I've got a SwitchLinc 2477S (the admin console says it is v .45) that is connected to a single light fixture with 4 LED bulbs in it. The bulbs have been lasting about 3-6 months or so before going into pretty intense flickering if the light is on for any length of time. When they start to go, it normally starts with a slight flicker after the fixture has been on for 20 minutes or so, then over time progresses into intense flickering after the fixture has been on for only a minute or two. Normally it only happens with one or two bulbs and the others are unaffected until they reach a similar age.

I'm at the eliminating variables stage-- I have not yet been able to nail down a suitable replacement bulb (they're A15s due to size of the fixture; been having a hard time finding replacements of a different brand that are also bright enough). I've now gone through 5 or 6 bulbs from different purchase lots scattered over the course of not quite a year, so I'm doubtful that it's just a bad batch, and think that either the whole brand is junk or it's something else.

Since this is an abnormally short lifetime for most LED bulbs, I've started wondering if it could be the SwitchLinc affecting the bulbs and reducing their lifespan. I have had it installed for probably 8 years and have not had any issues with it, but the fixture it was attached to was changed about a year ago and they used to be incandescent bulbs.

Have any of you with SwitchLincs seen a failure mode like this?

Edited December 30, 20222 yr by neromir

The driver circuit in your LED bulbs may not be compatible with triac dimmers which Insteon uses.

The A15 is not a widely used bulb, you may want to contact their customer service regarding compatibility

Philips and Feit bulbs work well with Insteon but I'm not sure if they have a A15 base

 

43 minutes ago, neromir said:

I've got a SwitchLinc 2477S (the admin console says it is v .45) that is connected to a single light fixture with 4 LED bulbs in it. The bulbs have been lasting about 3-6 months or so before going into pretty intense flickering if the light is on for any length of time. When they start to go, it normally starts with a slight flicker after the fixture has been on for 20 minutes or so, then over time progresses into intense flickering after the fixture has been on for only a minute or two. Normally it only happens with one or two bulbs and the others are unaffected until they reach a similar age.

I'm at the eliminating variables stage-- I have not yet been able to nail down a suitable replacement bulb (they're A15s due to size of the fixture; been having a hard time finding replacements of a different brand that are also bright enough). I've now gone through 5 or 6 bulbs from different purchase lots scattered over the course of not quite a year, so I'm doubtful that it's just a bad batch, and think that either the whole brand is junk or it's something else.

Since this is an abnormally short lifetime for most LED bulbs, I've started wondering if it could be the SwitchLinc affecting the bulbs and reducing their lifespan. I have had it installed for probably 8 years and have not had any issues with it, but the fixture it was attached to was changed about a year ago and they used to be incandescent bulbs.

Have any of you with SwitchLincs seen a failure mode like this?

What brand bulbs? The 2477s is really based so I'd be surprised if it's that but it very well could be. I would try a completely different brand to see if it happens. If it does, swap out the switch

The switchlinc is not a dimmer so I'd suspect the bulbs first. I have a string of LED lights that are experiencing early life failures. Many of the bulbs failed with less than 100 hours of on time. Cheap LEDs manufactured in China with no quality test or burn-in are the problem. 

My error, I thought it was a 2477D that was connected to the bulbs. As Jackman suggested, the quality of the bulbs is most likely the problem. The 2477S switches the load with a relay. 

Thanks for the responses!

7 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

What brand bulbs? The 2477s is really based so I'd be surprised if it's that but it very well could be. I would try a completely different brand to see if it happens. If it does, swap out the switch

They're EcoSmart brand. So far I haven't been very impressed, but I think this is also the only fixture I've used them in; generally have tried to go with Philips brand so far.

I may take off the glass shrouds and see how it behaves with some larger bulbs from another brand that will fit without the glass on.

@neromir I have 15 Insteon switchlinc relay units in my system. I have used hardware and software versions of these switches dating back to 2006 and have never had a load side issue from a failing switch.

On 12/30/2022 at 4:08 PM, Techman said:

The driver circuit in your LED bulbs may not be compatible with triac dimmers which Insteon uses.

The A15 is not a widely used bulb, you may want to contact their customer service regarding compatibility

Philips and Feit bulbs work well with Insteon but I'm not sure if they have a A15 base

 

I think the original poster stated they're using a relay switch.

On 12/30/2022 at 3:45 PM, neromir said:

I've got a SwitchLinc 2477S (the admin console says it is v .45) that is connected to a single light fixture with 4 LED bulbs in it. The bulbs have been lasting about 3-6 months or so before going into pretty intense flickering if the light is on for any length of time. When they start to go, it normally starts with a slight flicker after the fixture has been on for 20 minutes or so, then over time progresses into intense flickering after the fixture has been on for only a minute or two. Normally it only happens with one or two bulbs and the others are unaffected until they reach a similar age.

I'm at the eliminating variables stage-- I have not yet been able to nail down a suitable replacement bulb (they're A15s due to size of the fixture; been having a hard time finding replacements of a different brand that are also bright enough). I've now gone through 5 or 6 bulbs from different purchase lots scattered over the course of not quite a year, so I'm doubtful that it's just a bad batch, and think that either the whole brand is junk or it's something else.

Since this is an abnormally short lifetime for most LED bulbs, I've started wondering if it could be the SwitchLinc affecting the bulbs and reducing their lifespan. I have had it installed for probably 8 years and have not had any issues with it, but the fixture it was attached to was changed about a year ago and they used to be incandescent bulbs.

Have any of you with SwitchLincs seen a failure mode like this?

Seems like the easiest way to test the hypothesis is to swap out the Switchlinc relay and see how the existing bulbs last.

I'd note the revision number of the 2477S and see if you can swap it out with a later revision.