dave.
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Lazyman
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| Posted: December 07 2006 at 15:29 | IP Logged
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Thanks for taking the time with some of these basic questions. I more:
What is the difference between ph_InsteonGroup and ph_InsteonRawGroup?
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dhoward
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| Posted: December 08 2006 at 21:04 | IP Logged
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Not much really. The ph_insteongroup uses the PLC Group ID's that you've defined in the "PLC Groups" tab. The ph_insteonrawgroup expects a controller ID followed by a PLC group number. They both end up doing the same thing.
Dave.
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Topic: Help creating PLC
