INSTEON Install Issues

[upstatemike]

I ran into some interesting INSTEON installation challenges last night and am wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems:

1- I was replacing a pair of SmartLinc v1 switches in my Living Room which I expected to go smoothly since the INSTEON switches are shallower, but when I tried to push them in place they wouldn't go into the box! Turns out this VERY old 2-gang box has a flared lip with rounded corners. The INSTEON switches, while shallow, are as wide as the faceplate and the square corners of the switches just won't fit in the rounded corners of the box. Ironically, INSTEON switches are clear so you can see all the empty space inside. There doesn't appear to be any reason that the case could not have been made a little narrower or at least the corners rounded a bit to avoid this issue. A narrower case might also improve heat concerns in multi-gang installations by allowing a little air gap between switches.

2- One of the switches does not have a load attached and just acts as a transmitter for all the lamps in the room which are attached to 4 LampLinc modules. I linked the modules to the switch with no problem but I also wanted to change the ramp rate on the LampLincs. (The default rate is too fast; you might as well be using applince modules!) According to the directions you have to put the switch in Link mode again and then use it to dim the lamps to a level that corresponds to the ramp rate you want. The catch-22 is that once the switch is in Link mode it can no longer dim the LampLinc modules so you are stuck. Since ramp rates are tied to the link to the switch, I don't think you can preset the ramp rate using a different controller. And besides I am not using any other controllers with these lamps, this switch is the only thing that controls them.

Anybody else come up against these issues?

 

[Mike]

I just started putting some in myself. I didn't have the issue with the box, but I did wind up having to shave the black retainer clip (for lack of a better word) for the screwless trim plates. The shape made it so the nubs would not line up with the holes on the switch (below/above the screw on the top and bottom).

A razor blade and a slight modification and it worked fine, but they fill it completely.

I believe the trimplates I had were made by Compli.

 

[dwarf]

2- One of the switches does not have a load attached and just acts as a transmitter for all the lamps in the room which are attached to 4 LampLinc modules. I linked the modules to the switch with no problem but I also wanted to change the ramp rate on the LampLincs. (The default rate is too fast; you might as well be using applince modules!) According to the directions you have to put the switch in Link mode again and then use it to dim the lamps to a level that corresponds to the ramp rate you want. The catch-22 is that once the switch is in Link mode it can no longer dim the LampLinc modules so you are stuck. Since ramp rates are tied to the link to the switch, I don't think you can preset the ramp rate using a different controller. And besides I am not using any other controllers with these lamps, this switch is the only thing that controls them.

Anybody else come up against these issues?

Mike,

I ran into this same issue with my lamplincs. Although the quick start guide does not mention how to do this here is the procedure that worked for me.

Adjust the dim level on the lamplinc and double tap it. The light should flash indicating it has accepted the ramp rate. Then go into linking mode on the Dimmer and link it to the lamplinc. As long as you link the lamplinc in 4 minutes or less it will save the ramp rate as it is being controlled remotely. :blink:

 

[upstatemike]

Thanks dwarf! I'll give that a try. Do you know if I have to remove my existing links or will the old data get overwritten if I just link the modules again?

 

[dwarf]

you can leave the existing links as long as you are going to link them to the same devices (i.e. if you are only changing on levels and ramp rates it should be o.k.). If you are linking to other devices it would be good to remove them.