Switchlinc not communicating - ISY looks buggy

[j0dan]

I have a Switchlinc in a bedroom that all of a sudden stopped working. It's been a week and I can't figure it out. I've reset it to factory defaults, restored the device from the ISY (when the ISY feels like working) and still nothing.

 

* Any actions in the ISY other than a simple on/off act don't work.

* If I add it to a scene, it usually doesn't show up, and the ISY GUI doesn't say anything. If I restart the ISY, it may show up in the scene, but won't respond.

* Nothing shows up in the event log either, for any devices.

* Any modification of current state, on level, or ramp rate doesn't do anything and the setting does not stay.

* Modification of on level or ramp rate in a scene for ANY device does not update.

 

The most frustrating thing is that the ISY doesn't tell me anything! I'm running 3.1.2.

 

Ideas?

[fitzpatri8]

Which dual-band devices do you have installed? Have you run the check to make sure that they are on opposite legs of your electric service and that they are communicating?

[j0dan]

Which dual-band devices do you have installed? Have you run the check to make sure that they are on opposite legs of your electric service and that they are communicating?

 

My PLM is dual band and I have two dual band Lamplincs.

 

I'm not sure what the range is on the wireless, but so far it looks like I don't have any devices on the second leg of the electrical system. I've been able to find the other leg, but having dual band devices on it hasn't improved anything. I also have other devices in the same room that work perfectly.

[fitzpatri8]

Devices in the same room can be on opposite legs. You've run the test and confirmed two of the dual-band devices remain on opposite legs and are talking?

 

Since the ISY can reliably control the device with on/off commands, standard messages are getting through. If this is the only device you are having trouble with, you know the ISY and PLM are functioning. Extended length messages are failing, which normally means some kind of communications barrier.

 

What is the load is attached to the switch? Have you checked for loose wire connections yet? When you turn off the breaker supplying this switch, does that also turn off power to a UPS or computer or media center on the same circuit? Have you tried moving one of the dual-band LampLincs over to the same circuit?

[j0dan]

Devices in the same room can be on opposite legs. You've run the test and confirmed two of the dual-band devices remain on opposite legs and are talking?

Yes.

 

Since the ISY can reliably control the device with on/off commands, standard messages are getting through. If this is the only device you are having trouble with, you know the ISY and PLM are functioning. Extended length messages are failing, which normally means some kind of communications barrier.

What about the issues like nothing showing up in the logs, even during scene tests, other than a bunch of red device failed messages?

 

What is the load is attached to the switch? Have you checked for loose wire connections yet? When you turn off the breaker supplying this switch, does that also turn off power to a UPS or computer or media center on the same circuit? Have you tried moving one of the dual-band LampLincs over to the same circuit?

A single incandescent bulb. Haven't checked the connections in the switch yet.

No UPS, computer, etc. on this circuit. It's on the "no electronics" side of the house too.

I've tried moving dual band lamplincs around that room with no luck yet, but I will verify what circuit everything is on now.

[j0dan]

I verified that all the plugs in that bedroom and the next bedroom are on the same circuit. No other devices. No computers, chargers, etc. etc.

 

I moved the ISY and PLM into the same room on an outlet just below the switch.

 

I still have the same problems with that one device.

 

Bad SwitchLinc?

 

What causes these to stop working?

[LeeG]

j0dan

 

The idea of putting the PLM and SwitchLinc in proximity is a great diagnostic technique. However, it is common for outlets and lighting circuits in the same room to be on difference circuit breakers and therefore different 120V legs.

 

Since the reliability of the SwitchLinc is in question remove the SwitchLinc from its current install location and connect it to a 3 wire appliance cord. All home improvement stores carry them. Plug on one end and bare wires on the other. Very easy to wire nut the SwitchLinc to the appliance cord and plug the SwitchLinc into the same outlet as the PLM.

 

If it fails there a call to Smarthome is in order. It is an electronic device and a failure of a new device does happen although rare. If it works on the appliance cord then other diagnostic work is needed. Some folks use an appliance cord to test all new wired devices before installing. Insures the device is working out of the box.

 

Lee

[j0dan]

The idea of putting the PLM and SwitchLinc in proximity is a great diagnostic technique. However, it is common for outlets and lighting circuits in the same room to be on difference circuit breakers and therefore different 120V legs.

A single breaker turned off both the light and the PLM.

 

Since the reliability of the SwitchLinc is in question remove the SwitchLinc from its current install location and connect it to a 3 wire appliance cord. All home improvement stores carry them. Plug on one end and bare wires on the other. Very easy to wire nut the SwitchLinc to the appliance cord and plug the SwitchLinc into the same outlet as the PLM.

What would cause this to work and not its current installation? Wiring problems within the wall?

 

If it fails there a call to Smarthome is in order. It is an electronic device and a failure of a new device does happen although rare. If it works on the appliance cord then other diagnostic work is needed. Some folks use an appliance cord to test all new wired devices before installing. Insures the device is working out of the box.

The device had been working for at least a month without any issues.

 

 

Thanks for the help!

[LeeG]

Wire connections are a possibility. A scan of the various Insteon related forums will find a number of connection issues. Thought to be sound connections, even tight when individual wires pulled. The advantage of the appliance cord is there are never any bundles of wires to connect. Always possible to mess up a two wire connection but harder to do and the wires are out in the open while being manipulated. Also provides positive failure recreation attributable to the device when talking to Smarhome about a replacement. The SwitchLinc has to be removed to be replaced so testing it in an environment that removes most of the questions can never hurt.

 

Not likely a physical wiring problem in the wall itself. Splices are not allowed so wiring does not fail in the middle of a run. In the grand scheme of things anything is possible but that would be a consideration only when the sun did not rise.

[j0dan]

Well I tried wiring it into another room. Happened to be on the same circuit though, but it didn't work. Smarthome had already shipped the replacement. Wow are they awesome to deal with!