ELA

That unit says 0.5hp. How many horsepower is your pump motor? At 12-14 amps likely more than 0.5hp. Rough approximation = 12A*120V = 1440watts / 750W/hp = near 2 hp.

The Insteon Spec. sheet is insufficient. Simply stating "600W Incandescent 15A All Other Loads" does not address a motor load properly. The reason it is only rated for 600W incandescent is because of inrush current. 600W/120V = only 5Amps. They should be including a HP rating (horsepower rating for motor loads). I would not expect the Insteon device to last driving such a large motor load. I would suggest finding a larger capacity controller. Or drive a contactor from the outlet that then powers the motor.

Hello Merlin, Do you have any plug-in modules such as a Lamplinc? Did not see any in your list. Here is one test that might help you progress using a plug-in module ( maybe consider getting one if you do not have one). Create an isolated test network using your new filter. With the filter plugged into a wall outlet plug a power strip( ideally one not advertised as a suppression device) into its filtered output. This somewhat isolates everything plugged into that power strip from the rest of your home power. Now plug your PLM and the one pluggable device ( I will refer to it as "lamplinc") into that power strip. Now see if you can communicate between the PLM and that one device only. If you cannot then you may need a new PLM. If you can communicate between the two use the level 3 viewer and confirm that the "hops left" are 2 or 3. Next put the PLM back into its normal location ( no more filter used). Put the Lamplinc next to it in the same outlet. Use the level 3 viewer to see what the hops remaining are. If that does not work try the same at another outlet location. If it does work then you can start moving the Lamplinc to various other locations and use the hops remaining as an indicator of the quality of the communications at each new location. This could help you zero in on a problem area of the homes power distribution. Watch as the number of hops left decreases greatly.

One difference to be considered is cable length between PLM and ISY. Not usually a concern for most, however some have stretched their RS232 cable to near recommended maximums. If so, USB comms. has a recommended maximum length approx. 3 times less than that of RS232. ( of course data rates etc. affect this... just as a rough comparison).

Thankyou IndyMike for your efforts at documenting what devices ignore or respond to the All-On phenomenon. Ref: https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/41651-all-on-removed-in-what-firmware-version-of-switchlinc-dimmers/?do=findComment&comment=369748 Since that thread was closed for further input I am inputting here to add to the list. I just received a new Lamplinc/Dimmer module #2457D Hardware Rev 4.2 , Firmware Ver. 43 - date code 4722. My older 2457D modules (Rev1.0, Ver. 3A) were degraded and causing their incandescent lamp load to blink periodically. This module was a replacement for that issue. Before installing I bench tested this new unit for its response to Group FF commands ( simulated All-On). I tested with both 02 62 00 00 FF CF 12 00 as well as 02 61 FF 11 00 group commands to group FF. Unfortunately this new module responded, turning its load on, to either of these commands. I was surprised as I had thought Insteon was removing the response to these commands in newer units?

IndyMike, I am aware they did not implement RS232 handshaking. Further the RS232 interface used is full duplex so collisions at the RS232 interface should not be possible. Agreed there has been a lot of speculation regarding the root cause and no need to start a crusade. I experienced 3 All-On events, before implementing delays after IR sensor activations, a long while back. I had one event that I am pretty sure was caused by an ESD event into the power line near an Insteon device. Hard to explain that one. I totally agree with your efforts to warn people about the hazards associated with using Insteon for critical or secure applications. I would monitor my garage door but would never use Insteon to activate- open/close it.

Thanks IndyMike, I had not heard about the RS232 interface as the possible culprit. Kind of a large oversight if that is the case since RS232 handshaking would prevent that if they had implemented it.

My best understanding of the All On phenomenon is that it is caused by data collisions at the signal level. I have not heard of a PLM issuing a phantom All On command itself. It was my understanding that Insteon was removing the ability of devices to react to the All On ( Group broadcast to group FF) over time. Until all devices firmware's were updated the All On phenomenon could remain an issue. What I have not heard about is: whether or not the ability of a device to repeat a Group Broadcast message to group FF was also being removed? One would hope so.

Some newer Refrigerators utilize a VFD on their motors. At an increasing rate they are tripping GFCI's. This is being recognized and Leviton is now offering a Wifi connected GFCI to report when it has been trippped. Here is a link: https://store.leviton.com/products/20-amp-smartlockpro-wi-fi-certified-smart-gfci-receptacle-outlet-white-d2gf2-kw?variant=43908872175846

Sure there are lots of ways to test a PLM to see if it's ANY GOOD. Its important to note that there are many different operational aspects of a PLM to be tested in order to assure that it is TOTALLY GOOD. Brian detailed a good method to test the serial interface of the PLM. As he pointed out that requires quite a bit of effort , but is doable with a serial terminal test program such as Docklight. Docklight is a great tool to have. An easy way to test the power line communications aspect of the PLM is to add it, like any other Insteon device, to your existing ISY/PLM setup. Use the Add Insteon device option, enter the address, and have it auto find the PLM you want to test. It will add to your existing network as an unrecognized device if it is operational. You will have limited ability to communicate with it as an unrecognized device. The Beep option should work as a test. You can then also monitor the comms using the level 3 viewer looking at the hops used. You can move it further and further away from your system PLM to stress its ability to communicate over longer distances within your network using more hops. I have some more advanced tools at my disposal to test Insteon devices. I have done a lot of pre-testing of new devices before adding them to my network. One reason that pre-testing can be important is for identifying new devices that are not always TOTALLY GOOD. I once returned a brand new 2413S PLM because its power line signal strength was only 1/2 that of what a new PLM should be. While that PLM might work ok in some Insteon networks it may also work very marginally in many other networks.

I had not heard that before. Can you please explain why/how they are noisy?

IndyMike, Did you use one of the Israeli made Insteon Jammers If not curious how you accomplished the "jamming".

Hi IndyMike, Great information. I had never used them and had wondered how they might dissipate the required wattage in a small package if resistive. Makes sense to use a cap. rather than a resistor. They must be a fairly large cap. to present enough of a load and thus they be a large signal sucker. What did you mean when you said will absorb Insteon signals even when downstream from the dimmer? Just when the dimmer is on, is that correct? Auger66 , Please excuse the rest of this post slightly off topic. I have researched the subject of Flickering LEDs lights and found it to be very common for several reasons in addition to Insteon signals. Some people are reporting Flickering lights due to TWAC signals used in some smart power meters. As I read up on that I found it very interesting how TWAC is distorting the 60hz sinewave at the zero cross point. While nice for the Utility company it seems like a potential problem for so many devices expecting a "clean" zero cross signal reference. One interesting post was from a Lutron salesman that has all Lutron dimmers in his newly constructed house, used for demos of the products he sells. All his LED lights flicker. Source of the issue is as of yet undetermined but the TWACs signal was discussed as the potential source. Of course that only happens for short periods of time, at certain times of the day, when TWAC communications is active.

Good to hear that you also have one Brian. What sorts of things have you used yours for? Mine is the ISM Combo plus: Frequency bands: Left connector: 0.05 – 960MHz Right connector: 2350 – 2550MHz here is my microwave at 10ft on high power:

I received a small, inexpensive ( ~ $230) hand-held spectrum analyzer for Christmas that I though might be of some interest to other home automation people. Something like this is likely hard to justify purchasing for occasional use but Santa was good to me this year. I used to be a test engineer so I miss not having access to all the equipment I used to. I am attaching a few screen shots of potential uses. Top= Insteon RF signal at 2ft from On/Off switch module: Bottom= Garage Door Remote: I thought @apostolakisl might be interested in the garage door signal. I recall an issue with interference that this device could help identify.