Interesting Noise problem

[jasonl99]

Let me first off say this is neither a problem the ISY or with Insteon, but I am hoping someone here can offer an idea how to fix it.

 

I use two things over the powerline: Insteon and "The Energy Detective" (TED 5000). I am sure many of you are aware of what TED does - it monitors your whole house power and sends that data over the powerline a gateway device not unlike the ISY. Both the ISY and the TED are in the same room.

 

Yesterday, I put a motion sensor and a lamplinc which controls an air filter in our furnace room where our cats' litterobox is located. Five minutes after the cats have left the room, the ISY turns on the air filter for ten minutes.

 

I noticed today that absolutely zero data was coming through TED while the air filter was running. I could still control the air filter via insteon commands. Turning off the air filter instantaneously restored TED communications. It was 100% repeatability - turning on the fan killed TED comms, turning off the fan immediatley restored it.

 

Clearly, the air filter's motor is introducing some sort of noise which is making TED communication impossible. I have seen references to isolation filters here for Insteon; is it possible that this sort of filter would work here too? Where do you buy them and what do you recommend?

 

Thanks for any help.

[garybixler]

Hi Jason

 

I might suggest using an appliance module on the filter fan instead of a lamplinc. That may cause some problems.

 

Gary

[brad77]

From the TED troubleshooting guide:

 

TED communicates over the existing power lines in your home using 
Power Line Carrier Technology. TED digital communication signals 
are imposed over a carrier frequency of 132 kHz which is transmitted 
during the zero crossing of the power line 60 Hz signal.

INSTEON operates at 131.65 kHz. FilterLincs are designed for X10, and so operate at 120 kHz. This is apparently sufficiently close the INSTEON's frequency, so they should work for both. I would assume that they would help with your TED as well as it is very close the the INSTEON frequency.

 

You may want to use the AF120 (link), which has an advertised range of 30 to 200 kHz. Keep in mind that this device is somewhat large, and can be unsightly. It does, however, have an easily replaceable fuse.

 

If you opt for the FilterLinc, make sure to refer to your air filter's specifications or test your motor's power draw if possible (including a possible spike upon startup). Do this to determine the appropriate size FilterLinc to get. I've blown a fuse on one before, and replacing it is not an easy task. You might want to pick up a Kill-A-Watt for that.

[brad77]

I agree with Gary. A LampLinc is a dimmer, and may do funky things with inductive loads like a fan.

[Brian H]

I have also seen dimming type modules. Do strange things with inductive loads. ApplianceLinc sounds better to me.

[oberkc]

I use smarthome filterlinks with great success on my insteon system.

[jasonl99]

Thanks for your advice guys. I only used the lamplinc (at 100%) because I had one I wasn't using. I have an appliancelinc controlling a table lamp (with a CFL bulb). I will swap them with each other and see how that works.

 

If that doesn't work, I will try the filterlinc.

 

FWIW, this is the first time I've had any problem with TED and Insteon coexisting, so if anyone has considered an TED, they seem to be ok together.

 

Thanks again for your help!

[helipal]

Hi Jasonl99,

 

I had also purchased the TED a few months ago for use on my hybrid Insteon / X10 system controlled by Isy. After @ 10 days of use I had no problems with the insteon devises, but the X-10 was a differant problem! even with filters I could not stop reandom X-10 controlled devises from switching on.

 

I ultimatly switched to the cent-o-meter which doesnt use powerline carriers for communication. The people at TED were quite helpfull though, and immediatly offered a refund. They indicated they were considering a future offering that didin't use power line communication.

[kcrossley]

Hi Jasonl99,

 

I had also purchased the TED a few months ago for use on my hybrid Insteon / X10 system controlled by Isy. After @ 10 days of use I had no problems with the insteon devises, but the X-10 was a differant problem! even with filters I could not stop reandom X-10 controlled devises from switching on.

 

I ultimatly switched to the cent-o-meter which doesnt use powerline carriers for communication. The people at TED were quite helpfull though, and immediatly offered a refund. They indicated they were considering a future offering that didin't use power line communication.

 

I'm having similar issues. Did you purchase your TED 5000 direct from the manufacturer or through a distributor?

[kcrossley]

Hi Jasonl99,

 

I had also purchased the TED a few months ago for use on my hybrid Insteon / X10 system controlled by Isy. After @ 10 days of use I had no problems with the insteon devises, but the X-10 was a differant problem! even with filters I could not stop reandom X-10 controlled devises from switching on.

 

I ultimatly switched to the cent-o-meter which doesnt use powerline carriers for communication. The people at TED were quite helpfull though, and immediatly offered a refund. They indicated they were considering a future offering that didin't use power line communication.

 

I'm having similar issues. Did you purchase your TED 5000 direct from the manufacturer or through a distributor?

[helipal]

I had purchased from the manufacture direct