Strange communication with an OutletLinc

[JacquesB]

Hi,

 

In my garage, I have 1 IOLinc for the garage door. This IOLinc is plugged in the always On part of a first OutletLinc. In the same double gang box, I have a switchlink dimmer controlling the main light. All of them are turned On and Off easily by the PLM and they can be queried just as easily.

 

The problem is with a second Outletlinc, connected on the same circuit, installed in the ceiling and providing power to the door motor and to an extra light. This outlet is connected closer to the panel and its box is the junction providing power to the double gang box containing the other Insteon devices.

 

This second OutletLinc almost never answers query sent by the PLM. It may also not obey some On / Off command, but most time, they are applied. I use them to restore the communication between this OL and the ISY controller.

 

This second OutletLinc is also a responder to the dimmer installed in the garage. When controlled by the dimmer, the OutletLinc always obey the On / Off command properly.

 

Of my 3 access point, none of them is plugged in the circuit controlled by this breaker. The main reason is for a better RF coverage inside the condo for my remotelinc (which is also a lot of trouble, but I will work on it later...)

 

Any idea what can be wrong ?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Jacques

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Jacques,

 

I can think of two reasons:

1. The problematic OL is on a different phase than your PLM

2. The load for your OL is causing interference even though it works with the dimmer directly

 

It's easiest to start with #2. Would you be kind enough to unplug the load to your OL and retry. If this fails, then would you be kind enough to plug in one of your Access Points in the always on outlet on your OL?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Hi,

 

In my garage, I have 1 IOLinc for the garage door. This IOLinc is plugged in the always On part of a first OutletLinc. In the same double gang box, I have a switchlink dimmer controlling the main light. All of them are turned On and Off easily by the PLM and they can be queried just as easily.

 

The problem is with a second Outletlinc, connected on the same circuit, installed in the ceiling and providing power to the door motor and to an extra light. This outlet is connected closer to the panel and its box is the junction providing power to the double gang box containing the other Insteon devices.

 

This second OutletLinc almost never answers query sent by the PLM. It may also not obey some On / Off command, but most time, they are applied. I use them to restore the communication between this OL and the ISY controller.

 

This second OutletLinc is also a responder to the dimmer installed in the garage. When controlled by the dimmer, the OutletLinc always obey the On / Off command properly.

 

Of my 3 access point, none of them is plugged in the circuit controlled by this breaker. The main reason is for a better RF coverage inside the condo for my remotelinc (which is also a lot of trouble, but I will work on it later...)

 

Any idea what can be wrong ?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Jacques

[JacquesB]

Hi,

 

thanks for your reply. I already tried the AP straight in the OL and it did not help. I had 3 more OL and replaced the bugged one with a new and the setup seems to work properly since.

 

Next thing to do will be to re-use the first one and see if it keeps working strangely or not. I will also be sure that the new one remains reliable.

 

When the installation will be proved stable enough, I will tell you.

 

Thanks again,

 

Jacques

[SteveL]

JacquesB

 

Sometimes just doing a power cycle can resolve the issue. I would be curious to know if the first OL workes in the next place you try it.

 

Steve L

Smarthome

[JacquesB]

Hi,

 

My OutletLinc does not link any more. Its always on plug is On and the controlled plug is still controlled by the local Set button, but the ISY can no longer links it, despite it is only one junction box away, an ApplianceLinc being connected in the defective OutletLinc and the PLM being itself plugged in the always on part of another OutletLinc.

 

When 3 repeaters in 2 boxes is not enough, the problem is not just poor signal.

 

As for me, this outletlinc is completely dead...

 

Unless you have more ideas ?

 

Jacques

[JacquesB]

Update :

 

As a matter of fact, I did link the OutletLinc to the ISY, but the OutletLins seems to crash and reboot when managed by the PLM. After a crash, I turned it back to Linking mode and the PLM finished its job.

 

Now, the OutletLinc is linked, but keeps crashing 50% of time I try to turn it On. When it crashes, the set LED turns off for a moment and the Outletlinc comes back as Off.

 

Really look like a defective OutletLinc...

 

Jacques

[Brian H]

Sounds like the Motor maybe making a electrical spike that is crashing the OutletLinc. In a small test try a standard incandescent light bulb in the OutletLinc and see if it then works correctly.

 

Could also be a bad OutletLinc as you thought.

[JacquesB]

Hi,

 

the last test was not done in the garage, so the motor is not the culprit. In fact, nothing was plugged at first and next, an Icon ApplianceLinc was the only load.

 

After posting last night, I heard some loud cracking from the Outletlinc, so I disconnected it and definitely retired it.

 

I don't know if the motor could have damage the Outletlinc when installed in this first position, but this last try was both a -last- try and a failure.

 

Jacques