Scene Controller local load

[Geogeer]

Hi Everyone,

I've just started to gain some basic understanding of the HAI HLC room/unit structure, programming, and all the things I can do. Right now I've got an OmniPro II system and a couple dimmer switches to play around with. I'm thinking about the next set of switches to buy and I'm confused about how the scene controller works.

The way the manual for the scene controller reads, the ABCD buttons are for selecting scenes and the ON OFF buttons are for turning all units within the room ON or OFF. Is that correct?

If I replace a standard switch with a scene controller, what controls the local load on that switch now?

Thanks!

 

[ano]

First, remember that with UPB there are two ways to deploy it, the HAI HLC way, and the UPStart way. There is nothing wrong with the HLC way. It has its pros and cons, but one con is flexibility.

HAI designed the HLC way to fit many homes with little work. That is good and all, but it may or may not fit you exactly. It tends to be designed for larger homes with new construction. the scene controller is added in addition to all the switches you presently have and the scenes are room based. If you have to remove a switch to add the controller, then as you say, you will be missing a switch to control that load. As I say, HLC seems to fit best with new construction where you can add the scene controller to each room.

If you abandon HAI HLC, then you can do much more, but in exchange it requires more work and planning. In this case your scene controller can control scenes or "links" anywhere in your house, or even your whole house.

So, if you are sticking with HLC, and as I say, there is nothing wrong with that, you need to find a way to add the scene controller to the room, or just not put a scene controller in a room. You don't have to have one, its just a nice extra, or remove a switch you don't need and swap it with the controller.

i should add, there is a HAI 6-button room controller, and the HAI 8-button home controller. The room controller controls, you guessed it, scenes in a room, and the home controller controls 8 rooms in a home.

 

[Geogeer]

Thanks for that great response ano, much appreciated.

It all just clicked when I looked at the installation instructions for the scene switch. Just a black and a white wire...

I've got some thinking to do.

Cheers!

 

[fcwilt]

HAI Room Controllers and House Controllers are controllers only - the send and respond to link commands.

While HAI labels one a Room Controller and the other a House Controller they can be used for most anything.

The Room unit has 6 buttons - ON, OFF, A, B, C, D. The House unit has 8 buttons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

 

[lupinglade]

The one downside of not using HLC is that your controller will not be able to keep track of light status changes that happen via the paddles. At least not without a lot more configuration/programming work.