manowell Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I have four InLineLinc Dimmers installed in my attic for driving track lighting in the living room below. Using the Link Management | Start Linking method, I can add three of them and tie them to scenes. The "start linking" method never detects the fourth one. Trying to add it by address results "Cannot determine Insteon Engine". Using a manual link process to a controller (Press and hold button on RemoteLinc 2 until beep, press and hold set button on dimmer until double beep) works, I can control the dimmer with the button, but can't add it to scenes, other controllers, etc. All four dimmers are on the same circuit, a breaker by themselves. I'm running 4.2.26 firmware and UI. I just had a PLM fail (electrical hit in a storm, I think. I wasn't at the house but several things not on battery backup reset), replaced it today. This problem existed before that, the PLM replacement just forced it back into my thought process. I'm tearing my hair out.... Thanks for any ideas, Marc Link to comment
paulbates Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Marc I have inlinelincs controlling low voltage pendant lighting. The transformers can be extremely noisy and affect the inlinelinc. Are the loads off on all 4 inlinelincs when attempting to configure? If not, give that a try. It may be that the inlincs are close enough to each other for the manual link, but the plm is too far away and noise doesn't allow the signal to get there. I had to filter 2 of them to get them to work right. Paul Link to comment
stusviews Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Are there older single-band In-LineLincs? Link to comment
manowell Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 I have inlinelincs controlling low voltage pendant lighting. The transformers can be extremely noisy and affect the inlinelinc. These are normal voltage, no transformers Are the loads off on all 4 inlinelincs when attempting to configure? Yes. Never occurred to me to try it the OTHER way, though.... Link to comment
manowell Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Are there older single-band In-LineLincs? No, all newer dual-band ones. 2475DA V.7.3 units. When I first installed them, I figured there had to be wrong with "number 3" so I swapped it, with no effect. Marc I have inlinelincs controlling low voltage pendant lighting. The transformers can be extremely noisy and affect the inlinelinc. Are the loads off on all 4 inlinelincs when attempting to configure? If not, give that a try. It may be that the inlincs are close enough to each other for the manual link, but the plm is too far away and noise doesn't allow the signal to get there. I had to filter 2 of them to get them to work right. Paul All tied together with wire nuts on the same circuit, other than the loads. Link to comment
paulbates Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 What's the load, anything different about the one in question? Can you take the bulb/light out and retry? Link to comment
stusviews Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 No, all newer dual-band ones. 2475DA V.7.3 units. When I first installed them, I figured there had to be wrong with "number 3" so I swapped it, with no effect. Do you mean that the problem followed the In-LineLinc or the location. If the former, then the device is defective. Link to comment
manowell Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share Posted October 28, 2015 Do you mean that the problem followed the In-LineLinc or the location. If the former, then the device is defective. Followed the location. Link to comment
paulbates Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 The location being the common problem suggests that communications are being interfered with: One possibility is that there is some other noise on the circuit. Since you indicated that this is a specific circuit, can you confirm that there are no outlets, other things connected to the circuit nearby? The other possibility is that the load itself is bad. If its a CFL or LED, individual units can be bad / noisy. Trying communications without the load installed should be tested and eliminated. Link to comment
ScottAvery Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Agree with Paul. That you are using inline lincs at all suggests that circuit probably continues from those lights to some other loads, and that last unit in your foursome may be closest to the noise. Link to comment
stusviews Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 That the problem follows the location rules out a defective device. If you are certain that all devices are on the same circuit, then you can also rule out line noise. The only thing left is the load. Disconnect the load and try adding the In-LineLinc again. BTW, what is the load? Link to comment
manowell Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 The location being the common problem suggests that communications are being interfered with: One possibility is that there is some other noise on the circuit. Since you indicated that this is a specific circuit, can you confirm that there are no outlets, other things connected to the circuit nearby? The other possibility is that the load itself is bad. If its a CFL or LED, individual units can be bad / noisy. Trying communications without the load installed should be tested and eliminated. No other outlets. One run of romex from one breaker in a good panel, four track lights. All have neutral and hot on same wire nuts, four separate nuts for loads. All in same track assembly. All incandescent. Have tried all with no loads. Link to comment
paulbates Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 No other outlets. One run of romex from one breaker in a good panel, four track lights. All have neutral and hot on same wire nuts, four separate nuts for loads. All in same track assembly. All incandescent. Have tried all with no loads. I have a number of inlinelincs and I know this is a PITA. It sounds like you've approached it the right way. Other things to try factory reset it in place, retry adding / configuring. if that doesn't work, remove the switch, factory reset it, connect to to a plug and plug it in close to the plm, see if you can add it to the isy. If so configure it. If that works, reinstall it and test it. Link to comment
LeeG Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Click on Tools | Diagnostics | Event Viewer. Select LEVEL 3. Click on Link Management | New INSTEON Device Enter Insteon address, Name of choice, leave as Auto Discover and Remove existing links. Click Ok Post Event Trace. Icon at bottom of Event Viewer window near right side copies trace to clipboard. Paste clipboard. Link to comment
manowell Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 Click on Tools | Diagnostics | Event Viewer. Select LEVEL 3. Click on Link Management | New INSTEON Device Enter Insteon address, Name of choice, leave as Auto Discover and Remove existing links. Click Ok Post Event Trace. Icon at bottom of Event Viewer window near right side copies trace to clipboard. Paste clipboard. Thanks for the tips, and I've been using them on my next issue, I'll post on that one in a few. Before I SAW these tips, I moved the whole ISY994i/PLM setup to another part of the house and it worked quickly and smoothly. I don't know why it would pretty well where it was for the rest of the house's devices and not that one, but I'm moving on. As part of that discovery and writing config changes back to a RemoteLinc and several RemoteLinc 2's, I've discovered that the latter really, really like to be written to in my office (where the PLM used to be) and nowhere else, and the former really really wants to be in a bedroom upstairs to be written to at ALL. Link to comment
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