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GadgetGuy
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| Posted: December 01 2010 at 16:23 | IP Logged
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I am getting highly frustrated  trying to set up a 2420 Inteson Motion Sensor to trigger at the right light level.
I have tweeked the Light Level pot back and forth 59 times and can't seem to get the 2420 to reliably send light/dark output commands (Group 2 on/off).
I'm not sure if I have a bad pot or something else is going on, but I noticed on the Smart Home web site a comment that their software allowed you to tweek the 2420 Delay and Light Level pots digitally from the software!
Long story short, does anyone know how to do this from PowerHome? At least I could get my settings right where I want them instead of using a magnifying glass and jeweler's screwdriver to try to nudge the pot a bit at a time! 
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Ken B - Live every day like it's your last. Eventually, you'll get it right!
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grif091
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| Posted: December 01 2010 at 18:14 | IP Logged
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Sorry, cannot be done with PH2. Setting those options require Insteon Extended command support which PH2 2.1b does not have.
HouseLinc2 and the ISY are two products I know have this capability.
A point when using the internal pot, the dusk/dawn level requires at least 3.5 minutes to stabilize before sending a Group message.
Edited by grif091 - December 01 2010 at 18:16
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Lee G
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GadgetGuy
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| Posted: December 01 2010 at 19:49 | IP Logged
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That's what I was afraid of Lee, so threw in the towel and ordered a SimpleHomeNet EZ-Eye photosensor that will give me an Analog level I can tie into one of my EZIO2X4 controllers that is in a perfect location to monitor the North sky.
That way I can sense it anytime without worrying about whether I missed a light level change Trigger. 
That otta do it!
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GadgetGuy
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| Posted: December 01 2010 at 19:50 | IP Logged
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PS - Dave are we going to have Insteon Extended Command capability in the next release? 
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grif091
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| Posted: December 01 2010 at 20:05 | IP Logged
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Ken,
EZEye works. I have two connected to an EZIO8SA. You will want to use the EZEye analog output and set the analog trip points with enough gap to allow some variation as the light level increases/decreases. I found using the digital portion of the EZEye would cause the EZIOxx input in digital mode to cycle as the ambient light level moved through the set point. The cycling stops as the light level moves past the set point (either up or down) but it can generate a large number of Group On/Off commands for a few minutes. Using the analog output and analog trip points also avoids the problem of clouds passing overhead.
I think Extended command support is on the list of function coming with the next update. At least it was back when the next update was initially discussed. With the Motion Sensor and TriggerLinc not supporting the SD Peek/Poke commands at all and most of the Insteon devices now supporting Extended Set/Get for configuration PH2 has fallen way back in Insteon device support.
Lee
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GadgetGuy
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| Posted: December 02 2010 at 07:57 | IP Logged
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Lee -
Your trigger point insight is right on. To prevent erratic behavior when sensing virtually all real world events, one must have hysteresis of some sort, either in a trip band rather than point, or by averaging means that integrate the sense points into a smooth curve.
To eliminate the possibility of excessive Insteon traffic I was planning to a Timed Event to read the EZIO2X4 analog output once every few minutes and create a running average (FIFO) to smooth, then a few point hysteresis band for trip point sensing. That way I am "in control" and don't have to worry about a missed Trigger Event that screws up my subsequent efforts.
I'm just trying to control lighting levels around the house at Dusk and with all the cloudy days in the winter in Michigan, a timed approach alone often leaves one wishing the lights were on earlier. So I'm not looking for "snappy" responses just a solid guideline.
My EZIO2X4 is in the garage, controlling my overhead doors from KeyPads so I don't have to go into the garage in the dark on cold nights and try to figure if the doors have been closed. The power line socket, the EZIO plugs into, is facing a window on the North side of the garage, and is a perfect place to sense light levels, especially since I didn't need to use the analog inputs on the EZIO for the garage door automation!
I think this solves my long awaited desire to monitor light levels and adds a lot of flexibility to my automation. 
Thanks for your valuable insights.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: December 02 2010 at 08:41 | IP Logged
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Ken, update this post when you get this refined as I have an old antiquated method. I am using an old PowerHouse SunDowner (X10) and an 2420M to achieve the same results. It works fairly well at my latitude and longitude but I can imagine with the angle of the sun this time of year at your location it becomes infinitely more unresponsive.
Edited by BeachBum - December 02 2010 at 08:42
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GadgetGuy
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| Posted: December 02 2010 at 09:03 | IP Logged
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Will do Pete.
I had a Sundowner too and then switched to the Light Level (Group2) outputs from the 2420M but have always been plagued by missed triggers that totally messed up everything.
I finally decided that polling the sensor is the only way to go to have total control of Insteon traffic and event status reporting.
I should get my EZ-Eye sensor next week. As soon as I get it working right, I will post the results (macro code and setup instructions) 
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PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome Programming
Topic: Digital Control of 2420M Motion Sensor
