Velbus binding for OpenHAB

MDAR · August 31, 2018, 10:10am

Whoops

Sorry, there was a typo in that link.
I’ve fixed it.

NDV · August 31, 2018, 1:14pm

Everything is working now, thank you!

Ciceron · September 2, 2018, 9:59am

i setup google homes with openhab:
i didnt touch one physical switch since 2 months nor paper UI or habpanel.

IT IS PERFECT!!!

endless dynamic senarios, rules and voice commands.

GertSt · September 28, 2018, 3:37pm

Where can I find some real-world examples of things/items/rules files for a typical Velbus setup? I’m also interested in connecting my Hue lights with Velbus switches.

MDAR · September 28, 2018, 5:51pm

Hi

I’d recommend using the PaperUI for setting up Velbus Things, then linking to items that PaperUI will create as you go along. (I understand that this is the approach that is preferred and it’s mostly automated now.)

As for Rules, you can try the “Experimental Rules Engine”, but as it lost my rules 4 times, I learnt to write the rules as text files.

Once you’ve got some things and items, I’m happy to point you in the right direction for writing rules, or you can hunt around in the OpenHab2 Community page.

GertSt · September 28, 2018, 6:01pm

Thanks MDAR.
Indeed, my things / items are easy to set up using PaperUI. So as you suggested I will stick with PaperUI for that.
But for Rules it would be very handy to have some Velbus specific real-world examples. eg. When I press a Velbus button, I want to switch on/off a hue light. Only a few examples would point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

MDAR · September 28, 2018, 7:50pm

Hi

Purely to give you something to look at, I’ve uploaded a zip of the different rules I’m playing with.

All I did was scrap the OpenHab2 Community site for hints and tips, so please don’t think any of these are purely my own work.

(Although Cédric did very kindly write the most complex one for me, for which I am very grateful)

http://www.mdar.eu/dl/openhab2/rules.zip

Good luck

Stuart

The following is a reasonable example of a Velbus trigger switching On or Off something else.

Where “ToiletUp” is a relay for a light and the DMX Chase is an RGB fixture, then DMX brightness is a way to turn off the RGB fixture and stop the chase.

rule "Toilet DMX Chase"
when

	Item ToiletUP received command
then

	
	if(ToiletUP.state == ON){
	 DMXChaserToilet_Switch.sendCommand(ON)
    
	 }
	
	if (ToiletUP.state == OFF){
	DMXDimmer_Brightness.sendCommand(OFF)
    
	
	 }
end

A simple button press triggered rule has to be phrased slightly differently.

rule "A Velbus glass panel button"
when

	Channel 'velbus:vmbgpod:c5053467:2C:input#CH3' triggered PRESSED
then

// An_Item.sendCommand("75") / some commands need to be in quotes, some are raw like ON / OFF / PLAY / PAUSE

end

cereal · September 29, 2018, 6:05am

do the velbus bindings support tcp/ip comunications?
i can’t seem to get that working, the interface always complains its offline

also can it be that we have to add all modules manually?

MDAR · September 29, 2018, 6:46am

Yes, the bleeding edge version of Cédric’s binding has a Network Bridge.

Once you’ve got a valid bridge working, just go to the inbox and start a search.

You only need to select the “things” you want to add, then link the parts of the “Things” to “Items”.

Take a read of this post

https://forumtest.velbus.eu/t/velbus-binding-for-openhab/14992/118

GertSt · September 29, 2018, 7:31am

That’s a very useful source of information, Mdar! Thanks a lot!

cereal · September 29, 2018, 10:36am

i have ‘binding-velbus - 2.4.0.M4’ installed, but whats the next step? if i add a tcp/ip port under the config it stays offline …

MDAR · September 29, 2018, 10:59am

Are you adding a serial bridge by mistake?

If the “Network Binding” isn’t available, then you’re not using the bleeding edge binding.

The Network Binding connects to something like VelServ / PB_Server / JVelbusD… And I know you know that bit

You should be able to run OpenHab2 and HomeAssistant from the same TCP server, simultaneously

One tiny thought…

Have you added the Serial Binding - binding-serial1 - 1.13.0.SNAPSHOT too ?

This is needed for either of the Velbus bridges to function

GertSt · September 29, 2018, 11:57am

Mdar, I’m investigating your rules. How are your Items set up? Using a things file or set up via PaperUI? Can you give me an example on how to set this up (things file) or how to get the ‘name’ of a Thing?

What I want to achieve:
How to set up a rule to switch a hue light when I press a button on a vmb4pd module.

Thanks!

MDAR · September 29, 2018, 12:52pm

No worries.

Just a question…

Have you put all the things and items in yet?

If you’re creating a rule to be triggered from a button event, you need to get the trigger name, as shown in green here -

(Click on the double square to copy to your clipboard - shown in red)

Then you’ll need the unique name of the Item you want to control (not the item name / human readable name) shown in Green.

(Double square to copy to your clipboard- in red)

Then you’ll need a rule like this…

rule "Toggle Demo Switch by pressing a Velbus Button"
when

Channel 'velbus:vmbgp4:9a309cee:04:input#CH1' triggered PRESSED // you could use LONG_PRESSED or RELEASED
then


if(DemoSwitch.state == ON){
 DemoSwitch.sendCommand(OFF)
    return
 }

if (DemoSwitch.state == OFF){
DemoSwitch.sendCommand(ON)

return
 }
     end

GertSt · September 30, 2018, 10:53am

Thanks for sharing this very clear example, Mdar. All is working as expected right now

DavidL · October 5, 2018, 6:42am

Hi,

Where can i find the latest version of velbus binding (working with velserv)?
I am reading out the temperature of all glaspanels and VMBGPOD, VMBGP4, VMBGP2 are working, but VMBGP4PIR and VMBPIRO not.

Items working:
Number:Temperature Verw_Living_Bureau_Temp “Temp Living [%.1f °C]” (GF_Living, gLogging, gTemperature) {channel=“velbus:vmbgpod:956cb640:82:input#CH33”}

Number:Temperature SlpkLTemp “Temp Slpk L” {channel=“velbus:vmbgp4:956cb640:6E:input#CH9”}

Items not working:
Number:Temperature Verw_Inkomhal_Temp “Temperature Inkomhal [%.1f °C]” (GF_Inkomhal, gLogging, gTemperature) {channel=“velbus:vmbgp4pir:956cb640:7D:glasspannel#CH9”}

Number:Temperature BuitenTemp “Temp Buiten” {channel=“velbus:vmbpiro:956cb640:A5:input#CH9”}

When I open vmbgp4pir thing in Paper UI, everything works fine, velbus:vmbgp4pir:956cb640:7D:glasspannel#CH9 is linked.
When I open vmbpiro thingin Paper UI, I get the error “Error 500- internal server error” and there are no channels. There are no errors in the log viewer (frontail).

Is it a problem with the velbus binding, ore is there an other problem?

Thanks
David

Ciceron · October 5, 2018, 7:45am

hello, check your rules and items files for error codes, specially if new modifications made.
otherwise ask master cedric

MDAR · October 5, 2018, 8:01am

Hi

Are you using the version of the binding that is found in the paperUI add-ons?

Or have you downloaded the bleeding edge development version?

For ease, I keep a copy in a zip file on my server.

Please see the link in this topic post -

No. 117 & 118

https://forumtest.velbus.eu/t/velbus-binding-for-openhab/14992/117

DavidL · October 5, 2018, 9:16am

Hi,
I got the "binding-velbus - 2.3.0” binding from a friend, so i am not sure it is the latest version.
Today I will try the version you suggest.

Thanks

MDAR · October 5, 2018, 10:10am

Hi

The only way I can tell which version I’m looking at is by comparing the file size.

Right now I think it’s about 93KB.

Good luck,

Stuart