Documentation

Gettings started

Open the Phoscon App via http://phoscon.de/app in a browser. The gateway is displayed with the name Phoscon-GW and its current IP address. If not, the search for the gateway can be started directly by selecting the Phoscon logo.

Furthermore the Phoscon App can be opened by entering the IP address in a browser or via Windows Explorer → Networks.

Select the gateway and specify a name and login password.

Set login password

The login password secures the access of the gateway in the local network. It can be changed later within the gateway settings.

Connect first lights

With Search lights, the first lights are added. Lights that are in factory new state can be added to the gateway in the next 3 minutes.

• Lights from IKEA and OSRAM must be briefly switched off and on again.
• Newly found lights are highlighted in green.
• By selecting a light, it can be identified (light flashes) and renamed.

If no lights are found, this might have various reasons. Hints for problems when connecting lights can be found in the section Troubleshooting.

Create first group

For the next steps, it is necessary to create a first group to which the formerly connected lights will be added.

Individual lights can be grouped and controlled together. For example, a group can represent an entire room such as the living room or kitchen, or just parts of it such as the dining area. Each light can be assigned to up to eight groups.

Daily Schedule

Menu > Daily Schedule

The prerequisite for creating an automation is the setting of the four specified schedules of day:

• Morning
• Day
• Evening
• Night

The times of day can follow the daily course of the sun or can be set permanently. The course of the sun, i.e. sunrise and sunset, are determined via the system time in the gateway.

If this cannot be done automatically, the system time must be set manually in the gateway settings.

Define daily schedule

Each schedule of day can be edited by Edit times individually. In order to follow the changing position of the sun throughout the year, each beginning and end of a time of day can be defined as moving.

To do this, the point on the slider must be pressed.

• Lock symbol open: the set time moves according to the sun’s course of the year.
• Lock symbol closed: the set time is fixed.

Lights

Adding lights to a group

Mainpage > Edit > Manage lights

In order to control a light, it must be assigned to a group. Only lights belonging to a group are displayed on the main page.

On the manage lights page, lights can be assigned to or removed from the selected group. Lights are assigned to the group via +. With - lights can be removed from the group.

If a light is selected, it will start flashing and can be identified. Furthermore it can be renamed in the appearing dialog.

Add more lights

Via Add new lights further lights can be connected to the gateway, they appear in green next to the already available lights.

The light search duration can be adjusted in the Gateway Settings.

Control lights

Using the tab Lights on the main page, the lights of a group can be controlled. Either the whole group or the lights can be adjusted individually.

The symbols for groups and lights indicate their current state. They are also used to switch them on and off.

Scenes

State of lights can be stored in scenes and recalled via the Phoscon App, a timer or a switch.

Create scenes

Mainpage > Edit > Scene editor

The scenes are configured using the Scene editor.

Light state can be set in the same way as on the main page for the whole group or individually. Once the desired scene has been created, it can be saved and recalled at any time from the main page, a schedule or by a switch.

Edit Scenes

Mainpage > Edit > Scene editor

The individual settings of a scene can be adjusted at any time and saved again. Please note that the lights used in the scene must be switched on to apply the changes.

Within Settings you can define a Fading time. This ensures a natural and smooth transition when the scene is recalled.

Recall scenes

Mainpage > Scenes

Scenes of a group appear on the main page under Scenes and can easily be recalled from there by selecting them.

Changes to a scene can be made via the Scene editor.

Manage lights

This page provides an overview of all lights which are connected to the gateway.

Menu > Settings > Lights

Lights overview

On this page, all connected lights and sockets are listed with name and manufacturer. Here you can see the current status of each individual device. It shows whether the light is currently switched on, switched off or possibly not accessible (for example if it is not connected to the power supply).

^*By selecting the light symbol, the light will flash for 30 seconds.

Connect new lights

Via Add new lights further lights can be connected to the gateway.

Especially for larger installations, it is recommended during light search to supply the lights with power one after the other and to wait until the light is shown in the list. If problems occur during the search process please refer to section Troubleshooting.

Light details

By selecting a certain light via its name in the list, you get to its detailed view.

Rename, delete

When a light is deleted, it is reset to factory settings and removed from the gateway. All scenes and group memberships of the light will be lost.

Manage switches

Menu > Devices > Switches

This page provides an overview of all switches which are connected to the gateway.

Switch overview

Under Switches all wall switches and remote controls are listed with name and manufacturer. Here you can see the status of each individual device, for example if it is currently not available (if the battery is empty).

^*How to add a new switch is explained in the section Add a new switch.

Switch details

Selecting a switch by selecting the name in the list takes you to its detail page.

Rename, delete

After deleting a switch it must be reset to factory settings before it can be connected again to a gateway. Please refer to the manufacturer’s operating instructions.

Add a new switch

Menu > Devices > Switches

To add a new switch, select Add new switch. A dialog opens with a selection of devices. Follow the steps of the instructions or refer to the operating instructions of the manufacturer.

Switch editor

Mainpage > Edit > Switch editor

Switches can control any number of light groups, several switches can be assigned to each group.

Button assignment

The button assignment is done comfortably in the switch editor as shown in the following video.

Overview

All assigned buttons are displayed for each configured switch.

Depending on the function of the button assignment, it can be modified. For example, another scene can be selected for a scene button. If a button is to be assigned a completely different function, the old assignment must first be deleted and then the new assignment can be created.

Manage sensors

Menu > Devices > Sensors

This page provides an overview of all sensors which are connected to the gateway.

Sensor overview

Under Sensors all sensors are listed with their names and currently measured values, such as movement, brightness, temperature, humidity, air pressure etc..

^*Connecting a new sensor is described in section Add a new sensor.

The virtual daylight sensor is provided by the gateway and calculates sunrise, sunset and twilight phases using the position and time of the current location. This information can be used in automations.

Sensor details

By selecting a certain sensor via its name in the list, you get to its detail view.

Rename, delete

After deleting a sensor it must be reset to factory settings before it can be connected again to a gateway. Please refer to the manufacturer’s operating instructions.

Add a new sensor

To add a new sensor, select Add new sensor. A dialog opens with a selection of devices. Then follow the steps of the instructions or refer to the manufacturer’s operating instructions.

Automations

The automation of devices allows sensor- and daytime-controlled events to be triggered.

Add automatiion

Main page > Groups > Edit > Automations

One or more automations can be created by Add automation for each group.

Edit automation

The automation created always consists of two actions that take place:

• Action 1: when the automation is triggered
• Action 2: when the follow-up time has expired.

The follow-up time begins after the automation has been triggered and can be set using a slider. Values between 10 seconds and 60 minutes are possible.

Events can be assigned to each action:

• Switch on/off
• Call up scene
• Change brightness
• Do not perform any action

Select trigger

The automation can be triggered by one or more devices. All sensors trained in the system are available as selectable triggers.

The trigger can be selected individually.

• Check mark: Automation is triggered by this device.
• Check mark not set: Device is not part of the selected automation.

Triggers that are grayed out are not available for selection because, for example, they are no longer accessible.

A trigger can have one or more events assigned to it that trigger automation:

• Check mark: Event triggers the automation.
• Check mark not set: Event does not trigger the automation.

Some examples of events can be:

• Detection of movement on a motion detector triggers the light to turn on.
• A thermostat controls whether a temperature and humidity are exceeded or fallen below a temperature and humidity sensor.
• Changing the brightness of a brightness sensor controls the dimming level of a light.

The current sensor values of the trigger are displayed in a continuous diagram. Depending on the refresh rate of the selected trigger, it may take several minutes for a change to become visible.

Define daily schedule

Automation can be activated or deactivated for any of the four available times of day.

• Check mark: Automation is active at the selected time of day.
• Check mark not set: Automation is not active at the selected time of day.

Sensor control

Mainpage > Edit > Sensor control

Sensors are used for the automated control of groups.

Motion sensor control

Control of a group via motion detectors can be easily configured. Each motion detector control can be configured with the following features:

• One or more motion detectors
• Optional one or more switches that temporarily deactivate the control
• Four transitions to dim the group step by step before it is switched off

The transitions indicate individual stages in which different options can be selected.

Action: Select what to do with the lights in the group:

• Do not perform any action
• Switch on group with last settings
• Deactivate group
• Dim all lights
• Only dim switched on lights

When: How much time should elapse before the transition starts from the moment when no movement is detected: 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, etc.

Dimming value: To which brightness level the lights of the group should be set 0–100 %.

Under the Settings of the sensor control, select the devices to be involved in the control by setting the related sensors check mark. In addition, it is possible to define the period in which this control should be active.

Switches

Switches can also be integrated into the sensor control by placing a check mark next to the selected switch, which can interrupt the sensor control by pressing any key. This prevents the lights from switching off automatically.

The sensor control only takes over the control again if all lights of the group are switched off either by switch or by app. The example Motion sensor and switch explains this in more detail.

Examples

Floor motion sensor

In this simple example, only one Philips Hue motion sensor is assigned by setting its check mark. The control dims the lights of the group to 100 % during movement.

If no movement is detected for 10 minutes, the controller activates the second transition and dims the lights to 75 %, after 20 minutes to 50 %. After 30 minutes the group is switched off.

As soon as movement is detected again, no matter in which transition, it is dimmed again to 100 %.

Motion sensor and switch

To prevent the lights from being switched off if no motion is detected despite presence, the best solution is to combine motion sensors with a switch.

Switches can be integrated into the sensor control by setting the check mark next to the selected switch.

If a switch is activated, it can interrupt the sensor control by pressing any key. This prevents the lights from switching off automatically.

The sensor control only takes over the control again when all lights of the group are switched off either by switch or by app.

Multiple sensors and switches

Several motion sensors and switches can be used in larger rooms.

The configuration here is almost identical to the previous examples, more devices are simply selected. There is no limit for the maximum number of devices.

Additional sensors or switches can be added or removed at any time. If a device is defective it can be replaced with little effort.

Schedules

Mainpage > Edit > Schedules

Schedules allows to perform an action for a group at a specific time, such as activating a scene or turning off the group. A distinction is made between the two variants Alarm and Timer.

Alarm

An alarm performs the desired action regularly at the specified time on the selected weekdays.

If lights have to switched on, a scene must be created in which each light in the group defines the desired state such as on/off, dimming value and color.

Since scenes can be configured with a long fading time of several minutes, you can select whether the scene is to start or finish at the specified time with Fading begins/ends.

Timer

A timer executes an action only once after the selected time has elapsed.

The actions Turn group off and Call a scene, as well as settings of the fading time of scenes are configured identically as for an Alarm.

Settings

Gateway

Menu > Settings > Gateway

The Gateway settings are divided into three subcategories: General, Advanced and Power.

General

Information on the current version and firmware can be found under General. Software updates will also be displayed here as soon as they are available.

The gateway should only be reset in exceptional cases, as all settings for devices, groups, scenes and automations are deleted.

With the Backup options you can save all settings such as devices configuration, their names, groups, scenes and sensor controls in a file and restore them later if necessary.

It is recommended to create a backup before each update and after each completed configuration.

Advanced

With Authenticate app the gateway can be connected to other apps and home automation devices like Amazon Echo. If activated, the gateway must be connected within 60 seconds in the respective app. If necessary the gateway IP address must be entered.

To connect Amazon Alexa please say only Alexa: Discover devices.

With Change ZigBee channel potential problems with overlapping WiFi channels can be solved. This option should only be used in an emergency, all lights must be switched on.

The duration of the light search can be increased to facilitate commissioning, especially in larger installations.

Restart, power-off

The gateway can be restarted or powered-off under Power.

WiFi

Menu > Settings > WiFi

Accesspoint

The integrated WiFi accesspoint (hotspot) allows the autonomous operation of the gateway. Mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones can be connected to the access point.

After connecting to the accesspoint, the Phoscon App can be opened in a browser via the IP address 192.168.8.1.

The WiFi name (ESSID) and the password can be configured for the accesspoint. For the Phoscon Gateway the preconfigured individual WiFi password is located on the back of the gateway.

Note To change the configuration, the gateway must be connected to a router via LAN cable.

Device integration

Mainpage > Device integrations

This function can be used to integrate devices that are not yet supported. The device description is done via so-called Device Description Files, DDF for short.

The technical documentation about DDFs is here available: https://dresden-elektronik.github.io/deconz-dev-doc/modules/ddf/

Where do I get DDFs?

DDFs can currently be obtained via the external community project deconz-toolbox.

Load DDF

A DDF can be selected via Choose File and then loaded via Upload.

Troubleshooting

Light cannot be connected

If a light cannot be connected, it may have different causes. Resetting the light to factory settings should help.

Factory settings via reset sequence

Menu > Help > Reset lights

In the Help menu specific manufacturer instructions can be found for IKEA Trådfri, OSRAM Lightify/Smart+ and dresden elektronik FLS products describing how to reset to factory settings via an on/off sequence.

Factory settings via remote control

Menu > Help > Reset lights

Alternatively to the reset sequence and for Philips Hue lights, the reset to factory settings can be done with a Philips Hue dimmer, GIRA or JUNG remote control. The instructions can also be found in the Help menu.

IKEA Trådfri and OSRAM Lightify/Smart+ lights

If the lights cannot be taught-in despite factory settings, please make sure that the lights have to be switched off for a short time (Powercycle) while the light search is running.