Ok I'm trying to tackle something in programming output controls etc and so far not getting the results i expect
3 Modes
Day
Night
Away
Want Day and Night to follow Schedules only. This is the easy part and is working ok.
On the Away Mode I want the mode to be pgm controlled only when armed either via keypad or mobile web page to kick in Away mode. and when disarmed reverts to either day or night depending on time of day.
Anyone successfully made something similar to this work correctly.
Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Moderators: EyezOnRich, GrandWizard
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
I have not tried this, but you might be able to accomplish something close to this by the following:
1 - Setup a PGM Output whose Option code is 05 (panel is armed), 17 (panel is armed in the Away state) or 18 (panel is armed in the Stay state), depending on which you condtion you want the thermostat Away mode to be active. (This is done in Main Panel sections 009, 010 or 011, depending on which bank of PGM outputs you use). Note that this does not recognize how the panel came to be armed -- just that it is, and in what state.
2 - Assuming Thermostat 1, enter that PGM Output number in Escort section 819. In sections 816 thru 818, you will need to specify that this thermostat occupancy mode (Away) is to follow a PGM Output, in addition to whatever other things it is to follow.
If this doesn't work, you might be able to do it by linking an Escort mode to the PGM Output described above, and directing the thermostat occupancy Away mode to follow that Escort mode and a schedule which is good for 24 hours per day and 7 days a week, or whatever you want it to do. I think the key is using a PGM Output to indicate the arming state of the panel, and then finding a way to pass that indication on to the Escort to switch the occupancy mode of the thermostat.
By-the-way, the "newer" EMS thermostats don't have an Away occupancy mode, so if yours is one of those you can't do it!
Good luck!
1 - Setup a PGM Output whose Option code is 05 (panel is armed), 17 (panel is armed in the Away state) or 18 (panel is armed in the Stay state), depending on which you condtion you want the thermostat Away mode to be active. (This is done in Main Panel sections 009, 010 or 011, depending on which bank of PGM outputs you use). Note that this does not recognize how the panel came to be armed -- just that it is, and in what state.
2 - Assuming Thermostat 1, enter that PGM Output number in Escort section 819. In sections 816 thru 818, you will need to specify that this thermostat occupancy mode (Away) is to follow a PGM Output, in addition to whatever other things it is to follow.
If this doesn't work, you might be able to do it by linking an Escort mode to the PGM Output described above, and directing the thermostat occupancy Away mode to follow that Escort mode and a schedule which is good for 24 hours per day and 7 days a week, or whatever you want it to do. I think the key is using a PGM Output to indicate the arming state of the panel, and then finding a way to pass that indication on to the Escort to switch the occupancy mode of the thermostat.
By-the-way, the "newer" EMS thermostats don't have an Away occupancy mode, so if yours is one of those you can't do it!
Good luck!
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Thanks Delray, I actually found some pretty helpfully DSC issued programming shortcuts on line.
i'm about 80% there with what I want it to do.
I've got the arm set to Away, Shows up as aux on eyez-on portal and the disarm to go to daytime. i'm still have an issue with daytime Schedule not happening when its disarmed. I just need to spend more time on it..
I can see why people give up and go the WIFI route for thermostats.
I like the all in once place intergration and the fact when I get home and disarm the system it will automatically fire up the heat, pretty cool no more turning down thermostats when leaving. Arming the system doses it for me automatically
i'm about 80% there with what I want it to do.
I've got the arm set to Away, Shows up as aux on eyez-on portal and the disarm to go to daytime. i'm still have an issue with daytime Schedule not happening when its disarmed. I just need to spend more time on it..
I can see why people give up and go the WIFI route for thermostats.
I like the all in once place intergration and the fact when I get home and disarm the system it will automatically fire up the heat, pretty cool no more turning down thermostats when leaving. Arming the system doses it for me automatically
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Glad to know you found some earlier help and are having some success! Do you mind posting the weblink where you found the DSC hints for the benefit of others?
Yes, it's nice to have the security and home automation integrated into one package, but programming it is extremely tedius. Without a PCLink conecting my computer to the panel, and DSC's software on the computer to download the bits, I don't think I'd have the patience to do it -- especially the Escort stuff.
Yes, it's nice to have the security and home automation integrated into one package, but programming it is extremely tedius. Without a PCLink conecting my computer to the panel, and DSC's software on the computer to download the bits, I don't think I'd have the patience to do it -- especially the Escort stuff.
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Sure no prob here are the 2 I found.
http://www.alarmhow.net/manuals/DSC/Int ... Output.pdf
http://www.alarmhow.net/manuals/DSC/Int ... ontrol.pdf
Do you have your panel hardwired to use the DSC software? I have the programming cable and software on my Laptop but is always a pain to go to the basement to plug in and configure from there. so i go the phone prompt route.
Tedious is an understatement, but its the flexibility that it allows to overcome the hurdles to make it work. If I did this daily for a living it would be a no brainer. But since i only touch the panel ever couple of years or so I have to re-learn what I have forgotten
http://www.alarmhow.net/manuals/DSC/Int ... Output.pdf
http://www.alarmhow.net/manuals/DSC/Int ... ontrol.pdf
Do you have your panel hardwired to use the DSC software? I have the programming cable and software on my Laptop but is always a pain to go to the basement to plug in and configure from there. so i go the phone prompt route.
Tedious is an understatement, but its the flexibility that it allows to overcome the hurdles to make it work. If I did this daily for a living it would be a no brainer. But since i only touch the panel ever couple of years or so I have to re-learn what I have forgotten
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Thanks for posting the two links! Not only were they interesting, but the web location appears to have a lot of other potentially useful information for working with the DSC security and automation systems.
I see where the examples you posted don't exactly do what I think you want to do (like follow schedules normally but override that behavior when you arm & disarm the panel). But they did address a question I had when I posted the response above wherein I wondered how the Escort would react when the panel was disarmed, i.e., whould the thermostat revert immediately to whatever the schedule called for at that time and day, or did it need a "kick" in the form of another (inverted) PGM Output to cause it to do that. The examples imply that it needs the kick, but since they don't address the schedule side of the set-up, it still isn't clear clear to me.
Yes, I "extended" the PCLink cable (using CAT5) from my panel to the computer docking station, so it's always available and convenient. I agree very much with your comment about having to re-educate yourself whenever you want to do something new or different, since the intricacies of programming these things are not necessarily intuitive nor do they remain in your mind between sessions! Perhaps, it's one of the reasons why DSC quit making the EMS thermostats. While the system is very versatile, the average homeowner is either incapable or not intersted in performing the programming, and professionals charge too much to do it. DSC needs to offer a computer program or App with a good and simple UI for a homeowner to take charge of his system, like is now being done with the wireless thermostats. The Escort and EMS thermostats can do more than the commercial wireless products, but without an easy way to program them, they don't compete.
When you reach success with your project, please post how you did it! I don't have a need to for the same results, but what you did may give insight to the solution of other projects.
I see where the examples you posted don't exactly do what I think you want to do (like follow schedules normally but override that behavior when you arm & disarm the panel). But they did address a question I had when I posted the response above wherein I wondered how the Escort would react when the panel was disarmed, i.e., whould the thermostat revert immediately to whatever the schedule called for at that time and day, or did it need a "kick" in the form of another (inverted) PGM Output to cause it to do that. The examples imply that it needs the kick, but since they don't address the schedule side of the set-up, it still isn't clear clear to me.
Yes, I "extended" the PCLink cable (using CAT5) from my panel to the computer docking station, so it's always available and convenient. I agree very much with your comment about having to re-educate yourself whenever you want to do something new or different, since the intricacies of programming these things are not necessarily intuitive nor do they remain in your mind between sessions! Perhaps, it's one of the reasons why DSC quit making the EMS thermostats. While the system is very versatile, the average homeowner is either incapable or not intersted in performing the programming, and professionals charge too much to do it. DSC needs to offer a computer program or App with a good and simple UI for a homeowner to take charge of his system, like is now being done with the wireless thermostats. The Escort and EMS thermostats can do more than the commercial wireless products, but without an easy way to program them, they don't compete.
When you reach success with your project, please post how you did it! I don't have a need to for the same results, but what you did may give insight to the solution of other projects.
Re: Thermostats and Schedules and Pgm outputs Oh my!
Thanks for the feed back.
Yes either one of these do not do exactly what I need but I think they have given be the nudge in the right direction.
So far on my test thermostat.
Arming puts it in Away Mode although the labeling on Eyez On shows as AUX ( hint hint). Disarm will switch to day mode. My night Schedule kicks in like it should. Which is exactly what I wanted.
My only issue right now if i don't set the Alarm the Day Schedule will never kick it will stay in Night. I think I just need to set it to do an AND instead OR. So that it monitors the Pgm output and the schedule both instead of either or.
its been a bit of learning curve but I like the flexibility that it gives incorporating with the system.
Agreed that WiFi thermostats took over that gap allowing easier user programming. I like being able to just disarm on the way home and have the heat or air kick on without intervention or overriding an WiFi scheduled thermostat
Yes either one of these do not do exactly what I need but I think they have given be the nudge in the right direction.
So far on my test thermostat.
Arming puts it in Away Mode although the labeling on Eyez On shows as AUX ( hint hint). Disarm will switch to day mode. My night Schedule kicks in like it should. Which is exactly what I wanted.
My only issue right now if i don't set the Alarm the Day Schedule will never kick it will stay in Night. I think I just need to set it to do an AND instead OR. So that it monitors the Pgm output and the schedule both instead of either or.
its been a bit of learning curve but I like the flexibility that it gives incorporating with the system.
Agreed that WiFi thermostats took over that gap allowing easier user programming. I like being able to just disarm on the way home and have the heat or air kick on without intervention or overriding an WiFi scheduled thermostat