Buttons on INSTEON compatible controllers enable you to perform complex home automation tasks. But most people want to start with simple scenarios: this button turns on/off this light, or maybe this set of lights. The latter are referred to as scenes: that how-to is a good guide to creating scenes that don't use INSTEON specific technology and that can control devices of multiple protocol types.
This How-To is going to focus on INSTEON specific techniques for using controller buttons. But first, let's review the specific types of INSTEON controllers:
These are the most common INSTEON devices used as controllers, although since INSTEON devices generally broadcast state changes, any can be used as a controller. For purposes of this discussion, however, we'll stick to one of the above.
Now, let's discuss linking devices to an INSTEON controller button via Indigo.
The INSTEON specification allows devices to be linked together for various purposes. Generally, you want to link a responder (for instance, a light switch) to a controller (for instance, a RemoteLinc remote control), so that when a button is pressed on a controller, the light responds to the command. This linking may be done manually by following the directions that come with the devices or they may be managed in Indigo. We're going to focus on the latter.
Scenes (or Groups - in INSTEON terminology, they are the same) generally correspond to a button/switch/toggle on a controller. So, for instance, a RemoteLinc is capable of controlling 6 Scenes - one for each button (ALL ON/OFF and BRIGHT/DIM are special purpose buttons)and a ControLinc can control 5, etc.
Indigo can remotely create and edit scenes (also called groups) between multiple remote modules. For example, you can use Indigo to remotely program button #1 on a RemoteLinc to: set the thermostat to 68°, turn off the bathroom light, brighten the bedroom sconces to 75%, dim the bedroom overhead fixture down to 35%, and turn off the hallway light.
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 Remote INSTEON Linking option on the detail page for any supported INSTEON device linked from our INSTEON Module compatibility table - that will indicate whether Indigo can remotely manage it's links.
You can also define Indigo initiated scenes to control multiple remote modules in unison. See defining Indigo INSTEON scenes for more information on this capability.
This How-to level of difficulty is Moderate.
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. Or, 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.responder
popup control (ex: LampLinc).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. Or, 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.On controller
popup control (ex: RemoteLinc).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.
Last, have Indigo write all of your link changes to the remote modules:
OR
So, now you should have an overview of how device linking works. The next thing we'll discuss is an Indigo INSTEON scene.
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 Action, Time/Date Action, or Action Group using a Send INSTEON Group / Scene Command
action. In this respect, the PowerLinc is acting as a Controller with 250 buttons, and Indigo is actually performing the equivalent of pressing the PowerLinc's buttons.
This How-to level of difficulty is Moderate.
First, specify which PowerLinc Group/Scene number you want to use:
Manage PowerLinc Links…
from the Interface 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. Or, 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.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.
Last, have Indigo write all of your link changes to both the PowerLinc and the remote modules:
Sync Now
button to have Indigo immediately write all changed links to the PowerLinc and remote modules.OR
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 Device Links…
from the Interface
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 Action, Time/Date Action, or Action Group:
Actions
panel inside the edit window.Send INSTEON Group / Scene Command
from the action 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.Group/Scene
popup item.
Note you can press the Add/Edit Device to this Group/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.).