First new Insteon deployment in years-need suggestions

[ResIpsa]

Thanks to a nasty sewer backup into my first-floor family room (yuck!), my homeowner's insurance is paying for a long-overdue remodel of the room (yay!). I will be taking the opportunity to deploy my first new Insteon devices in at least five years. The 15x20 room currently has three can lights, and I am thinking of increasing that number to 6-8. The plan is to set this room up as a cozy family room that doubles as an entertainment center. For that reason, I would like to have granular control over the individual can lights so that I can have several different scenes depending on what the room is being used for. Is my only option to use an In-LineLinc Dimmer at each light, with the scenes controlled by a KPL? I'm not thrilled at the prospect of using a $55 inline device for each can light, but I want to do this right the first time without having to go back and do any retrofits later (the walls and ceiling are being completely gutted for the remodel). All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

[GuitarBuilder]

I would suggest you use the Insteon LED Bulb in each can:

 

http://www.smarthome.com/2672-222/INSTEON-LED-Bulb/p.aspx

[oberkc]

Whether you use insteon-enabled bulbs, inlinelincs, micro moducles, or separate insteon switches, you can count on having an intsteon device for each light you wish to control. Whichever option you choose, the cost is somewhere around $50 each, give-or-take a few dollars. If the idea of spending $55 per device for an inlinelinc sounds less than thrilling, what would the price have to be to make you more comfortable?

[Xathros]

Maybe consider pairing up the cans thus reducing the insteon investment to 3-4 rather than 6-8 devices. My preference would be a gang of Switchlinc Dimmers rather than inlinelincs. Either way, you could use a KPL for setting your scenes.

 

-Xathros

[arw01]

I hope to never, ever experience the back up again in my lifetime. I lived to tell about it when it happened to my first house.

 

The idea of the Insteon LED lights in each can is interesting. About $30 each for 60 watts, control them from an 8 button KPL. Hmm I am a switch on the guy kinda guy even if it was 5 of them, but the savings would be pretty big to just use those led bulbs.

 

One could hope for native hue support from an ISY soon, more expensive per bulb, but a whole lot more fun!

[johnnyt]

Don't forget to consider that you (or someone else) might want or have to remove whatever insteon stuff you put in one day. Switches and bulbs are the easiest to "undo" and fix.

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[ResIpsa]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will buy one Insteon LED bulb for now and test it out. I'm sensitive to lighting, so I want to make sure the spectrum won't be annoying or strain my eyes. Failing that, I will probably go the SwitchLinc route.

[arw01]

Let us know how the dim down too. Was just testing my bathroom this morning that has a Phillips Ambient, Cree, Feit, and an incandescent.

 

The Feit, the Cree, and the ambient all came on before the phillips. I'm playing with how low the lights can be at night when you walk in the bathroom at 2: in the morning to not blast my eyes.

 

When I had cfl dimmables in there, it was like 40% which was just too darn bright.

[ResIpsa]

I changed my mind about using the bulb after reading this on the product page:

 

Important Note

When in use, INSTEON LED Bulb emits a subtle buzzing noise that is barely noticeable. However, when several bulbs are installed in a single location, the buzzing may become more apparent.

 

With six or eight of these in a relatively quiet room, I don't want to test the effect the buzzing will have on my family's sanity. I will just go the SwitchLinc route out of the gate.

[arw01]

Wow, at least they tell you about the issue. One would think they could use a little better component and solve that "feature".

 

I wish they would tell you on the customer button page that Gray is opaque. Even in a black room you basically cannot read the buttons through the gray.

 

Maybe someday will find a buddy with a laser engraver again and have him make me a set from blanks that go clear THROUGH the button face and then maybe they can be read.