Lamp Linc LED Bulb won't turn off

[mmb]

This may have been discussed previously but I have a new dimmable Phillips bulb (100W equiv) connected to a lamplinc that I can't seem to turn off.  The bulb just reaches a steady low glow but never turns off.  I tried another cheap LED bulb and it works fine.

 

Are LED bulbs still a trial and error thing with insteon?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

mike

[larryllix]

This may have been discussed previously but I have a new dimmable Phillips bulb (100W equiv) connected to a lamplinc that I can't seem to turn off. The bulb just reaches a steady low glow but never turns off. I tried another cheap LED bulb and it works fine.

 

Are LED bulbs still a trial and error thing with insteon?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

mike

Strange.

I have many Lamplinc running single bulbs with no Off problems.

How (old and/or version) is the LampLinc.

Is this one of the new Warm-Glow type bulbs?

 

Although I doubt it will help, (you never know) you could try to factory reset the Lamplinc and admin console restore it.

[paulbates]

Mike

 

Ability to turn something on, but not off, is the symptom of the device creating a lot of line noise, so much that the "off" signal can not make it to the lamplinc. I'm going to guess that particular bulb needs to be returned, and possibly that brand/type won't work. Try another and see what happens.

 

I would say that yes it is still hit or miss if production LEDs produce noise or not, but I've not had a lot of problems in the last few years.

 

Did you try at different levels of dim, eg full on, half, etc?

 

Paul

[Brian H]

Both the old power line only and new Dual Band Lamplincs. Have Local Control Sensing. There is a small amount of sensing current on the output at all times.

Even if you set the module to Local Control Sensing Off. The current is still there just ignored if the local switch on the load is toggled off and back on.

 

Some LED bulbs electronics can still light the LEDs with the small current. While others do not glow dimly. Still a test with the bulbs you want to use for them working properly.

 

If you put a power tap on the output and add a small 4 watt incandescent night light with the LED bulb. You may see the glow stop.

 

If it does not change from full On to the minimum dim you are seeing. Then I would suspect the load is noisy as Paul indicated.

[mmb]

The LED bulb and Lamplinc are brand new.  I could reset the LampLinc but changing to another Phillips LED bulb but an older model works perfectly.  Both bulbs are warm type and dimming seems to be fine, I just cant turn it off.  I'll just re-purpose the bulb to a ceiling light and continue to use the old bulb.

 

Thanks for the input!

[Brian H]

I have some Feit LED bulbs. The older ones work fine on a ApplianceLinc.

While the later production run of the same bulb. Flash every few seconds from the Local Control Sensing Circuit. My thoughts are they changed the driver circuit.

 

I also have some Philips LED bulbs older and newer production runs are completely different acting.

On mine the only indication of a change. Was the model number had an "A" appended to it.

[larryllix]

If these are the Philips Warm-Glow^TM types there is a very sensitive orage LED that stays on at all times while any voltage is present. They are designed to do that,

 

This is how they accomplish their Warm-Glow^TM colour temperature changing feature.

The cooler white element is voltage dependant while the orange element is not. When you lower the voltage the cooler white dims and the warmer colour predominates.

[MWareman]

If the lamplinc is newer, turn off the sense option (?).

 

This option sends a small current to detect if the lamps internal switch is turned on or not.. and this small current causes very efficient bulbs to glow slightly.

[Brian H]

Turning  Off Local Sensing does not turn off the sensing current. It is just ignored if the local load switch is toggled off and back on again.

[Teken]

The LED bulb and Lamplinc are brand new.  I could reset the LampLinc but changing to another Phillips LED bulb but an older model works perfectly.  Both bulbs are warm type and dimming seems to be fine, I just cant turn it off.  I'll just re-purpose the bulb to a ceiling light and continue to use the old bulb.

 

Thanks for the input!

 

Hello Mike, 

 

I would humbly suggest you don't repurpose the bulb anywhere in your home where Insteon is deployed. As you have seen first hand how a noise makers / signal sucker can impact one single device from turning off. Many of these bulbs over time will continue to suck / emit larger amounts of interference as they age.

 

Your going to find out later devices are slow to activate, sync, to program issues.

 

As you noted early on LED lighting is very much a trial and error approach for lots of folks using Insteon and other HA protocol lighting. It doesn't matter if your talking about X-10, Z-Wave, ZigBee, UPB, etc. My suggestion is to wait for those seasonal rebate programs from the POCO or retailer. Once on sale go to local store(s) purchase a few case lots / box's produced in the same time period.

 

This will allow you to save time and effort to test the same multiple LED bulbs and identify any good vs bad ones. Once done simply return the unused LED bulbs for a refund - I've been doing this for more than seven years now and it has saved me tons of transport time and effort in finding the best bulb that doesn't impact the Insteon network.

 

NOTE: Regardless of the brand, model, make of LED bulb you should always test for smooth dimming. Listen hum, buzz, and pulsing at the bulb from 5% - mid range - 100%.

 

When viewing the bulbs you will watch for flicker, pulsing, and strobing.

 

As you will find many LED bulbs offer these annoying traits even if they don't *Seem* to impact the power line. 

[mmb]

Thanks for the useful information everyone!

 

mike

[MWareman]

Turning Off Local Sensing does not turn off the sensing current. It is just ignored if the local load switch is toggled off and back on again.

Good to know, thanks...

[larryllix]

I wonder why this upgraded X10 factory (SH) would go back to the old X10 method of activating a lamp,  by sensing current switching, again. Will they never learn?