Re: ICON line of Insteon, no more?

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

RickH <passport@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>On Jan 16, 2:48 pm, nob...@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote:
>> There's a thread on the Smarthome forum about them being discontinued but I
>> don't think there was any official announcement or acknowedgement. There's
>> still a listing for a 2876DB on their EBay outlet.
>>
>>    http://www.techmall.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2420
>>
>> http://stores.ebay.com/Smarthome-Factory-Store_Lighting-X10_W0QQcolZ4...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> RickH <passp...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >On Jan 16, 1:02 pm, nob...@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote:
>> >> I believe they are discontinued but you might find dealers who still have
>> >> stock. Google using "Insteon 2876S 2876D".
>>
>> >> I think the problem was the thin profit margin.
>>
>> >> RickH <passp...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> >Is the lower-priced ICON line of wall relay and dimmer switches
>> >> >discontinued?  The web site is not showing them when I search for Icon
>> >> >switch model numbers.  I have about 40 of them in my home, was there a
>> >> >problem with them?  I'm a little worried seeing that they are not on
>> >> >the site, I'm looking for models 2876S and 2876D to order a couple
>> >> >more.
>>
>> >> >Does anybody know whats up?  I got no response from Smarthome for a
>> >> >week now, unusual for them to be so unresponsive.
>>
>> >>http://davehouston.net http://davehouston.orghttp://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/roZetta/
>> >> roZetta-subscr...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> >Thanks, thats a relief and seems like the reason.  Looking/comparing
>> >through the clear cases at the PC boards, the manufactuer seemed to be
>> >identical to the full-blown versions.  So quality was probably the
>> >same but with fewer features and less robust triac/relay.  But the
>> >savings of a smaller relay and triac probably was not proportional to
>> >the $15-$20 cheaper price, cutting their profit.
>>
>> http://davehouston.net http://davehouston.orghttp://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/roZetta/
>> roZetta-subscr...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>My response from SH is that the ICON line was discontinued due to poor
>sales.  My old switches are fully warrented and any that fail will be
>replaced with the current non-ICON branded ones.
>
>I did have a relay fuse together on one of them, but that is probably
>my own fault because I exceeded the wattage of the ICON relay by about
>20 watts and it welded the relay contacts "on" permanently.  They are
>replacing it for me, as there was confusion over if the ICON relays
>were rated for 300 or 480 watts.  This is the only failure I have had
>with about 40 to 50 switches.  The regular switches are rated 480
>watts, I dont know why they just dont put 600 watt relays in all of
>them.

With the low price and small margins, they needed high sales volume to make
a profit. The collapse of new construction (down 25% nationally, worse in
California) probably hurt their marketing plan.

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