Random Lighting Automation

[krjtx]

I vaguely remember on the "Worthington" site, there was sample code for automating random lighting when the system was set to vacation.

Does anybody have this information (or something similar)to post. I was just about to start looking at that automation when the whole site went down.

thanks for your help

 

[fabriziojoe]

I vaguely remember on the "Worthington" site, there was sample code for automating random lighting when the system was set to vacation.

Does anybody have this information (or something similar)to post. I was just about to start looking at that automation when the whole site went down.

thanks for your help

From the HAI Application Directory:

Making the House Look Lived-In While on Vacation
Application:
How to turn on and off lights and appliances at different times and on different days to make the house lived in while on vacation.
Installation:
1. Equipment:
a) OmniLT, Omni/Omni II/Omni IIe, OmniPro/OmniPro II, Lumina or Lumina Pro controller with X-10 TW523, UPB Powerline Interface or compatible Two-Way Powerline Interface.
B) X-10 or UPB compatible lamp, appliance, and wall switch modules.
2. Setup:
a) Select a name for the modules and enter under “Setup, Names, Units”. We will call our units as follows: “Foyer Light - Den Light - Bedroom Lamp – Hall Lamp – Den Stereo – Bedroom TV”.
Programming:
We will turn certain units on at different times on different days to give the house the appearance of someone moving about.
Note: The security mode must be set to Vacation for these programs to take effect.
Here’s how the programs will look:
1) SUNSET -T-TF-S &IF VACATION: FOYER LIGHT ON FOR 45 MINUTES ^ (WHEN) ^ (CONDITION) ^ (COMMAND)
2) WHEN FOYER LIGHT OFF &IF VACATION: DEN LIGHT ON FOR 90 MINUTES 3) SUNSET M-W--S- &IF VACATION: DEN LIGHT ON FOR 3 HOURS 4) 7:00 PM MTW—SS &IF VACATION: DEN STEREO ON FOR 2 HOURS 5) 7:45 PM –T-TF-- &IF VACATION: HALL LAMP ON FOR 1 HOUR
6) 8:15 PM M-W---S &IF VACATION: HALL LAMP ON FOR 90 MINUTES
7) WHEN HALL LAMP OFF &IF VACATION: BEDROOM LAMP ON FOR 1 HOUR
8) 10:00 PM ----FS- &IF VACATION: BEDROOM LAMP ON FOR 75 MINUTES
9) WHEN BEDROOM LAMP ON &IF VACATION: BEDROOM TV OFF FOR 15 MINUTES
Fifteen minutes after the Bedroom Lamp turns On, the Bedroom TV will turn On. The Bedroom TV will remain On until the next scheduled time.
10) 10:30 M-W---S &IF VACATION: BEDROOM TV OFF 11) 11:25 ----FS- &IF VACATION: BEDROOM TV OFF

 

[krjtx]

From the HAI Application Directory:

thanks - also found the document you referenced

 

[Desert_AIP]

If you use UPB the WMT RUC or the SA/WMT UPB timer have true random timing options and vacation schedules.

 

[Lagerhead]

If you have a programmable or script-based controller in your environment that has a random number function, you are halfway to getting this done.

While the Barionet (the controller in my environment) has a RANDOM function, I have also experimented with taking a snapshot of the low-order bits of a millisecond-resolution clock register at intervals. This works as a randomizer because, with other work constantly going on in the program responding to real-world events, etc., there is no telling what the clock register will contain when I get to polling it.

But having programmed all of that, I rarely use it anyway. I must say that I have never been satisfied with the results. Realistic operation suggests that you should pay attention to both the proportions and staging of time-on / time-off (e.g., is it realistic to turn on a light for 1 minute multiple times in an hour, or does this scream of random automation?). On the other hand, more frequent lighting changes are more likely to be observed, which of course is the whole point. My last program on this engages just a few outside lights.

Otherwise I have settled on a standard non-random evening light program that runs whether the house is occupied or not -- basically, on at sunset and off at bedtime. Significantly, we like the dependable subdued lighting in key areas of the house. As to security, I have come to think that the evening lights themselves, along with motion-activated lights, are decent and sufficient deterrents. At least in my neighborhood.

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Yes, the PCS TEC module will also do this