Intermittent Failure to Communicate with ApplianceLinc.

[Conaso]

Newbie... House is 1200 sq ft with basement and two floors. ISY/PLM/router on ground floor. Recently installed ISY994i, PLM, 4 door sensors, and 2 ApplianceLinks. Things work O.K. but program using ApplianceLincs (AL) ability to turn on lamps is intermittent. Initially running Admin periodically get a failure to communicate with AL(s). I moved them to other outlets. Now I can turn them on and off through Admin but the status doesn't change although the lamps have been turned on. I guess these outlets are on a different phase(?) Spoke with customer service and they said I have noise on electrical lines and I need to purchase dual-band device (LampLinc??). Read there is something called FilterLinc(?). I guess that would go on the refrigerator. Don't know what else is generating noise nor how to determine what is generating noise.

[larryllix]

Newbie... House is 1200 sq ft with basement and two floors. ISY/PLM/router on ground floor. Recently installed ISY994i, PLM, 4 door sensors, and 2 ApplianceLinks. Things work O.K. but program using ApplianceLincs (AL) ability to turn on lamps is intermittent. Initially running Admin periodically get a failure to communicate with AL(s). I moved them to other outlets. Now I can turn them on and off through Admin but the status doesn't change although the lamps have been turned on. I guess these outlets are on a different phase(?) Spoke with customer service and they said I have noise on electrical lines and I need to purchase dual-band device (LampLinc??). Read there is something called FilterLinc(?). I guess that would go on the refrigerator. Don't know what else is generating noise nor how to determine what is generating noise.

ApplianceLincs are dual-band. Try unplugging devices and see if the problem changes. I am sure another more experienced user here will be by to assist you with the events viewer codes.

[Xathros]

Newbie... House is 1200 sq ft with basement and two floors. ISY/PLM/router on ground floor. Recently installed ISY994i, PLM, 4 door sensors, and 2 ApplianceLinks. Things work O.K. but program using ApplianceLincs (AL) ability to turn on lamps is intermittent. Initially running Admin periodically get a failure to communicate with AL(s). I moved them to other outlets. Now I can turn them on and off through Admin but the status doesn't change although the lamps have been turned on. I guess these outlets are on a different phase(?) Spoke with customer service and they said I have noise on electrical lines and I need to purchase dual-band device (LampLinc??). Read there is something called FilterLinc(?). I guess that would go on the refrigerator. Don't know what else is generating noise nor how to determine what is generating noise.

 

Noise is only one possibility, the others are signal attenuation and lack of a phase bridge. A filterlinc can help with both noise and attenuation. Some things that may need to be isolated with Filterlincs:

 

Surge Suppressor Power Strips

UPS

Computer Equipment

TV/AV Equipment

Chargers

 

You can start by unplugging these sorts of things and testing. Add things back and test as you go. Often you can identify problem devices in this manor then place those problem items behind a Filterlinc. (1626-10)

http://www.smarthome.com/1626-10/FilterLinc-10-Amp-Plug-In-Noise-Filter/p.aspx

 

Keep in mind that it may be a combination of things that add up to be a problem.

 

Most of us here recommend having the phases of your electrical system bridged with a pair of Access Points. (2443)

http://www.smarthome.com/2443/Access-Point-INSTEON-Wireless-Phase-Coupler-Dual-Band/p.aspx

 

At a minimum, you should ensure that some of your dual band devices are activly bridging your phases. Consult the manual for your devices on performing the 4 tap bridge test.

 

Hope this helps.

 

-Xathros

[LeeG]

Conaso

 

The newest ApplianceLinc (On/Off Module) is Dual Band but that is relatively new. For years the ApplianceLinc was not Dual Band and it did not communicate changes in state when done locally.

 

How old are the ApplianceLincs? What is the Item number, 2456S3 or 2635-222?

[Brian H]

My 2456S3. That is one of the last ones manufactured before they where discontinued.

Will not report any local toggling of it On and Off. Using the set button tap or local control sensing.

[Conaso]

Just bought them a few month ago. ALs are 2456S3. The comparison chart on SMARTHOME says it is not dual-band. I thought they were when I bought them. I can't find them doing a search. Now they have some kind of dimmer but without a pass through outlet.

 

The lack of a status change is from using the Admin program and not with the toggle switch. I get comm errors but the lights can be turned on off with admin.

[LeeG]

Sounds like a pair of Access Points to couple the 2 120v legs is needed. There may be other Insteon network issues such as Surge/Noise suppression power strips in use near the PLM, unfiltered devices powered from the same circuit as the PLM, but the need for good phase coupling is a good place to start.

[Conaso]

Xathros -

 

Power Outlets - There are two outlets in close proximity to the ISP/phone/TV provider (Cox) access point. The ISY and PLM are on one outlet and the UPS alone is on the other outlet. (Probably both outlets are in the same string.)

 

UPS - I just dumped by surge suppressor since it now shows it got hit with a surge. I believe you have to toss a surge suppressor once it gets a surge and the surge light stays on. Now that I have a laptop, I replaced the surge suppressor with my APC UPS, which now has my cable TV box, their Internet phone/modem, my DVD player and landline wireless phone, and a wireless router for the ISY and laptop.

 

If I move the PLM away from the UPS I would have to move the ISY it connects to and then run a long CAT5/6 cable to reconnect the ISY to the wireless router.

 

 

Thanks for the ideas. I quess I first need to put the UPS on a FilterLinc.

[Xathros]

Is the PLM behInd the UPS along with the ISY? If so, it needs to be moved off of the UPS. The PLM should be direct to the power line and the UPS should be put on a filterlinc.

 

 

-Xathros

 

EDIT: Nevermind - just reread your post and I see the PLM is NOT on the UPS. The UPS SHOULD be on a Filterlinc.

[larryllix]

Conaso

 

The newest ApplianceLinc (On/Off Module) is Dual Band but that is relatively new. For years the ApplianceLinc was not Dual Band and it did not communicate changes in state when done locally.

I stand corrected. I had my module names mixed up. The newer on/off modules are dual band and not the ApplianceLinc units that I have.

 

Thanks LeeG.

[B.A.]

I have the same issue with an Non Dual band ApplianceLinc on a Fan.

I used an X10 appliance module on this fan for years. And I used the AL with Houselinc for a few weeks and it worked fine.

Bought a ISY a few weeks ago and the AL started having com issues.

I moved the AL to a different outlet and it works fine. Put the old X10 AM back on the fan and it works fine.

Is it possible that the fan started producing noise that Insteon doesn't like but X10 manages to get thru?

[Xathros]

I have the same issue with an Non Dual band ApplianceLinc on a Fan.

I used an X10 appliance module on this fan for years. And I used the AL with Houselinc for a few weeks and it worked fine.

Bought a ISY a few weeks ago and the AL started having com issues.

I moved the AL to a different outlet and it works fine. Put the old X10 AM back on the fan and it works fine.

Is it possible that the fan started producing noise that Insteon doesn't like but X10 manages to get thru?

 

Quite possible though not necessarily noise. There could be some noise suppression built into the fan that is attenuating the Insteon signal. The X10 module may have been slightly more sensitive. Hard to say exactly. Replace the fan with a light for testing and see if the problem goes away. If so, isolate the fan with a filterlinc if it's draw is below the 10A limit of the filterlinc.

 

-Xathros

[Conaso]

INFO: PLM is directly on outlet by itself. UPS with all the other stuff, i.e., ISY, TV, cable modem, etc. is on another outlet, by itself. Considering outlets are 6 feet apart probably on same string. Will take advice and put UPS on FilterLinc.

 

Finally figured that fluorescent light in kitchen is interfering with AppLincs. Light is wired directly so I guess I have to buy two dual-band LampLincs. I'll have to find some outlet that can use ALs without malfunctioning.

 

Thanks for you help.

 

Have anyone seen an alarm siren/beeper that I can trigger with the ISY?