Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Newbie help Mark Gilmore Fri, 14 Jan 2000 13:48:12 -0500

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Hi A.J.,
Two ways come to mind (with a timer and without):

1)	If	Minute-Timer	Is		0
	Then	Minute-Timer	Set		2
	Then	...

2)	Do	Number-A	Set		Minute
	Do	Number-A	Divide		2
	Do	Number-A	Multiply	2
	If	Minute		Is Now		Number-A
	Then	...

The dimming problem sounds familiar.
What X10 transceiver are you using ?
-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
http://www.usit.com/omnip
423-745-0026


A.J. Griglak wrote:
> 
> Hey, Mark...  thanks for the reply!
> 
> I've been tweaking so more and kind of have it worked out...  With that
> light, the percentages of the dimming are not quite accurate, not sure why,
> but I could live with adjusting it.  The percentages are actually lower than
> expected.  For example, 36% is just about off - what I would consider like
> 6%.  As far as the ALL LIGHTS OFF, I think I isolated the problem.  After
> many trials and errors, I've found that DSS receiver is causing havoc with
> X-10 signals.  I've ordered a plug-in blocker that should do the trick.
> 
> Some other questions have popped up, though...  I was looking at your sample
> events that do something every two minutes, for example..  I'm not sure of
> the logic behind it - could you briefly explain how to do something every
> two minutes?
> 
> Thanks again!
> -=A.J.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Gilmore [mailto:omnip@usit.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 11:32 AM
> To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Newbie help
> 
> Hi A.J.,
> When you say "it" goes to 0%, are you referring to
> the physical lamp or the LIGHT Item State (or both) ?
> Note that ECS sets LIGHT dim levels based on what it
> "thinks" they are currently set to. If the light has
> been manually dimmed via the switch/module, ECS's
> internal State will be off, resulting in erroneous
> dim levels. This problem does NOT occur if you dim the
> lamp with an X10 console/remote, since these send X10
> commands to the lamp (which are detected by ECS).
> 
> Regarding ALL LIGHTS OFF, what do you mean by "isn't
> working correctly". If all lights on house-code A/B
> do NOT turn off, then try sending the same commands
> with an X10 console/remote (I suspect an X10
> transmission/noise problem).
> 
> Your logic looks, fine, but I would use "IS NOW"
> rather than "IS GT NOW": ECS Events "see" ALL State
> transitions (they will always detect when the
> timer becomes 90).
> 
> A "PLC OVERFLOW" error usually is caused by an Event
> that is sending out REDUNDANT commands. For example,
> this logic would cause ON commands to be sent for
> the entire 60 seconds:
>         If      Time    Is      8:00PM
>         Then    Light   Set     ON
> 
> Use of an IS NOW would prevent this.
> 
> Feel free to call...
> --
> Mark Gilmore
> Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
> http://www.usit.com/omnip
> 423-745-0026
> 
> > A.J. Griglak wrote:
> >
> > OK, I've been a casual lurker for like a year, and just finally moved
> > into my new house and fired up ECS for the first time.  I've read
> > through all the help files and the web site, and I still struggled to
> > get my items and events working properly.
> >
> > For my first event, I would like to hit a X-10 button (A-7) after I
> > climb into bed and have the bedroom light (controlled from a wall
> > switch 2031) dim 10% less every 2 minutes, till it hits like 12%.
> > Then, at 80 minutes, have the light dim to 0%, so that if I'm still
> > awake and watching TV, I could hit any X-10 button to reduce the sleep
> > timer by 30 minutes.  When 90 minutes is reached, the light is
> > switched off, the TV is switched off, and all lights in the house are
> > switched off.  The event that I've programmed isn't quite working like
> > that, and I would like a little help in refining it.  I've included a
> > Asleep flag for future use - I would like to have a motion detector on
> > the way to the kitchen to light the fridge raids at midnight (only if
> > the asleep flag is true)
> >
> > Here is what I've got - after like a week of tweaking  ;-)  I can't
> > seem to get the lamp dimming every 2 minutes like I wanted, so I just
> > set one dim to 24%.  It also isn't too accurate - I set the dim to
> > 24%, and it goes to 0% - not sure why.  I included the "Bedroom Lights
> > Set On" because I've noticed that ECS isn't aware when the 2031 is
> > manually turned on.  Also, the All Lights Off isn't working correctly
> > - not sure why.  I used the BeginIf/EndIf because without them, I
> > would get Transmission overload errors.
> >
> > If I could get a push in the right direction, I think I would be able
> > to handle the other stuff I wish to accomplish.
> >
> > Thanks in advance!!
> > -=A.J.
> >
> > |Event: Sleep    Called ?:No
> > | BEGINIF A-Button  Is Now  7/Off
> > | Then Sleep Timer  Set  Start
> > | Do Bedroom Lights  Set  On
> > | Do Asleep Set  True
> > | ENDIF
> > |
> > | BEGINIF Sleep Timer  Is Now  2
> > | Do Bedroom Lights  Set  24%
> > | ENDIF
> > |
> > | BEGINIF Sleep Timer  Is Now  80
> > | Do Bedroom Lights  Set  0%
> > | ENDIF
> > |
> > | BEGINIF Sleep Timer  Is GT Now 90
> > | Do Bedroom TV  Set  Off
> > | Do Bedroom Lights  Set  Off
> > | Do Sleep Timer  Set  Stop
> > | Do Sleep Timer  Set  0
> > | Do PLC-Command A  Set  All Lights Off
> > | Do PLC-Command B  Set  All Lights Off
> > | ENDIF
> > |
> > | BEGINIF Sleep Timer  Is GT  60
> > | And Sign of Life  Is Now  True
> > | Do Sleep Timer  Subtract 30
> > | Do Bedroom Lights  Set  24%
> > | ENDIF
> > |
> > |

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