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Next steps for my setup using Domoticz and LWRF/RFXCom

Posted: Friday 30 September 2016 21:36
by darlomrh
Hi

Apologies for dumping this in the incorrect sub forum.

I have been using Domoticz on a RPi3 for a few months now. A simple setup controlling boiler and one room stat (Zwave).
I have a few of LightwaveRF Light switches and plugs and PIR's. I currently control the lights using LUA and Python combo to send UDP messages to the Lightwave Link.

I'm under the impression that you are unable to query state of LigfhtwaveRF devices and one of the things that is annoying (to me :) ), is that if a PIR switches on a light I have no idea the light is on or if someone has turned the light on / off at the switch.

Will connecting a RFXCom device (assuming pair to appropriate device) give me the on/off messages that are transmitted from PIR, switches and plugs and so on. Which in turn would allow me to know what was the last message sent in Domoticz?

Cheers

Re: Next steps for my setup using Domoticz and LWRF/RFXCom

Posted: Saturday 01 October 2016 12:14
by simonrg
darlomrh wrote:Hi

Will connecting a RFXCom device (assuming pair to appropriate device) give me the on/off messages that are transmitted from PIR, switches and plugs and so on. Which in turn would allow me to know what was the last message sent in Domoticz?

Cheers
I am not quite sure exactly what you want to acheive, but a few things come to mind.

The LightwaveRF powdered light switches only recieve they do not transmit, so if the light is switched on manually then Domoticz will not know the light has been switched on. There are wireless LightwaveRF switches available, if these are used then Domoticz would know the last command sent, so as long as no one operated the switch directly then Domoticz will know the state the light should be in. Even then there is no guarentee the light is on, but in practice within range then I find LightwaveRF very reliable.

I found the LightwaveRF PIRs features did not give me enough flexibility, so I am using simple PIRs and find these work well with LightwaveRF and Domoticz - http://www.domoticz.com/wiki/Smart_Lua_Scripts. As the PIRs are in the room with the light switches even if the light is turned on manually and not turned off, Domoticz will still turn if off after a set period as the PIR was activated.

Is there a guide to the way in which you using Lua / Python to control the LightwaveRF wifi link somewhere? I have a wifi link I am not using, but would allow me to access the LightwaveRF energy meter.

Re: Next steps for my setup using Domoticz and LWRF/RFXCom

Posted: Saturday 01 October 2016 14:00
by darlomrh
Thanks for the reply. Usually the situation in question is when we have walked into the lounge, LWRF PIR (assuming correct lux level has been reached) has turned on the lights and if I want to turn off the lights I have to turn on the virtual switch on before I can send the off command.

The Lightwave link communication is only one way I'm afraid. I just use fire and hope for the best sending UDP messages.

I can PM you the info, sites etc I used to cobble the Lightwave link commands. You can also apply for API docs from LightwaveRF.


Thanks

Re: Next steps for my setup using Domoticz and LWRF/RFXCom

Posted: Saturday 01 October 2016 14:14
by simonrg
darlomrh wrote:Thanks for the reply. Usually the situation in question is when we have walked into the lounge, LWRF PIR (assuming correct lux level has been reached) has turned on the lights and if I want to turn off the lights I have to turn on the virtual switch on before I can send the off command.

The Lightwave link communication is only one way I'm afraid. I just use fire and hope for the best sending UDP messages.

I can PM you the info, sites etc I used to cobble the Lightwave link commands. You can also apply for API docs from LightwaveRF.


Thanks
I am only using PIRs in bathrooms / toilets / utility rooms, so don't want to turn the light off when you are in there.

However, I have used a load of LightwaveRF mood switches, which activate scenes in Domoticz, some of these scenes trigger virtual switches, which set off scripts which do one thing in the daytime and do something different at night, so light levels that are different depending on the time of day. So if you direct the PIR through Domoticz rather than pair it directly with the light switch, then for example if the television is on the on recieving a signal from the PIR Domoticz doesn't turn the light on.

Thanks, I would appreciate the information on the link commands.