eDLT Experiences

Hi there,
I have recently taken delivery of a shiny new eDLT unit, which is a neat piece of kit, and thought I would share a couple of observations:

• From a usability perspective I am finding the Dimmer Down/Dimmer Up hard to operate. I start with a load off and press the right rocker switch. It goes to 100%. I then press the left rocker switch and nothing happens. If I leave it a bit sometimes the left rocker switch then works. I don't think it is a physical issue with the switch What I want to do is go to 100% on a short right press, 0% on a short left press and dim up/down on the long presses - can I do this?
• The Scene Off/On mode only activates the scene with the right button press. I would have thought that it would make sense to either associate two scenes with a button rather than having all the scenes on off. If I want to associate 3 scenes with 3 buttons the 'off' mode is a bit confusing.
• If we have an empty widget please can we have a blank one that is rendered like the other units and doesn't leave a background colour space.

Thanks
Mark

 

Hi Mark,

Sorry, been so busy and meant to answer this days ago.

What you want is is the default dimmer config/behaviour but I have found that some eDLTs take a slightly firmer left hand press to actuate. I usually run my finger at about 45 degrees directly horizontally left from the central LED 'circle' on the rocker switch towards the left periphery glass edge and it clicks better than 'stabbing' it directly front on with my index finger. Also be aware of the DimmerUp/DimmerDown default but you also have a DimmerUp/DimmerDown (Toggle) and a DimmerUp/DimmerDown (Memory Toggle) to get the effect you want.

The scenes are triggered like a normal button, so it only does it one way (from what I have tried so far). But ditch that single button scene setting and try the 'Scene Cycle' (rather than just doing 'Scene Select'). You can set all the scenes for an area on one rocker and cycle through all the scenes using left for previous scene or right for next scene. This kills the need for single scenes on a button IMHO. A totally awesome config, cycling scenes and its a lot of fun to play with too.

No Issue, just set the blank widget to 'Lighting', set the 'C-Bus group' to unused, the 'Key Function' to unused. The 'Label Type' and 'Status Type' to blank and then choose the very top left 'State Icons' in the choice box, which are blanks. Voila, no background spill through.

Have fun,

Brad

 

Thanks - worked a treat.
On the dim point I wonder if a bevelled edge to the glass would make it easier - you do seem to have to aim for the centre and slide left.

Thanks
Mark

 

Good idea. It is the glass holding out your finger when you stab it that stops it actuating as easily. The slide over technique always seems to work.

On customer education!! Maybe a micro Clipsal 'How best to use' guide sticker stuck over the LCD protector. Can also detail the 'Utility Mode' access?

 

I have just changed all my non-dimmer lights switched by the eDLT from on/off to toggle. This way it does not matter which button is hit. (Feedback from the family)

 

I am using the multi-level widget with one level for my on/off loads so I can get it to display On or Off on the status and wrap round (as the controlled loads aren't immediately obvious) - even better than a toggle!

I like the scene rotator - they are great and I agree it does mean one button per area. It would be lovely to use the status bar to sign-post what the next scenes left and right are as there is no indication what the button will do (i.e. does it go off) when you press it.

Mark

 

Had my eDLTs in for a few weeks now, finding the switches left action just needs some breaking in, the more they get used the better the response

 

Hi Mark, that's a good tip.

With the scene rotator, under display settings I set the main 'Label Type' to 'Scene Label' and second 'Status Type' label to 'Dynamic (DLT) label'.

In the 'Scene Manager' configuration box, there is a 'Scene Label' for each scene and also a dynamic label. For the DLT label to become active, you actually have to click on say #1 and press the 'pen' icon, which then brings up whatever you have set in the Scene Label as a starting point for the dynamic label. What is good about this is that if you have the second line as DLT label, it can be much longer than the top line label as the font is much smaller, so you can have an abbreviated scene name as the Scene Label, and then expand into something more meaningful in the sub-line eg. S.L. - Evening and DL - Lounge - Early Evening or S.L. - Bright and DL - Lounge - Utility Bright.

Just remember to label each scene and add a dynamic using the pen icon.

Have Fun,

Brad

 

Originally Posted by MHeaton
I like the scene rotator - they are great and I agree it does mean one button per area. It would be lovely to use the status bar to sign-post what the next scenes left and right are as there is no indication what the button will do (i.e. does it go off) when you press it.
Mark

Hi Mark,

Sorry, I completely mis-read what you were trying to do. Thought you hadn't found the dynamic labels, but rather you want forward and backward scene indicators.

Nick is suggesting the 'Scene Select' function, which is the alternate setting to 'Scene Cycle' in the scene dialog, allowing you to scroll through the configured scene list using the left and right button before pushing the button for a long press to 'select' the scene you have chosen. This is a good setting for what you want to do.

If you like the 'live' state scene cycling (as it uses less presses) but just want to know which is the scene before and after, you could do some creative dynamic labels such as:

'Off Evening'

assigned to the dynamic label of the scene in the middle of those two scenes.

I used something similar for blinds for a customer who wanted a fixed indication of blind direction. I made it 'Down Up' as Static Text on the Status type line.

Brad

 

Sitting here now having had them a while I realised the main design floor is where the USB port is mounted.

Moving it behind the fascia so you don't have to unscrew the unit from its mount (risking it not going back on straight in some situations) would be a big improvement.

 

That's why you have magnets!

Unless you are installing into a commercial environment, there is no need to screw the product to the wall.

A design flaw would have been needing to remove the fascia, exposing the PCBA

 

In WA it is standard practice to build with bricks n mortar, therefore screw mounting wall boxes are required....

How does your comment help when you have a $400+ switch hanging by its cord from a wall while you do a firmware flash?

And for the record the units also have securing screws to hold them to the wall mount as the switches are too heavy to rely on the magnets alone....

 

Might need a little clarification here...

Not too sure what the solid brick construction has to do with the mounting. The wall plate screws to the wall box and the magnets attach to the wall plate. I assume you screwed the wall plate to the wall box on 2nd fix??

I have 7 eDLT's installed with 3 of them being installed for over 2 years. One of them is mounted onto a brick wall. I have updated the firmware on them all dozens of times with the switch suspended by the C-Bus flylead and have not had one drop.

There is no need to use the screws unless you have security issues. Can you confirm you have used the bracket that comes with the unit and screwed it to the wall box/wall??

A massive amount or engineering went into this solution and this. I haven't heard any issue with the rare earth magnets not holding the unit to the plate

Cheers