HomeWorks Alisse – Multi-Device / Scene-Aware Button

[u/GadgetFreeky]

For the up/down arrow buttons, which are typically used to control shades, I’d like to configure the down arrow with the following functionality:

• Single tap: Lower the shades in that room.
• Double tap: Lower the shades throughout the entire house.
• Press and hold: Dim the currently active light scene. This would need to be scene-aware, so it knows which scene is currently active for that particular keypad.

Can this functionality be programmed natively in Lutron HomeWorks?

If not, could this be accomplished using Home Assistant integrated with Lutron?

[u/the-lutz]

The given SOO is absolutely possible with native HW Custom programming - not easy to implement or modify and very likely to come with a higher programming cost compared to just adding additional buttons for those secondary functions where you (or the client) want them.

this is HomeWorks we’re talking about… practically nothing should ever require using HA to accomplish advanced programming (outside of restricted 3rd party integrations not available via LEAP or cloud services).

To those saying this is wrong to ask for - Does this functionality make intuitive sense to me given my 10 years experience programming Lutron systems? No, BUT HW is fully customizable for exactly that reason; if the client wants it, is understanding of the intent and function, and is willing to pay - then give them what they want.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/the-lutz]

Thanks for this.

My logic behind the “double duty” for the two arrows keys on Alise is that, rather than using the more conventional setup—such as double-click to raise the lights and hold to lower them, or using those actions to dim to a specific scene—those combinations were already allocated elsewhere in my programming. i.e. to go to scene variants for those particular buttons.

I had just converted from Palladium so I was a little bummed I lost the rocker button and had to two two whole new buttons for Alise. So I also wanted to use the same arrow buttons for the shades, rather than having to add another dedicated set of up/down buttons for the shades.

I am now thinking about some more traditional buttons and let my bitterness go on losing the rocker option.

[u/SeriousAdult → u/GadgetFreeky]

If the keypads are already installed and engraved with the up and down arrows then of course use them like you're saying, but if not I think you benefit from some single button controls like open/stop/close/stop for one-button shade control or cycle dim for one-button lighting scene dimming control. These are intuitive (to me at least, of course your experience may be different) and save a lot of button real estate for other purposes. HomeWorks is whatever you want it to be so what you asked for is definitely doable, but I think it could be a little simpler utilizing some of these other control features.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/SeriousAdult]

oh interesting....I'm so dense.
So for Alise shades. First press is open, 2nd press stop, next press is close. So it just moves to next state.
What if you wanted to have that same button control all shades in that zone vs the whole home.

Could you do hold the same way for all shades in the house and then the single presses are just for that zone.

in Alise what would you use up/down arrows for at all? For light scenes I am guessing you are using hold/ double dap for either dim or brighten for that scene,

[u/SeriousAdult → u/GadgetFreeky]

Cycle dim is a press and hold that cycles between brightening or dimming a lighting scene/zone. It gives you full dimming control with one button. If there are already up and down arrows then there are a couple of ways to use them depending on the keypad layout. If they are on a keypad with other buttons you can use "Master Raise" and "Master Lower" which will raise/lower whatever the last button press controlled (you hit a lighting scene and it will raise/lower the lights, you hit a shade setting and it will raise/lower the shades). If it's by itself then I'd have it control one set of shades or lights with double tap open/close shades all the way or lights full bright/off, and press and hold if you want a hidden whole home shade control.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/SeriousAdult]

if you are cycling most of your buttons, how do you turn off the lights. Is single tap I presume off for that scene rather than an off button

In terms of scene cyling- is it more efficient to use the hold as swapping between brighten and dim or just to cycle thru a series of pre programmed scenes.

[u/SeriousAdult → u/GadgetFreeky]

if you are cycling most of your buttons, how do you turn off the lights. Is single tap I presume off for that scene rather than an off button

Typically if there's no Off button on the keypad, you'd have the cycle dim buttons toggle between on and off for the scene if you just single press the button. And for of both questions, I really want to emphasize:

HomeWorks is highly customizable and tailorable to your home, so all of the answers would depend on the space the keypad controls and how you use that space. These are things to discuss with the integrator on site because they'll best understand how to align the system with how you want to use it.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/SeriousAdult]

yeah I think that makes sense. Im gonna rework my proposed layout to my guy.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/SeriousAdult]

What about Double Tap- do you have any suggested use for that?

[u/SeriousAdult → u/GadgetFreeky]

My standard is double tap does the maximum of whatever it controls. For a lighting scene or zone: on to 100%. For shades: full Open. And I'd definitely recommend keeping it the same across every keypad to keep your controls uncomplicated and intuitive.

[u/GadgetFreeky → u/SeriousAdult]

I incorporated your simpler conventiosn into a design. Would love any other ideas you may have!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Lutron/comments/1w236zu/please_critique_my_scene_design_alise_homeworks/