Automations
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      Introduction to Automations

      A home becomes a smart home when devices operate intelligently and autonomously. A main function of the LinkPlus is automation, which can be setup to control lighting, power and heating throughout the home i.e Create moods and set different scenes (sequence of actions) with delays between each action. These can be created from the Link Plus app/web app and will store on the Link itself. A stable internet connection is required for the automation to run.

      Here are the different automation types that can be used with the Link Plus with a brief explanation of how they work: 

      Timer

      When you would like a device to operate at a set time and on certain days, timers allow you to do this. The following parameters can be changed:

      • Time (at): e.g. 09:00 / 12:32 / 23:45 etc.
      • Day of week is: e.g. Daily / Mon, Wed, Fri / Weekends Only etc.
      • Actions (do): e.g. Set Switch to ON / Set Brightness to 80% / Set Target to 21 degrees etc.
      • Delay (optional): e.g. 5 seconds / 8 minutes / 2 hours etc.

      Examples of using the timer automation:

      • Lights come on in dim in the morning to slowly wake you up
      • Outside lights to turn on in the evening for security
      • Electrical devices to switch off at bedtime to restrict use
      • Turn on lamp at dawn
      • Set the heating to come on at a specific temperature in the morning
      • Setting the off state LED colour to red and 10% brightness

      Multiple actions can be set for timers.

      Schedule

      A schedule is essentially an automation made up of lots of timers. It is recommended to use a schedule when you would like a device to operate certain times throughout the week and on specific days. The following parameters can be changed within a schedule event:

      • Set start time: e.g. 09:00 / 12:32 / 23:45 etc.
      • Choose action for start time: e.g. Set Switch to ON / Set Brightness to 80% / Set Target to 21 degrees etc.
      • Set end time: e.g. 09:00 / 12:32 / 23:45 etc.
      • Choose action for end time: e.g. Set Switch to ON / Set Brightness to 80% / Set Target to 21 degrees etc.

      Examples of using the schedule automation:

      • Boiler control throughout the week at morning and night
      • Setting the TRV target temperature throughout the week
      • Switching on outside lights every weekday at night
      • Switching lights on in the house at certain times to simulate occupancy

      If-Do

      This type of automation is the smartest as they work on a condition basis of another device. It is a requirement that if a physical device is operating as the trigger, it needs to communicate two-way as the Link Plus will need to know its status. The following parameters can be changed:

      • Trigger (if): e.g. Switch is ON / Temperature is greater than 25 degrees / Brightness is below 20% etc.
      • Trigger 2 (if) (optional): e.g. Trigger is opened / Temperature is equal to 15 degrees / Brightness is 100% etc.
      • Actions (do): e.g. Set Switch to ON / Set Brightness to 80% / Set Target to 21 degrees etc.
      • Delay (optional): e.g. 5 seconds / 8 minutes / 2 hours etc.
      • Automation times (only if all triggers are met): e.g. After 18:00 and before 21:00 on Weekends Only

      Examples of using the If-Do automation:

      • When window is opened - turn down TRV target temperature
      • When light is switched on - switch light off after 10 minutes
      • When temperature of thermostat is above 25 degrees AND window is closed - switch on fan
      • When dimmer is switched off - switch off all lights in the house
      • When 'away' is pressed (home and away remote) - switch off all devices in the house

      It is important to remember that multiple triggers can be set, with the option of either all triggers MUST be met ('and') or the option for ANY trigger to be met ('or'). Time conditions will only be set when all triggers are met in the 'and' setting.

      Group

      This can be used to make multiple devices 'copy' each other. Useful for controlling many devices in the same location by only interacting with one of them. The following parameters can be set:

      • Switch: e.g. Dimmer ON/OFF / Socket ON/OFF / Relay ON/OFF
      • Brightness: e.g. Dimmer
      • Lock: e.g. Dimmer / Socket
      • LED: e.g. Dimmer / Socket

      Examples of using the group automation:

      • Grouping all living room lights together
      • Grouping all bedroom LEDs together so a single timer operates them all
      • Two-way switching for multiple lights

      Do

      The most simple type of automation, which can be used to create moods/scenes. It works on-demand only, so requires execution via the Link Plus app or via Google Home or Alexa. The following parameters can be changed:

      • Action 1 (do): e.g. Set Switch to ON / Set Brightness to 80% / Set Target to 21 degrees etc.
      • Action 2 (do): e.g. Set Switch to OFF / Set Brightness to 10% / Set Target to 10 degrees etc.
      • Delay (optional): e.g. 5 seconds / 8 minutes / 2 hours etc.

      Examples of using the Do automation:

      • Create a scene by setting the living rooms lights to different brightness levels for watching a movie.
      • Create an 'all off/away' command so every device in the house can switch off or lower the target temperature
      A delay can be set in between each action so postpone for a duration of time.