SwitchLinc missing ISY commands

[timdenike]

Hey there,

 

This is an old problem that's been irritating me since I installed my system years ago.

 

My kitchen area is controlled by 2 (Dual-Link) SwitchLinc dimmers. Both are on the same circuit, in the same wallbox.

 

Both are members of the same scene. On my remote control, I have buttons that correspond with ISY commands to brighten/toggle/dim this scene.

 

More than 50% of the time, one dimmer seems to ignore the command, so only half the scene responds. The state of the device/scene on the ISY is correct, but it does not match the state of the device. Oddly, it seems "dimming" is actually comprised of a "dim start" and "dim stop" command on the wire - since dimming the scene often results in dimming one device off entirely.

 

Any ideas? Is this as simple as a bad device? (Despite the fact that it's always been flaky like this?)

[oberkc]

I have buttons that correspond with ISY commands to brighten/toggle/dim this scene.

 

I am not sure what this ("correspond") means in this context. What remote control?

 

What happens when you perform a scene test for the scene containing the two dimmers? Does the test fail?

[Xathros]

What is the load on the dimmer that isn't responding? CFL, Fluorescent, Low Voltage, Incandescent ? It may be that the load is causing issues with comms to that device.

 

-Xathros

[timdenike]

@oberkc - Sorry for being unclear - these happen to be buttons on my IR remote that trigger programs on the ISY. Whether they're IR-triggered, or manually commanded via the ISY console, the missed Insteon commands still happen.

 

I didn't know about the Scene Test. I've run it several times with mixed results. Even when it succeeds, I only see one dimmer (the more reliable one) respond. Here's the output of a failure:

Thu 05/30/2013 08:48:56 PM : [GRP-RX      ] 02 61 13 13 00 06 

Thu 05/30/2013 08:48:56 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 17.F4.F1 14.83.F0 66 13 13    LTOFFRR(13)

Thu 05/30/2013 08:48:56 PM : [std-Cleanup Ack] 17.F4.F1-->ISY/PLM Group=0, Max Hops=2, Hops Left=1

----- Living Room Test Results -----
[Failed] Kitchen Island (16 32 4 1)
[succeeded] Living Room Recessed (17 F4 F1 1)
----- Living Room Test Results -----
Thu 05/30/2013 08:49:04 PM : [iNST-ACK    ] 02 62 00.00.13 CF 13 00 06          LTOFFRR(00)

And another..

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [GRP-RX      ] 02 61 13 13 00 06 

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 17.F4.F1 14.83.F0 61 13 13    LTOFFRR(13)

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [std-Cleanup Ack] 17.F4.F1-->ISY/PLM Group=0, Max Hops=1, Hops Left=0

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [CLEAN-UP-RPT] 02 58 06 

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 17.F4.F1 14.83.F0 61 13 13    LTOFFRR(13)

Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:37 PM : [std-Cleanup Ack] 17.F4.F1-->ISY/PLM Group=0, Max Hops=1, Hops Left=0

----- Living Room Test Results -----
[Failed] Kitchen Island (16 32 4 1)
[succeeded] Living Room Recessed (17 F4 F1 1)
----- Living Room Test Results -----
Thu 05/30/2013 08:58:45 PM : [iNST-ACK    ] 02 62 00.00.13 CF 13 00 06          LTOFFRR(00)

 

@ Xathros:

Nearly all the loads in the house are recessed 12V halogen lamps. Only seems to be an issue on this one dimmer. FWIW, this does happen to be the middle dimmer in a 3-gang box. *shrug*

[oberkc]

When I see the results of your scene test, I tend to conclude that your communications is unreliable. Even when it passed, there were zero hops left, tending to suggest less-than-optimum conditions. There are lots of potential causes for this, and it seems to me that the most common are:

 

a) lots of electronics on the same outlet or circuit as PLM

failure to provide communication path across legs of your electrical system

c) loads that disrupt communication

 

Given your response to Xathros' question, I wonder how easy is it to temporarily disconnect your hologen lights from your insteon devices and try the scene tests again.

 

Also, check to make sure you do not suffer fro cause a) and .

[apostolakisl]

Perhaps I mis-understand your original post.

 

But you say that both switches are in the same box and are in the same scene.

 

In this event, why would you need two switches, you could just splice the 2 loads together and use one switch. Are there other scenes or ways you control those switches where they aren't linked?

 

And I do agree with the other stuff. Probably power line communication issues. How are your other Insteon devices working? Do they pass scene tests better than these two? Do you notice any association with the failed comm and the state of other electrical devices in the house?

 

Sometimes the easiest way to figure these things out is to shut off all your circuit breakers except the ISY breaker and the one(s) that power devices in this scene. Do a scene test. If it looks good, start turning on breakers and repeating scene tests until problems arise. Then try to track down what is on the circuit that is causing trouble.

[ELA]

Hello Timdenike,

 

From your post on the scene test. Zero hops remaining is not always an indication of compromised communications. The cleanup commands being sent are only sent with 1 hop max and thus 0 hops remaining is not a problem indication.

 

Put the event viewer in level 3 and issue direct commands ( query and get engine are good ones to use) to the dimmer in question and post the results. These are sent with 3 hops max. If they succeed with 2 hops remaining that is great. If they get some 1 or o hops remaining that is what one might expect when communications are marginal.

 

Issuing these commands several times each is a good test. Some times comms will appear good for a short while and then start to fail after the command is issued a few times.

 

One other test you might try is pulling the power tab out on the other switches next to the failing unit and then exercise the failing one to see if it then behaves any better.