EZswitch30 or ELK

[pemoller]

 

I needed a good insteon device to control 220VAC for a hot water heater. There are only two turnkey solutions - EZswitch30 or ELK.

 

I purchased the EZswitch30 because it was smaller than the ELK. I'm not sure that this was the correct choice.

 

Issues with the EZswitch30

- terminals are weak and may not support 10 gauge wire stress

 

- no indicator light to show on/off status

 

- no easy way to connect wires through a conduit - I can't believe that unprotected wires into the side of this box would meet code

 

- REQUIRES a neutral --- well not all 220VAC wiring has a neutral - I used the ground since it is a home run to the panel - but that is a hack - the alternative is to pull more wire.

 

- communications to the unit seems unreliable - about 50% sucessful communications

 

- no X-10 bridge - my purpose in adding the EZswitch was to IMPROVE reliability of communications to the hot water heater control but now my remaining X10 devices are LESS reliable because I replcaced the 220VAC X-10 switch that had a bridge

 

The ELK is bigger, but may be more reliable and wooud not have the probem with no neutral - BUT this one will require a nearby 110VAC outlet.

 

EZswitch is recognized b the ISY-99i but not by the Houseinc2 which I have running as a backup controller.

 

Before this purchase I was tempted to build my own unit much like the ELK, but I felt that a turnkey solution would be less effort!

 

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello pemoller,

 

SmartHome does have a 220 SWL but it's a little strange looking: it's basically two 120v SWLs.

 

Apart from that, I am not aware of any other 220v relays.

 

With kind regards,

Michel