More on 3-way

[Kentinada]

I have been reading several threads on 3-way switches but still have questions.

 

My specific situation I would like to address is this. In my family room, I have two 3-way switches that control the bottom plug of the outlets in the room. (bought the house this way) I have lamps plugged into two of those outlets so either switch will turn them on or off.

A. If I want to use a Switchlinc here, do I have to replace both old switches with Switchlincs or just one of them and leave one old switch installed?

B. Can one of these switches be replaced with a Keypadlinc?

C. Does it make any sense or is it easier if I leave the switches alone and replace the outlets with Outletlincs?

[LeeG]

Kentinada

 

A. Both switches have to be Insteon devices. Insteon devices are not like standard 3 way switches. All wired devices must receive unswitched 120V AC which means that some of the traveler wires will have to be retasked. Insteon devices function as 3/4/5 way devices by being cross-linked together rather than an wired together.

B. Yes, one can be a SwitchLinc or ICON, one can be a KeypadLinc. To control an outlet the device that is actually controlling the load must be a Relay device (not a dimmer, dimmer would be against code).

C. The OutletLInc would not be controlled by the existing 3-ways switches. As with all wired Insteon devices the OutletLinc must received unswitched 120V AC (except 220V load controller which runs on 220V).

 

Lee

[Kentinada]

1. Does that mean that I can cross link any two Switchlincs I have installed and make them into a quasi 3-way circuit?

2. Are they cross linked through the ISY admin console only? In other words, they cannot be cross-linked outside of the ISY console?

3. If I cross link switch A and switch B, when I press either switch, do lights A and B both come on?

4. Do I understand you correctly that I cannot put a dimmer Switchlinc in if it is controlling a normal outlet? It has to be a simple on/off switch?

5. When you say some of the traveler wires have to "retasked", what does that mean exactly? Is there a primer you can point me to?

 

Again, many thanks for the great information.

[LeeG]

1. Does that mean that I can cross link any two Switchlincs I have installed and make them into a quasi 3-way circuit?

 

Yes. Not limited to SwitchLincs. You can cross-link any number and type of Insteon devices so long as the device has Controller capability.

 

2. Are they cross linked through the ISY admin console only? In other words, they cannot be cross-linked outside of the ISY console?

 

Cross-linking is just another term for Scene and all Scenes must be created by the Admin Console. That is a logical rule, not a physical rule. If you link outside of the ISY using Set buttons and/or paddle presses ISY will not be aware of the link and can overlay the link records.

 

3. If I cross link switch A and switch B, when I press either switch, do lights A and B both come on?

 

Yes. Is that not the neatest thing!

 

4. Do I understand you correctly that I cannot put a dimmer Switchlinc in if it is controlling a normal outlet? It has to be a simple on/off switch?

 

It is against electrical code for any type of dimmer to power an outlet. If the outlet was accidently dimmed and an appliance plugged into the outlet like a TV or vacuum cleaner the appliance could be damaged. A dimmer could be linked to a SwitchLinc relay or KeypadLinc Relay that is controlling the outlet. The Insteon device that has the Red Load wire connected to the outlet must be a Relay device.

 

5. When you say some of the traveler wires have to "retasked", what does that mean exactly? Is there a primer you can point me to?

 

The Smarthome User Guides for the various devices have diagrams that cover some of the basic 3-wire circuits and how they have to be changed. One of the 3-way switches does not have unswitched 120V AC. That is the nature of a 3-way circuit. Most 3-way circuits are simple and easy to convert so that unswitched 120V AC is run to all the Insteon devices. Some circuits get very messy with power running to the fixture being controlled rather to one of the 3-way switch locations. If you cannot figure it out from the diagrams in the User Guides I suggest getting an electrician or neighbor who has electrical knowledge. There are some current and retired electricians on the Smarthome forum who are very good at walking folks through a 3-wire change.

 

To cross-link Insteon devices, define an ISY Scene. Right click on the SwitchLinc, KeypadLinc button, ICON, etc node in the My Lighting tree and select Add to Scene. Add each switch as a Controller of the Scene. The ISY assumes the device is also a Responder if the device has Responder capability. When all the switches have been added to the Scene as a Controller the ISY will write all the link records necessary for each switch to be able to turn the Load On/Off and keep the other switches status LEDs in sync.