Insteon toggle switches

[Rupp]

Guys,
I haven't used 6 of my Insteon toggle switches 'manually" since I installed them. They still work via HomeSeer but this weekend my wife turned on all six switches and none of them will turn off at the switch. Is this the same issue others were seeing with these switches failing? I pounded on one and it finally went off but the others I had to turn off via automation. Am I stuck with these are are they still returnable?

 

[BLH]

Yes it sounds like the Tact Switch problem.
You may want to call Smarthome as there was a replacement program in place and I believe users are still getting swaps.
Not sure if you need it but if you have a list of the numbers on the stickers it may indicate the production run yours are from.

 

[Steve]

I thought the tact switch problem was just really cheap tact switches that just wore out quickly. How can a switch that is never used manually have that problem? Either was it sounds like a bad switch, but just seems funny it wont work and not related to wear.

 

[Digger]

The tact switch problem was not a wear issue as some new out of the box didnt even work. It was either a manufacturing error (contaminating the switch) or real cheap switches that could not handle the low currents of the circuit they were switching.

While on the subject it looks like another recall may be coming on Insteon. According to their forum multiple users complained about the 1000 watt dimmers causing the lights to flicker. After a few complaints SH admitted on 5/4 that all of the instock switches are bad so dont bother trying to get a replacement. However you can buy all of them you want on the SH website. SH still has not learned.

 

[BLH]

I have two unused ones in spares. I tested them a few weeks ago and both have paddle switches that are flaky; still in the box.
I believe the contacts of the switches where of a poor quality material and make poor contact as that age.

I have also seen recent firmware SwitchLincs causing communications problems; even between other modules.

 

[Digger]

I have two unused ones in spares. I tested them a few weeks ago and both have paddle switches that are flaky; still in the box.
I believe the contacts of the switches where of a poor quality material and make poor contact as that age.

I have also seen recent firmware SwitchLincs causing communications problems; even between other modules.

Back when I had Insteon I found just a few defective switches that caused havoc in my install because of the noise (let alone all of the failures). SH and their moderator blamed noise from TV's etc but using a scope my friend tracked it down to the defective switches and getting rid of them did help a lot. But the constant failures etc make Insteon into (in the famous words of Sloop) craplincs. I had thought they were getting better but it does not seem that way from what I read.

Almost 2 years now on UPB and not a single failure.

I would say you get what you pay for but UPB is really the same price as Insteon after you add in all of the accesspoints and filters etc you need.