INSTEON Dimmer Module

The INSTEON Dimmer Module is a dimmer for lights. The Dimmer Module comes in a number of different packages. These can be outlets, wall switches, wall warts and small packages that fit within electrical boxes.

Dimmer Module Device Description

The Dimmer Module Device has an input terminal, "1", for setting the dimmer value, and an output status terminal, "1S", for showing the state of the dimmer. Dimmer values are integers from 0 to 100, where 0 is off and 100 is full on. If the Device is assigned an off value, the dimmer will turn off. If the Device is assigned an on value, the dimmer will go to its last non-off value. So, if the Device was turned off when its "1" terminal value was 50, assigning the "1" terminal an on value will return the dimmer to level 50.

Generally, the "1S" status output will track the state of the "1" terminal. However, if the "1" terminal is assigned the value on, the "1S" terminal will show whatever value the dimmer's last non-off value was. If the dimmer malfunctions or is out of radio range, the "1S" terminal will not track the state of the dimmer. The "1S" terminal is useful when one needs to know the actual state of the dimmer.

The "1S" terminal will display on or off values in the following 2 instances. When the dimmer's value is 0, the "1S" terminal will display the value off. When the dimmer's value is 100, the "1S" terminal will display the value on.

Installing a Dimmer Module

Create the Dimmer Module Device by running the DimmerModule Script. The parameters for the DimmerModule Script are:

address :

• the INSTEON Address of the device

port_location :

• this parameter is only necessary when there is more than one INSTEON network. The port_location is the USB port of the network's INSTEON modem. It is used to differentiate INSTEON networks. In *nix systems, this is in the /dev directory with a name like /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/cu.usbserial-00001004. Type "ls -lrt /dev/*" for hints. On Windows systems, the location is COMx where "x" is a number (1,2,3, etc.).

Example

To add a Dimmer Module Device with ID "dimmer" and INSTEON Address "12.34.AB" to a system with one INSTEON network, run the DimmerModule Script with the following parameters:

id: "dimmer"
address: "12.34.AB"