[solarforecast] suspend API calls over night

[weymann]

Copied from weymann/OH3-SolarForecast-Drops#2

Thanks for the great work on the binding. Saves me a ton of JSON fiddling! ;)

Would it be possible to define a period of no polling? So you could spare precious API calls over night, when there's no need to update information? Possible having the chance to either:

1. define a switch-item, which tells the binding to do API-Calls or suspend them
2. define Astro-binding items/channels which trigger local dusk/dawn periods?

ad 1
I could then use whatever means to turn that item ON or OFF (possibly using Astro-binding)

ad 2
I could then just use a fully configured Astro-binding to use for suspending

[weymann]

The throttling of the free Solcast account is very strict and contains ~24 calls per day. 2 calls are necessary per plane so this will result into the default update frequency of 2 hours.

Community discussion is already raised to find a better strategy like here and here. Also this enhancement was raised in my drop repo and I tranferred it to openHAB addons repo.

My proposal:

• user has the opportunity to switch off bindings regular schedule with advanced configuration parameter refreshManual
• user can implement his own strategy in rules and triggerUpdate via Rule Action
• example is given in readme with update after startup plus 2 hours update only during daytime

[lsiepel]

Maybe offer three modes?

1. Even, each 2 hours one call
2. Daytime, each hour from 8:00, and last at 19:00 ?
3. Manual

[weymann]

Maybe offer three modes?

To be very honest I don't want to offer modes. Too much strategy possibilities and then binding is dependemt on Astro binding plus I've to maintain them.

• maybe you want one update after midnight even if sun is down
• maybe one update after sunrise and then hourly
• maybe you want more frequent updates in winter - shorter day time => more frequent updates possible

I'm personally fine with the given refreshInterval of 2 hours but if any user wants something different they can start with the example rule and then evolve.

[lsiepel]

Maybe offer three modes?

To be very honest I don't want to offer modes. Too much strategy possibilities and then binding is dependemt on Astro binding plus I've to maintain them.

• maybe you want one update after midnight even if sun is down
• maybe one update after sunrise and then hourly
• maybe you want more frequent updates in winter - shorter day time => more frequent updates possible

I'm personally fine with the given refreshInterval of 2 hours but if any user wants something different they can start with the example rule and then evolve.

That is ok, effectively two ‘modes’ (auto vs manual) is already giving a lot of flexibility.