Would it be possible to (unless it's already there and i've missed it) add a timer option so instead of setting on and off times you could preset a device timer so each time you activated that device it stayed on for that specified period regardless of day or time.
The reason I ask is because it would be easy to add a simple relay switch to a heating system for on and off but if a time duration could be specified you effectively have a central heating boost option, this would be great if you knew you were coming home late and the boost option was programmed for 1hr so you could activate it half an hour before you get home, get in to a lovely warm house, jump into bed knowing it would turn it's self off half an hour later
Dave
Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Moderator: Telldus
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Would also appreaciate this option, suspect it'll all happen in time - once temperature sensors can trigger events then you could workaround this by having a predefined max temp switch off your booster.
I've got a hacked HE in line plug wired as a relay in parallel with my boiler thermostat - it's Tellstick controlled. Idea is we have the thermostat on fairly conservative settings, assuming we are out during the day etc. and if we end up in during the day we can use the Tellstick to boost the heating on.
You have spotted the obvious flaw in this plan - forgetting to switch it off.. Twice we've woken up with the Living Room at 27 degrees having fallen asleep with "boost" on.
As a temporary fix I've set a timer on the Tellstick to switch the heating boost off at 1am each day, not ideal but I can wait.
I've got a hacked HE in line plug wired as a relay in parallel with my boiler thermostat - it's Tellstick controlled. Idea is we have the thermostat on fairly conservative settings, assuming we are out during the day etc. and if we end up in during the day we can use the Tellstick to boost the heating on.
You have spotted the obvious flaw in this plan - forgetting to switch it off.. Twice we've woken up with the Living Room at 27 degrees having fallen asleep with "boost" on.
As a temporary fix I've set a timer on the Tellstick to switch the heating boost off at 1am each day, not ideal but I can wait.
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
I'm using a similar hack, I have a HE304 contolling mine, my standard digital timer has volt free contacts but one side of the contact is wired to 240v mains anyway so the HE304 was an ideal candidate as it provides a switched 240 out.
Like you my only concern would be activating it before bedtime and forgeting to switch it off, think I'll take your advice of setting a 1am off time just in case.
Dave
Like you my only concern would be activating it before bedtime and forgeting to switch it off, think I'll take your advice of setting a 1am off time just in case.
Dave
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Didn't think of using the HE304, wish I had now, I quite like the in-line plug things for transient bits of kit i.e. christmas trees and I'm also guessing the circuitry on the HE304 is smaller, put the gubbins from the plug into an electrical box leaving the led and switch poking out but it was a tight squeeze.
I've resigned myself to re-learning coding of some sorts - the advantage of Tellstick is that it's open source and the guys seem keen on community contributions. There's plenty of open tickets on the developer board with cool ideas listed but obviously they take time to action.
Event Ghost or similar is another option - what hardware are you running? I don't think local control is available for the Tellstick Net yet (possibly wrong here..) but I think the standard Tellstick and Duo have local API support. There's an Event Ghost Tellstick plugin - once you've got it up and running it's mega simple to set up macros, something picking up on the "Boost" signal (would need to be a Duo for signal receipt) and setting the boiler relay on for 1 / 2 hrs then off again would be a piece of cake.
Does mean you need a PC running 24 / 7 though which is a bit of a waste.
I've resigned myself to re-learning coding of some sorts - the advantage of Tellstick is that it's open source and the guys seem keen on community contributions. There's plenty of open tickets on the developer board with cool ideas listed but obviously they take time to action.
Event Ghost or similar is another option - what hardware are you running? I don't think local control is available for the Tellstick Net yet (possibly wrong here..) but I think the standard Tellstick and Duo have local API support. There's an Event Ghost Tellstick plugin - once you've got it up and running it's mega simple to set up macros, something picking up on the "Boost" signal (would need to be a Duo for signal receipt) and setting the boiler relay on for 1 / 2 hrs then off again would be a piece of cake.
Does mean you need a PC running 24 / 7 though which is a bit of a waste.
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Why? Seems our friend could make use of the heat generatedDoes mean you need a PC running 24 / 7 though which is a bit of a waste.
Just joking...
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Hehe - amusing and accurate! 
We all worry about energy efficiency but often forget the "wasted" heat is keeping us warm.. Start considering the carbon savings of energy efficient kit vs the carbon cost of what you spend the saved cash on and you're into a far more interesting debate.
Far easier for folk in hot countries - swap a 100W bulb for a 20W and you've prob saved 80W of electric and nearly the same again in air con!
We all worry about energy efficiency but often forget the "wasted" heat is keeping us warm.. Start considering the carbon savings of energy efficient kit vs the carbon cost of what you spend the saved cash on and you're into a far more interesting debate.
Far easier for folk in hot countries - swap a 100W bulb for a 20W and you've prob saved 80W of electric and nearly the same again in air con!
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
It's all very much swings and roundabouts I think with the energy saving, how much energy was used to make the energy saving devices in the first place - Hmm lets not go there i think !!
Anyway you asked about my setup, not a great deal at the moment i suppose but here goes
HE304 for the heating, the Home Easy 3 pack of plug in sockets, one behind the TV cabinet to kill the TV, DVD, Media player and HiFi, another in the lounge on a table lamp set for on at dusk and off at 11:30pm but sooner if we turn it off when we go to bed (this was previously on a timer and was always on till 11:30pm regardless) another on top of the kitchen cupboards, we have a single wall socket up there with a 4 way block plugged into it for the cooker hood fan/lights and the under cupboard lights and there was a spare socket left so i put a 6ft flourecent up there to bounce the light off the ceiling, provides excellent indirect illumination at 70w as against the 210 watts of halogen lighting in there already (which we now don't use very often) at the moment i just have the remote on worktop to turn it on but will get a wireless wall switch soon. Lastly I have the Home Easy 4 output module that comes in an IP65 box, thats in the garage for the garden lighting and flood light in the entry at the back - sorry for the big list but you did ask !!
My biggest annoyance at the moment is the lack of support for CFL's on wireless light switches, even if you use a dimmable CFL you still need a minimum load of 40w on the home easy switch, 40 real watts of CFL on a landing or in a hall is just far too bright !!
To be honest i would probably have used the LightwaveRF kit if i hadn't bought the HE stuff first, I really like their iPhone interface.
Dave
Anyway you asked about my setup, not a great deal at the moment i suppose but here goes
HE304 for the heating, the Home Easy 3 pack of plug in sockets, one behind the TV cabinet to kill the TV, DVD, Media player and HiFi, another in the lounge on a table lamp set for on at dusk and off at 11:30pm but sooner if we turn it off when we go to bed (this was previously on a timer and was always on till 11:30pm regardless) another on top of the kitchen cupboards, we have a single wall socket up there with a 4 way block plugged into it for the cooker hood fan/lights and the under cupboard lights and there was a spare socket left so i put a 6ft flourecent up there to bounce the light off the ceiling, provides excellent indirect illumination at 70w as against the 210 watts of halogen lighting in there already (which we now don't use very often) at the moment i just have the remote on worktop to turn it on but will get a wireless wall switch soon. Lastly I have the Home Easy 4 output module that comes in an IP65 box, thats in the garage for the garden lighting and flood light in the entry at the back - sorry for the big list but you did ask !!
My biggest annoyance at the moment is the lack of support for CFL's on wireless light switches, even if you use a dimmable CFL you still need a minimum load of 40w on the home easy switch, 40 real watts of CFL on a landing or in a hall is just far too bright !!
To be honest i would probably have used the LightwaveRF kit if i hadn't bought the HE stuff first, I really like their iPhone interface.
Dave
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Nice range of kit!
The HE wall light switches are quite nice, main downside being the inability to switch off the rather bright blue led when they are off. Great for anywhere apart from the bedroom. The Lightwave ones look nicer and HE has been stagnant for years now, Lightwave are supplying Seimens kit and have a proper development roadmap etc so it seems to be the way forward. I've asked on the Lightwave forums if they have a policy on the RF protocol i.e. are they purposefully keeping it locked down or are they going to release it eventually - no reply as yet. If I could have Tellstick control of LWRF kit I'd not buy any more HE.
If you look on the Lightwave forums, the basic view is that the hardware is good, however the software sucks. The RF protocol is unpublished and while there has been some good hacking of the WiFi link API, it's also technically closed. This would be my biggest concern. They have made it clear they have hired and are hiring more software guys - to be fair they only launched in April 2011 so it's early days. I'm keeping an eye on it.
Regarding the 40W CFL - from memory this is the rated minimum load on an HE dimmer? Lightwave are working on a straight relay light switch i.e. on / off no mimimum load requirement, however in the meantime I'm confident you'll get away with 20W on the HE ones. I've got a single gang wall switch in my bedroom and a double gang in the living room - both are quite happy running 20W dimmable CFLs. I had to buy a few to get a compatible one, coincidentally one died last night (installed 2009, on a timer to be on 14 hrs a day to keep a variety of small animals happy) so I know exactly what they are :
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LADF20ES.html
These are great, at full brightness they are possibly even brighter than a 100W incendescent, full dimming range (my living room one is on the Tellstick set to dim from 100 to 0 over 11:00pm to 11:10pm) and I'm guessing I got at least 13,000 hours out of the one I just replaced (rated to 16,000 hrs).
A few other defintely non-esssential appliocations I've used HE for :
- Plug socket in spare room where I plug the iron into. This is certainly the one I use the most from outside the flat - no more "is my house burning down?" issues..
- Kettle socket. Fill kettle in morning, switch off at plug and put switch down. Activate on way home from work and you've saved a whopping 15 seconds of waiting for the kettle to boil on arrival home! (this is a lot more effective if your other half happens to be in and hear the kettle being switched on remotely and actually makes you a cup of tea..)
The HE wall light switches are quite nice, main downside being the inability to switch off the rather bright blue led when they are off. Great for anywhere apart from the bedroom. The Lightwave ones look nicer and HE has been stagnant for years now, Lightwave are supplying Seimens kit and have a proper development roadmap etc so it seems to be the way forward. I've asked on the Lightwave forums if they have a policy on the RF protocol i.e. are they purposefully keeping it locked down or are they going to release it eventually - no reply as yet. If I could have Tellstick control of LWRF kit I'd not buy any more HE.
If you look on the Lightwave forums, the basic view is that the hardware is good, however the software sucks. The RF protocol is unpublished and while there has been some good hacking of the WiFi link API, it's also technically closed. This would be my biggest concern. They have made it clear they have hired and are hiring more software guys - to be fair they only launched in April 2011 so it's early days. I'm keeping an eye on it.
Regarding the 40W CFL - from memory this is the rated minimum load on an HE dimmer? Lightwave are working on a straight relay light switch i.e. on / off no mimimum load requirement, however in the meantime I'm confident you'll get away with 20W on the HE ones. I've got a single gang wall switch in my bedroom and a double gang in the living room - both are quite happy running 20W dimmable CFLs. I had to buy a few to get a compatible one, coincidentally one died last night (installed 2009, on a timer to be on 14 hrs a day to keep a variety of small animals happy) so I know exactly what they are :
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/LADF20ES.html
These are great, at full brightness they are possibly even brighter than a 100W incendescent, full dimming range (my living room one is on the Tellstick set to dim from 100 to 0 over 11:00pm to 11:10pm) and I'm guessing I got at least 13,000 hours out of the one I just replaced (rated to 16,000 hrs).
A few other defintely non-esssential appliocations I've used HE for :
- Plug socket in spare room where I plug the iron into. This is certainly the one I use the most from outside the flat - no more "is my house burning down?" issues..
- Kettle socket. Fill kettle in morning, switch off at plug and put switch down. Activate on way home from work and you've saved a whopping 15 seconds of waiting for the kettle to boil on arrival home! (this is a lot more effective if your other half happens to be in and hear the kettle being switched on remotely and actually makes you a cup of tea..)
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Thanks for the CFL info, think I'll order 3, Hall, Landing and a spare. I still have to deepen the wall boxes for the switches before i can change them over though, a lot of people seem to have trouble finding the slave switch when you are doing the landing light but screw fix have them for about £7 which i thought was really good !
Regarding the LightwaveRF stuff, ironically they are right round the corner from where I work, also on the back of their WiFi link box it actually states 868.3Mhz so they aren't using the same RF band as most other manufacturers, I know a lot about RF as I spent many years in cellular repair, both on handsets and base stations, worked for Vodafone (and Cellnet if you rememeber them) ironically one of the design guys at Lightwave (according to his profile) developed Tetra (police, ambulance and firebrigade digital radio system) so their hardware should be good, can't comment on the software
Regarding the LightwaveRF stuff, ironically they are right round the corner from where I work, also on the back of their WiFi link box it actually states 868.3Mhz so they aren't using the same RF band as most other manufacturers, I know a lot about RF as I spent many years in cellular repair, both on handsets and base stations, worked for Vodafone (and Cellnet if you rememeber them) ironically one of the design guys at Lightwave (according to his profile) developed Tetra (police, ambulance and firebrigade digital radio system) so their hardware should be good, can't comment on the software
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
I need to rewire the insane wiring scheme in my flat before I get to the hall and masters / slave combos. It's like a fun / clown house at the moment...
Usual issues on the LW forums about hardware but general consensus is that it is excellent. Very interesting to hear that the WiFi link has 868 on the back of it - I'd read somewhere that they were using both 433 and 868. Any indication that they are?
That's quite depressing in terms of future Tellstick / LWRF compatibility, I was hoping that the LWRF guys would open up the RF protocol and we'd eventually see Tellstick support. I suppose if they open up the API that would encourage me a bit, however at the moment I'm waiting to see what happens. Nip up the road and chap on their door and demand open API support!
868MHz Tellstick please?
Usual issues on the LW forums about hardware but general consensus is that it is excellent. Very interesting to hear that the WiFi link has 868 on the back of it - I'd read somewhere that they were using both 433 and 868. Any indication that they are?
That's quite depressing in terms of future Tellstick / LWRF compatibility, I was hoping that the LWRF guys would open up the RF protocol and we'd eventually see Tellstick support. I suppose if they open up the API that would encourage me a bit, however at the moment I'm waiting to see what happens. Nip up the road and chap on their door and demand open API support!
868MHz Tellstick please?
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
I do have a LightwaveRF Wifi link to play with at the moment, obviously had a look in side and what you said about using both frequencies makes sense as it does have 2 radio modules in there with different length antenna's so they could easily be the 868 and 433 modules.
Before I used my HE304 on my heating I powered it up on my desk of 24 volts (thats what the low voltage electronics runs on in it) and i scoped it while getting the WiFi link to send commands and i could see the data being clearly recieved, I thought it might just have been the close proximity that was causing it to be picked up becuse the recievers in this type of kit are not very selective so a strong signal that close could break through but maybe the WiFi link was tx'ing on 433 and they use 868 for something else !
Before I used my HE304 on my heating I powered it up on my desk of 24 volts (thats what the low voltage electronics runs on in it) and i scoped it while getting the WiFi link to send commands and i could see the data being clearly recieved, I thought it might just have been the close proximity that was causing it to be picked up becuse the recievers in this type of kit are not very selective so a strong signal that close could break through but maybe the WiFi link was tx'ing on 433 and they use 868 for something else !
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redeyedrob
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:45 am
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
Intriguing.
The JSJS guys that build Lightwave built the high end HE kit, so I'd kind of hoped they were using 433 for the LWRF stuff (as they already had experience) and saving 868 for other stuff. Definite hope for future Tellstick compatibility.
Interestingly, 868 is the UK frequency for Z-Wave so I wonder if JSJS are hedging their bets here.
The JSJS guys that build Lightwave built the high end HE kit, so I'd kind of hoped they were using 433 for the LWRF stuff (as they already had experience) and saving 868 for other stuff. Definite hope for future Tellstick compatibility.
Interestingly, 868 is the UK frequency for Z-Wave so I wonder if JSJS are hedging their bets here.
Re: Tellstick Net scheduling options etc
I'm not sure how much of the HE stuff they did, accoridng to their website they only did the SMS base station and the HE100 LCD programable remote but maybe they also did some of the ultimate range too.