Re: Time for HA, finally. Thinking Insteon. Mulling this for 20 years. What is best?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 4 Jan 2007 21:17:26 -0800, "Greg" <gharrison2@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message  <1167974246.545417.217370@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:03:20 -0500, Marc_F_Hult
<MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
<4hlrp25qas7ec690eqa98cv4jfcerd1q7l@xxxxxxx>:

>> As I've written previously in this newsgroup, an in-wall dimmer with a
>> standard receptacle would be a violation of the US National Electrical
>> code 110-3(B)+ 404.14(E) and bad practice to boot.
>>
>> And an in-line dimmer powering a duplex wall receptacle would also be a
>> violation and should not be recommended for that and other good reasons.
>>
>
>That makes sense.  Luckily the Insteon stuff only takes up one plug in
>the outlet.  Gots to look forward to pulling the couch out another
>couple inches :)

Note too that the "inline modules" are effectively jist wall switches for
which they charge but don't provide the front plastic parts. So one can
turn any wall switch into an in-line module.

I bought an in-line module and built it into my hardwired AC and lighting
system so that it now powers an AC contactor (relay) which in turns in
controls (ON-OFF) 20 amp duplex outlets outside the house. The inline
modules aren't rated for 20amps and a short (eg from sawing through a chain
saw power cord) would blow out the TRIAC-based version rather than popping
the breaker.

>Eeek about the recall rate.  I got a $99 deal on the repeaters and the
>dimmers, and they didn't come with the 7 year warrantee availability.

The term "recall" conjures up circumstances and safety issues that didn't
apply to most of the reasons for returning INSTEON products. And the
one-year warranty has been sufficient to cover the issues entirely (at
least in my case).

The principle reasons for returning equipment has been to replace early
versions for updated revisions. The USB/RS-232 interfaces were upgraded and
problem fixed that involved flickering/flashing/blinking when dimmers were
used at power levels over about 250 watts under some circumstances. I've
made both exchanges. There was also one true 'recall' that might have
involved a potential safety issue but I don't remember what it was and it
didn't affect me although I have at least one of most every INSTEON
hardware product offered as of this summer.

So most of the returns were due to early bugs/issues during the first
year's production that have since been (apparently) been worked out.  I
would not have even have known about the 'flickering' issue had there not
been reports on the internet about the phenomenon. I had to set up a test
situation to replicate it in my house.

So I wouldn't fret about it. Most likely you are past the bleeding edge of
product introduction. But if you are the sort of person that is driven to
visiting the web site of your computer's manufacturer weekly to see if an
update/tweak is available for its BIOS, you will likely also have more
opportunities to tinker and play with INSTEON returns too ;-)

... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org