ExpressControls3in1
Contents |
Overview
The EZMotion Wireless 3-in-1 sensor is functionally identical to the HomeSeer HSM100 device. The user's manual is here: http://www.expresscontrols.com/pdf/EZMotionOwnerManual.pdf
Features
This unit is a contains three sensors that report values to the Vera:
- Motion Sensor with adjustable sensitivity and timeout
- Temperature Sensor
- Luminosity (Light Level) Sensor reporting level of light as a percentage between the brightest and darkest levels it has encountered since being switched on for the first time
The unit has a red LED which indicates when motion is detected and it can be disabled. It can also report its battery level as a percentage to the Vera.
Basic Configuration
Wake Up interval
The unit sleeps for the duration of the Wake Up interval, which defaults to 1800 seconds or 30 minutes. When the interval expires, it wakes up and reports Temperature and Luminosity to the Vera. Note that while all 4 devices in the Vera MIOS screen can be configured for Wake Up intervals, only the setting for the '3-in-1 Sensor' has any effect and controls both Temperature and Luminosity intervals. The Motion Sensor is unaffected by the Wakeup Interval (see On Time below)
To set the Wake Up Interval, click on the spanner (wrench) icon for the "3-in-1 sensor" device, click on Setting and set Wakeup Interval to the desired interval.
On Time
When the Motion Sensor is tripped, it transmits a tripped command and changes its state to Tripped=1 for the duration of the ON TIME variable. After this time has expired, it sends an Untripped command to the Vera and resets it state to Tripped=0. While the device is in a tripped state, any motion detected resets the interval timer but doesn't report a new trip event to the Vera. During the wait time the Motion Sensor device in the Vera will show Tripped=1 in the Advanced tab.
To set the ON TIME, click on the spanner (wrench) icon for the "3-in-1 sensor" device, click on Device Options and set variable 2 (On Time) to 5 (or the desired interval in minutes)
Direct Association: The unit can be associated directly with another device such as a light. If you've done this, the unit will turn the light on when motion is sensed, then turn it off after the ON TIME. According to the sensor's manual up to four associated devices are supported, but associating more than one device does not work (as of Vera's firmware 1.0.900, see http://bugs.micasaverde.com/view.php?id=705).
Leave Parameter #6, "OnValue", at the default if you want the sensor tripped events in Vera.
Polling Frequency
The unit can only be polled when it is either in Test mode or within 3 seconds after waking up (see Wake Up Interval above). Polling at any other time will fail since the unit will not respond. Also, every time the unit wakes up, it updates Vera with the temperature and luminosity. This means that polling is unnecessary and the polling frequency should be set to 0 (disabled) or a long interval to avoid unnecessary traffic on Vera, which could cause updates to be missed.
An exception to this rule is when Vera is set to Always Awake (see AC Power below). In that case, the unit never wakes up, so never reports its values and must be polled at regular intervals.
Example
Consider the following example of how to configure the sensor and the Vera for a common application. Suppose you want to install a motion sensor in your garage to turn the lights on when you enter, keep them on for as long as you move around in the garage, then turn them off 5 minutes after you've left.
- Put the unit in Test mode by pressing the button on the side
- Configure the On Time to 5 minutes
- Create two scenes in Vera:
- Turn on the light when the unit has tripped (New Scene, Events tab, Add Event, Device=Motion sensor, Type of Event=Armed sensor has tripped, Name=whatever, Tripped=Yes)
- Turn off the light when the unit sends an untrip command which happens after the On Time interval. (New Scene, Events tab, Add Event, Device=Motion sensor, Type of Event=Armed sensor has tripped, Name=whatever, Tripped=No)
Advanced Configuration
Running from AC Power
Overview
It is possible to run the unit from AC power instead of batteries, which will have the following benefits:
- Allow you to keep the unit awake permanently, allowing you to poll it and customise it without being in Test mode
- Report continuously every time motion is sensed, as opposed to waiting for the ON TIME duration in between trips
- Set the unit to report temperature and light levels at higher frequencies up to 1 minute
- Let the unit act as a Z-Wave repeater, increasing the span of your network
- Never worry about running down batteries. All of the above options are possible on battery power, but will run your batteries down within a few days
Configure
To do this, you will need to connect a AC to DC transformer that supplies 4.5v to 5.5v at up to 1amp to the battery terminals directly. Ensure that you measure that actual output voltage of the transformer using a multi/voltage meter (don't rely on its advertised rating). Any over-voltage may fry the unit. Also make sure that the polarity is correct. It may be helpful to add a diode in series with the positive terminal to prevent accidentally frying the unit if the polarity is incorrect. It will drop the voltage by 0.6v though.
Setting Stay Awake to On By default, the unit is constantly asleep and only wakes up at regular intervals to report the luminosity and temperature, before sleeping again. This is to save batteries. While asleep, the unit cannot be programmed from the Vera and cannot be polled for information. To get around this, one normally activates the Test mode by pressing the button on the side of the unit, which keeps it awake for 10 minutes so that it can be programmed. By setting the unit to stay awake constantly, you can program, poll or configure it at any time. It also has the side effect of enabling the unit to become a repeater of Z Wave signals throughout the network.
To set it, click on the spanner for the "3-in-1 sensor" device, click on Device Options and set variable 5 (Stay Awake) to 1 or any number greater than 0.
Setting On Time to Always Fire When the unit detects motion, it reports it by sending a Tripped command to the Vera. It then waits for the duration of the On Time and then sends un Untripped command to the Vera and waits for the next motion. Since battery life is not a consideration while on AC power, you can set it to 'Always Fire', which sends a Tripped command whenever motion is detected with no waiting period. Note, this will also prevent an Untripped command from being sent.
To set it, click on the spanner for the "3-in-1 sensor" device, click on Device Options and set variable 2 (On Time) to 0.
Excluding and Reincluding the unit To activate these new settings, you will need to exclude and reinclude the unit using the standard Vera process. Remember to save your settings first.
Setting Poll frequency The unit usually only reports temperate and luminosity every time it wakes up, but since the unit is now constantly awake, you will have to configure a poll frequency to gather that information.
To set it, click on the spanner for the "Motion Sensor" device, click on Settings and set "Poll this node at most every" to the required update frequency. The Wakeup interval setting on this same screen has no effect since it's been overridden by Always Awake setting.
