greazer Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 I have two IO Linc's connected to the two garage doors in my house. I'd say about 75% of the time they work exactly how I have them setup with the ISY programming. However, the other 25% of the time sometimes a door doesn't open/close when sent the request. I also experience errors in the ISY admin console indicating there is a problem communicating with the "Garage # sensor". If I query the device, it usually resolves the communications error (no more red exclamation points next to the device). I don't really have any sort of problem like this with any other sensor, device or ISY program in my home, and I have probably close to 100 Insteon devices. It's just the damn garage doors. The garage door openers are on their own circuit in my electrical panel. I do have a fridge in my garage, but it's not a big one and again it's not on the same circuit at least. But to be safe I put a filter-linc on it, thinking that that might be causing the problem. Nope. I've experimented putting filter-linc's on the garage door openers themselves to no avail as well. I've been kinda successfully living with this problem for about 2 years, but I'm finally fed up enough to try and get some advice. Any and all would be great. Thank you!
greazer Posted July 18, 2021 Author Posted July 18, 2021 Sigh, just found these two topics. The first one looks quite appropriate to me, the second was a topic on this very problem I tried to solve 2 years ago. Guess my memory is just full of noise too. I don't recall whether I checked my LED bulbs as the culprit. Gonna go do that now. Regardless, if anybody has anything else interesting to say, I'd still appreciate it. and
Brian H Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 The I/OLinc is a power line only style module. A Dual Band module or Range Extender. Have been noted to help. If you have any Dual Band module with in RF distance. LED bulbs in garage door openers have been known to cause issues. I think it was Liftmaster sells a LED bulb tested to be OK in their openers. Some have also had success with powering the opener through a FilterLinc. Do you have any of those new style Deformable type LED lights in the garage. Some do make power line noise or be a signal sucker. Some are noted for killing your openers RF keyfob remotes function to maybe 5 feet or less. I have one that causes RF and power line noise myself.
larryllix Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 UNscrew the light bulbs and retest. That should indicate whether the bulbs are causing problems. In my case I have an AC motor Liftmaster that was causing slight problems on my Insteon system. I never knew it was a problem until adding a second Liftmaster DC motor unit. That unit crippled my whole Insteon system 70% of the time, so it was easy to debug. After unplugging the units my Insten system returned t 100%. Two FilterLincs solved my problems. The manuals stated NOT to use LED bulbs but I persisted with good dimmable LED bulbs. They have better power supplies and cause much less line noise, unless the PS capacitors wear out (like PLMs)
greazer Posted July 18, 2021 Author Posted July 18, 2021 Ah, both very useful! The fact that the I/O Linc is powerline only would totally help explain why it's only the garage doors that I'm having trouble with. Er, I mean I may be having trouble with other devices, but since they're dual band, I just don't notice the problems as much. I actually have a range extender in the garage, plugged into one of the other outlets in the garage, but I suppose if the noise is happening between where the I/OLinc is and when the range extender "sees" the signal, that could be a problem. So I'd think plugging the range extender into the same outlet as the I/OLinc might do the trick as I have another dual band switch in the garage anyway. Great to know about the LED bulbs! Right now I do have incandescents in the openers themselves. Probably from trying to fix this before.
Brian H Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 You could even plug the Range Extender into the pass through outlet on the front of the I/OLinc. If you are using incandescent bulbs now. Bulbs are probably not your issue. The AC input the opener maybe sucking up the Insteon signals. To keep internal electronic noise off of the power lines. You may find an AC rated capacitor across the power line input. Works fine for internal noise but also effects Insteon power line signals.
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