Items Light_Switch_Item

Light_Switch_Item

See original

SYNOPSIS

Example initialization: see items.mht below

Also, if you enable locking with this light switch, see lock_timeout() below.

Extra options:

By default, this object only cares about changes in state of the real object when it was set by 'serial'. However, my Leviton 2-way switches send out status responses instead which give a set_by of 'status' instead. Also, if you have a stick-on RF transmitter like I do, and it is received directly by MisterHouse with something like the W800, then the set_by will be 'rf'. Therefore, you can change the default of 'serial' to some other type of set_by to watch for:

  $leviton_switch->only_when_set_by('status');

If you have a Smarthome SwitchLinc switch, then there is no need to make this change since it sends out normal ON/OFF commands. For my stick-on RF keypad received by my W800, I do this:

  $rf_switch->only_when_set_by('rf');

Or, you may have a light that can be turned on by either RF or by a wired X10 controller, in which case you should do this:

  $rf_switch->only_when_set_by('rf', 'serial');

Finally, if this particular switch happens to control a light which is in turn controlled by a Light_Item, you can cause this switch to lock the light into one state or the other. To do so, you first have to set the timeout:

  $bedroom_light_switch->lock_timeout(600);

This says that the specified switch object should lock the attached light until the room has been vacated for 600 seconds (10 minutes). Once this is set, you need to add this object to the appropriate Light_Item:

  $bedroom_light->add($bedroom_light_switch);

Be careful to add the Light_Switch_Item and NOT the original X10 item or whatever it is! It will cause an infinite loop! I did this once and spent about 4 hours trying to track down the problem.

By request, you can now set different expiration times depending on whether the light is locked on or off. Here is how this works:

  lock_timeout(): Sets/gets timeout for all states
  lock_timeout_off(): Sets/gets timeout when locking light off
  lock_timeout_on(): Sets/gets timeout when locking light on (actually
                     for any state besides 'off')

DESCRIPTION

An abstract object that represents a light switch of some sort in your house. Switches that have been tested include:

• 2-way X10 switches
• X10 control pads
• RF X10 keypads

This object can serve two purposes:

1. When attached to the Occupancy_Monitor, it can establish presence in a certain room when a switch in that room is used.
2. If lock_timeout() has been called, the object can be attached to a Light_Item to lock the light into an on or off state when the switch is used.

INHERITS

Base_Item

INI PARAMETERS

None

Items.mht

Defined in items.mht as

# define your actual X10 object (this is just an example):
X10SL, H2, x10_2way_switch     # SwitchLinc 2-way switch
# define the Switch_Item and attach the real object:
LTSWITCH, x10_2way_switch, 2way_switch

Then, you will usually add all your Light_Switch_Items to the occupancy monitor:

  $om->set_edges($2way_switch, 1, 2, 3;

Be sure to call only_when_set_by() as defined above.

METHODS

AUTHOR

Kirk Bauer kirk@kaybee.org

Special Thanks to: Jason Sharpee -- Occupancy_Monitor/Presence_Monitor/Light_Item/etc

SEE ALSO

None