The INSTEON protocol has linking built-in as part of it's core functionality. The idea is that one device, a controller in INSTEON speak, can be linked to another device, a responder, then from that point forward the controller device sends it's command directly to the responder device. So, for instance, you can link a KeypadLinc button to a SwitchLinc so that when you press the button on the KPL the SwitchLinc responds. That's normally done by pressing various buttons on each device in specific ways until the link is established.
The manual linking method is useful if you don't have a software-controlled environment. However, since you've decided to have Indigo automate your home, you do have software to help you manage your automation needs. We've worked very hard to allow Indigo to perform the majority of link management tasks remotely so you don't have to walk around pressing buttons.
The primary place that you'll manage links between devices is in the Manage INSTEON Device Links dialog. Select Manage INSTEON Device Links
from Interfaces→INSTEON/X10 Power Line
, and the dialog will popup:
The dialog may look slightly different depending on the roles that the device selected in the popup at the top can play. As we mentioned earlier, devices that can control other devices are called “controllers” and devices that can be controlled are called “responders”. Many devices are both controllers and responders (the example above is a SwitchLinc, which is both). These links are also called groups and/or scenes, depending on usage, so keep that in mind.
For example, you can use Indigo to remotely program button #1 on a RemoteLinc to: set the thermostat to 68°, brighten the bedroom sconces to 75%, dim the bedroom overhead fixture down to 35%, turn off the hallway and bathroom lights.
Indigo automatically creates the links to define the scene in most remote modules. This means you do not have to press-and-hold the set button or up paddle on most remote modules. Indigo will do it all remotely for you with a single press of the Sync Now button. See the Supports Remote Link Management column of the INSTEON module and Indigo 4 compatibility table for information on which modules Indigo can remotely manage.
You can also define Indigo initiated scenes to control multiple remote modules in unison. See the defining Indigo INSTEON scenes section for more information on this capability.
Every INSTEON module is either a responder module, a controller module or both:
First, select the module you want to edit. You can choose to edit either the controller module in the scene (ex: RemoteLinc) or the responder module in the scene (ex: LampLinc).
Manage INSTEON Device Links…
from the Interface
menu.Show links used by device
popup control.If the module you selected is a controller (RemoteLinc, KeypadLinc, SwitchLinc, etc.), then you can add or edit responders:
New Link to Responder
button. If you want to change the settings (brightness, ramp rate duration, etc.) of an existing responder module in the scene, then select that module's link in the table with the Link to Responder Device
column title.broadcast of button/group number
popup control.cool
and heat
setpoint temperatures.Persistent
checkbox to force this link to automatically be restored whenever either the responder module or controller module is synced. If the modules are ever reset, replaced, or have this link modified, then Indigo will automatically rewrite the original link on the next sync operation.If the module you selected is a responder (LampLinc, Thermostat Adapter, KeypadLinc, SwitchLinc, etc.), then you can add or edit controllers:
New Link to Controller
button. If you want to change the settings (brightness, ramp rate duration, etc.) used by the selected module in a controller's scene, then select the controller module's link in the table with the Link to Controller Device
column title.broadcast of button/group number
popup control.cool
and heat
setpoint temperatures via those text boxes.Persistent
checkbox to force this link to automatically be restored whenever either the responder module or controller module is synced. If the modules are ever reset, replaced, or have this link modified, then Indigo will automatically rewrite the original link on the next sync operation.
Lastly, to have Indigo write all of your link changes to the remote modules, press the Sync Now
button to have Indigo immediately write all changed links to the remote modules. Or, press the Close (Sync Later)
button to close the link editor window and write the changes to the modules at a later time. When you are ready to write the changes to the remote modules, select Start Sync INSTEON Device Links…
from the Interfaces→INSTEON/X10 Power Line
menu, and then press the press the Sync Changes Only
button.
In addition to using Indigo's remote link and scene management, you can also manually create the links physically at the devices themselves. Follow the instructions that came with the hardware for the exact steps, which usually involves creating the links by press-and-holding the set button or up paddles for 10 seconds on each module.
If you manually create or delete a link, then you must tell Indigo to re-sync those modules. This enables Indigo to read in the link changes, and is required for Indigo to accurately show the state of the modules as they change.
INSTEON scenes (also called groups) can be used to control multiple INSTEON modules, such as light switch modules, lamp or appliance plug-in modules, and thermostat modules, all in unison. For example, you could create a home theatre lighting scene that turns off all lighting in your media room, except for a few sconce side lights which are set to 20% brightness. You can create lighting scenes for any activity you desire: dining, entertaining, sleeping, reading in bed, emergency, etc.
Indigo can remotely create scenes in the computer interface (PowerLinc) that control multiple remote modules. Indigo automatically creates the links to define the scene in both the PowerLinc and most remote modules. This means you do not have to press-and-hold the button on either the PowerLinc or most remote modules. Indigo will do it all remotely for you with a single press of the Sync Now button.
Once Indigo writes the links defining the scene to the PowerLinc and remote modules, you can execute the scene from any Trigger, Schedule, or Action Group using the Execute INSTEON Scene
action.
Indigo can also remotely create and edit scenes between remote modules (ex: from a KeypadLinc to a LampLinc). See Managing INSTEON Device Links for more information on this capability.
First, specify which PowerLinc Group/Scene number you want to use:
Manage INSTEON PowerLinc Links…
from the Interfaces→INSTEON/X10 Power Line
menu.PowerLinc Group/Scene
number to use for the scene. Use 1 if this is your first scene.PowerLinc Group/Scene
name in the edit field (ex: “reading in bed”).Next, create a new link for every responder module in the scene:
New Link to Responder
button. If you want to change the settings (brightness, ramp rate duration, etc.) of an existing responder module in the scene, then select that module's link in the table in the top-half of the window.responder
popup control.cool
and heat
setpoint temperatures using the text boxes.Persistent
checkbox to force this link to automatically be restored whenever the responder module is synced. If the responder module is ever reset, replaced, or has this link modified, then Indigo will automatically rewrite the original link into the device when it is next synced.
Lastly, have Indigo write all of your link changes to both the PowerLinc and the remote modules by pressing the Sync Now
button to have Indigo immediately write all changed links to the PowerLinc and remote modules. Or, press the Close (Sync Later)
button to close the link editor window and write the changes to the modules at a later time. When you are ready to write the changes to the PowerLinc and remote modules select Start Sync INSTEON Device Links…
from the Interfaces→INSTEON/X10 Power Line
menu, and then press the press the Sync Changes Only
button.
You can test the scene after the links are written by using the Send On and Send Off buttons.
The Indigo scene can now be executed from any Trigger, Schedule, or Action Group:
Actions
tab inside the edit window.Type
popup item.Send
popup item to select which scene command to send:Group On
will command all of the responder modules to their scene-specific brightness using their scene-specific ramp rate duration, if any.Group On to 100% (instant / ignore rate)
will set the brightness of dimmable modules to 100% immediately, ignoring any ramp rate duration.Group Off
will turn off all of the responder modules using their scene-specific ramp rate duration, if any.Group Off (instant / ignore rate)
will turn off all of the modules immediately, ignoring any ramp rate duration.Scene
popup item.
Note: you can press the Modify this Scene button…
to add a new responder module to the currently selected scene, or you can double-click a device in the scene list to edit its settings (brightness, ramp rate duration, etc.).
Indigo's smart INSTEON Link Syncing makes it easy to setup and keep all of your devices working with your PowerLinc. This link syncing process allows Indigo to control devices, and to update its internal device state (on / off / brightness) as the device is controlled locally (at the switch) or remotely by other devices. Indigo shows the state of all INSTEON devices as they change, even if the change is because of a command from another device. For example, a LampLinc that is turned ON from a ControLinc will immediately show as ON within Indigo. Indigo automatically does link syncing when you first create the device.
If, after the device is initially created, a remote device has any additional controller links added (ex: LampLinc is controlled by a KeypadLinc), then that device (LampLinc in this case) should have its links re-synced. This option is available from the Device dialog and will ensure Indigo has an accurate representation of the device's internal links, allowing it to correctly show state (on / off / brightness) changes as they occur.
Make sure the device is properly wired or plugged in. Select Device List from the View menu. Double-click the device you need to re-sync. Press the Re-Sync Links… button. Press the Start Synch button. Wait for the Smart Link Syncing steps to complete and press the Close button. The sync process can take a few minutes to complete. Lamp and appliance devices normally take less than a minute, but KeypadLincs and ControLincs can take a few minutes because of the additional link information needed for all of the buttons.
In addition to syncing individual devices, you can also batch sync all of your INSTEON devices. Depending on the number of INSTEON devices you have, this process can take a significant amount of time to complete. Because control of your devices will be limited during the synchronization process, it is recommended that you start the synchronization process at night or before you leave the house.
Make sure all devices are properly wired or plugged in. Select Start Sync INSTEON Device Links… from the Interface menu. Press the Sync All Devices button. Watch the Event Log window to see when the synchronization process is complete. The batch synchronization process can be canceled at any time.
Select Stop Sync INSTEON Device Links from the Interface menu. Watch the Event Log window to see when the synchronization process is canceled.
If your PowerLinc is ever replaced, then you must re-sync all of your devices. This will ensure that all devices have their internal links updated to reflect the new PowerLinc's INSTEON address.
Note: that any links that you create, either using the UIs described above, or by manual linking must be marked as Persistent
in the link dialogs in order for them to be recreated correctly. For links that you create manually between devices, when you have the manual links created successfully, you must come back to Indigo and sync the device(s) links. The manual links will show up in the dialogs - you must then mark them as Persistent
in order for them to be retained when doing a resync/replacement.