A few SAI UPB device questions

[fcwilt]

Hi,

Awhile back SAI went from dimmers where the rocker "locally" controlled the device to devices where the rocker used a link instead.

When configuring one of these newer devices there are (among other things) the following:

1. Enable Add/Delete Transmit Link feature

2. Report light level after any button or rocker is pressed.

3. Rocker 1 transmits.

So what is #1?

Does #2 refer to simply broadcasting the level on the UPB network for whatever might be listening for that info?

Regards #3, if the the rocker now always uses a link it only does so "internally" (for lack of a better term) unless you enable #3?

Thanks much.

 

[dBeau]

I'm not sure about #1.

#2 does as you suggest. Whenever a rocker button is pressed, regardless of what it is set to do, the device will transmit it's current state.

#3 can cause some interesting things to happen. From the factory the device is set to "talk to itself" on link 241 (I think). So when a button is pressed, it sends itself a message and responds to it. If you want rocker #1 to talk to a different device, you must enable the option for it to transmit. If you do this without changing the transmit component for rocker 1, you can end up turning on all of the device in your house that are still listening on the default link 241! In short it's a cute trick to make the factory default settings do something reasonable. When I install a switch I usually set rocker 1 to transmit after making the appropriate changes.

Hi,

Awhile back SAI went from dimmers where the rocker "locally" controlled the device to devices where the rocker used a link instead.

When configuring one of these newer devices there are (among other things) the following:

1. Enable Add/Delete Transmit Link feature

2. Report light level after any button or rocker is pressed.

3. Rocker 1 transmits.

So what is #1?

Does #2 refer to simply broadcasting the level on the UPB network for whatever might be listening for that info?

Regards #3, if the the rocker now always uses a link it only does so "internally" (for lack of a better term) unless you enable #3?

Thanks much.

 

[fcwilt]

#2 does as you suggest. Whenever a rocker button is pressed, regardless of what it is set to do, the device will transmit it's current state.

#3 If you want rocker #1 to talk to a different device, you must enable the option for it to transmit.

So if I understand correctly enabling both #2 and #3 would result in the sending of two things (when pressing rocker #1), the operation assigned to rocker #1 and the light level. In that order so you suppose?

Thanks.

 

[dBeau]

I've never verified the order of the transmissions. But I cant imagine it making any sense to send the status then perform an operation that might change that status. So yes.

#2 does as you suggest. Whenever a rocker button is pressed, regardless of what it is set to do, the device will transmit it's current state.

#3 If you want rocker #1 to talk to a different device, you must enable the option for it to transmit.

So if I understand correctly enabling both #2 and #3 would result in the sending of two things (when pressing rocker #1), the operation assigned to rocker #1 and the light level. In that order so you suppose?

Thanks.

 

[fcwilt]

Thanks very much.

Now to find out what #1 is about.

 

[tmbrown97]

Mr Wilcox,

One thing to note - as I was just installing a handful of SAI UPB Switches; that feature you describe where it has to send a link to itself seems to be inherent in the US240's. If you want it to work the old way and don't need customizable faceplates, the US1140's are a few bucks cheaper and don't have to send a link to themselves - they can just control their own local load and transmit status when they're done.

I ordered mostly US240's to leave my options open; but now seeing how this works, I'll probably order 1140's for any locations where I don't think I'll want to change to a multi-rocker plate.

 

[ano]

Mr Wilcox,

One thing to note - as I was just installing a handful of SAI UPB Switches; that feature you describe where it has to send a link to itself seems to be inherent in the US240's. If you want it to work the old way and don't need customizable faceplates, the US1140's are a few bucks cheaper and don't have to send a link to themselves - they can just control their own local load and transmit status when they're done.

I ordered mostly US240's to leave my options open; but now seeing how this works, I'll probably order 1140's for any locations where I don't think I'll want to change to a multi-rocker plate.

Also, note, while the US240's do have some nice features that the US1140's don't, they also take away one. With the US1140, you can program the switch so that a single-tap lights the dimmer up at one level, and a double-tap lights it up at a different level. The US240, because of its design, can't operate like that.

For example, in my bathroom, a single tap turns on the light full, while a double-tap sets it to 30% for night-time lighting. On other switches, a single-tap sets the light to 90% to save power and bulb life, while a double-tap sets it to 100%.

 

[fcwilt]

Mr Wilcox,

Who's he?

I ordered mostly US240's to leave my options open; but now seeing how this works, I'll probably order 1140's for any locations where I don't think I'll want to change to a multi-rocker plate.

I wasn't very disciplined when I got started and didn't fully understand the choices I faced and the ramifications. I have a mixture of old and new, US1 and US2. I got lucky and the way the units are distributed the US2s are in locations where multiple rockers might be useful even though I have only single full height rockers for now. Seems to me I have some older units installed which supported 1 or 2 tall rockers, but my memory might be faulty.

 

[zpollock]

Thanks very much.

Now to find out what #1 is about.

As I recall, there is a method to do some basic link configuration via a specific sequence of paddle presses. This allows you to do some link setup without requiring a PC. That feature turns off the functionality so that you don't inadvertently get into the config mode and screw things up.

 

[fcwilt]

Thanks very much.

Now to find out what #1 is about.

As I recall, there is a method to do some basic link configuration via a specific sequence of paddle presses. This allows you to do some link setup without requiring a PC. That feature turns off the functionality so that you don't inadvertently get into the config mode and screw things up.

That makes sense. Thanks.