How to send X10 dim command multiple times?

[grog]

I've got some lamps connected to some of the cheap X10 lamp modules that don't support any sort of level commands. A single dim command only dims them a little bit so I'd like to have a command that sends a bunch of dim commands in a row. What would be the easiest way to accomplish this? BTW, the module I'm using to send the X10 commands is an Insteon USB PowerLinc.

[Promixis]

If you use the Device Manager -> it should DIM these devices using the level command (it sends multiple dims). Its not perfect given the limitations of X10 but works fairly well.

[grog]

I have added one of the modules to Device Manager but I don't see any Level commands. Do you mean the Steps option? If so, I tried that but it didn't make any difference whether I set it to 1 step or 16 (or anywhere in between). It only sends a single dim command no matter what the setting is.

Update: I did some more testing and found that if I set the module as a LampLinc then I do get level commands as options but they don't work. I used a PowerLinc serial with SmartHome's Synapse software to monitor what commands are being sent to the powerline and I see that the level command sends a preset dim command which this module doesn't support. If I send a regular dim command it only sends a single dim command, regardless of what "step" is set to, so I'm still back to the initial problem. How do I get it to send multiple dim commands in one shot?

[Promixis]

Hi Grog,

In the X10 Device Manager, be sure to set it to use regular X10 dim.

For setting the level,

Add a Lighting action from the Device Manager Action tab.

Select the level you want. The DM should do its best to track the device level using the number of dims/brights sent.

[grog]

Ahh, now I see what I was doing wrong. I was adding an action from the X10 group, not Device Manager. I now see the level setting you're talking about. However, it seems to be behaving very strangely. I setup the switch as a basic switch with dim capability and created an action from the Device Manager tab and set the level to 50% (absolute). The lamp I'm testing with has an address of L7. I first sent an off and then an on signal to the lamp so device manager would know what state the light was in. Then I executed the lighting action with level set to 50% and here's what I observed on the power line:

12:06:41 PM R:L7
12:06:42 PM R:L OFF
12:06:43 PM R:L7
12:06:43 PM R:L ON

(No issue with the above - those were sent by me, also from Girder. Next is the output from the Dim action:)

12:06:47 PM R:L7
12:06:47 PM R:L7
12:06:48 PM R:L7
12:06:48 PM R:L7
12:06:49 PM R:L7
12:06:49 PM R:L7
12:06:49 PM R:L BRIGHT
12:06:50 PM R:L BRIGHT
12:06:50 PM R:L BRIGHT
12:06:51 PM R:L BRIGHT
12:06:51 PM R:L DIM
12:06:51 PM R:L DIM
12:06:52 PM R:L15
12:06:52 PM R:L DIM
12:06:53 PM R:L15
12:06:53 PM R:L DIM
12:06:54 PM R:L15
12:06:54 PM R:L DIM

I tried a bunch of times and got similar results. The commands and sequences weren't always the same but they were always a big mess like that. Any idea what's happening?

[Promixis]

hm, not sure what is going on :(

I do wonder if you are picking up the x10 signals correctly.

What is showing in the G5 Log window (F4)

[grog]

I'm pretty sure I'm picking up the signals correctly because I'm capturing them from a completely separate machine using a PowerLinc serial with SmartHome software. All the other commands I send look and work perfectly fine. Also, the lamp doesn't dim at all so something certainly isn't right. I also tried hooking up the PowerLinc serial to the Girder machine instead but it still didn't work. I don't know if it's still sending the same junk but the lamp didn't dim at all with that setup either.

Interestingly I was also able to somewhat recreate the behaviour with a Lua script. I used the Insteon.SendX10() command that you told me about and it works fine for turning devices on or off. However, when I send a single dim command it doesn't seem to have an effect even though I see the command on the power line. I then tried putting the dim command in a loop and sending it 10 times in a row and I started seeing a similar jumble of commands on the power line. Maybe it's overloading the controller or something?

BTW, I don't really see anything of note in the logger. It simply says the action completed successfully.

[Promixis]

I'm pretty sure I'm picking up the signals correctly because I'm capturing them from a completely separate machine using a PowerLinc serial with SmartHome software. All the other commands I send look and work perfectly fine. Also, the lamp doesn't dim at all so something certainly isn't right. I also tried hooking up the PowerLinc serial to the Girder machine instead but it still didn't work. I don't know if it's still sending the same junk but the lamp didn't dim at all with that setup either.

Interestingly I was also able to somewhat recreate the behaviour with a Lua script. I used the Insteon.SendX10() command that you told me about and it works fine for turning devices on or off. However, when I send a single dim command it doesn't seem to have an effect even though I see the command on the power line. I then tried putting the dim command in a loop and sending it 10 times in a row and I started seeing a similar jumble of commands on the power line. Maybe it's overloading the controller or something?

BTW, I don't really see anything of note in the logger. It simply says the action completed successfully.

Would you open the Smarthome SDM and show what it is sending?

[grog]

It looks clean:

PLC:sendx10=True,L7
PLC:sendx10=True,LDIM

I see it send that sequence 20 times (I have the dim level set to 35%).

[grog]

Update: I tested it against a regular wall switch (again just a basic X10 one) and it does dim a bit but not very much so it seems to be working a bit but most of the commands are getting lost.

[Promixis]

Update: I tested it against a regular wall switch (again just a basic X10 one) and it does dim a bit but not very much so it seems to be working a bit but most of the commands are getting lost.

I have dumped most of my x10... quick test with a cheap old x10 switch seemed ok (using the Insteon PLC). This is one reason why dumping x10 is a good thing :).... or at least moving to the SH Switchlinc series which do preset dims and status request.

[grog]

Yeah, I've been doing that too. I was just hoping I could be a cheapskate and squeeze a bit more life out of the crappy switches I still have. :)