Dimmer Flickering during Insteon Traffic

[dpm]

Dimmer flickering with Insteon traffic

10-31-2023, 05:36 AM. (moved from another forum page)

I am sure I may be raising a common issue
i have a new house full of Insteon dimmers that I am being on-line. So far about 35 devices. Will soon have 28 x 2477 dimmers, 14 x 6 button keypanels, 15 switches.
Many of these devices were bought during the bankruptcy on e-bay (talk about a loyal Insteon customer!)

it seems whenever any lights are on, they tend to flicker whenever there is Insteon traffic. Seemingly, it is worst whenever the Hub “queries them”
I say this because when NO Insteon app is opened on my phone (or iPad), No flicker.
But as soon as I open the app, and I see it start to interrogate the status of each dimmer, they all flicker.
Sometimes it will also happen for about 10 seconds, when I trigger a scene with many members.

I had a previous house with about 50 Insteon dimmers and switches (however different LED lights) with No Flicker issues.
I have had enough Insteon product with different LED lights to recognize a dimmer LED problem. This seems to be different, since isolated to command and status traffic.

I see others have had similar issues.
Has anyone ever solved it ?

Do Insteon tech respond to these posts ?

Thanks!

[AnjanaTelaney]

It's definitely a common issue, and while Insteon tech doesn't directly respond to all forum posts, they do monitor them and use the information to troubleshoot and improve their products. Here are some things you can try:

Potential solutions:

• Update firmware: Ensure all your Insteon devices (hub and dimmers) are running the latest firmware. Updates can sometimes address communication issues and improve stability.
• Reduce polling: Check your hub settings for polling frequency. Try lowering it to see if it reduces unnecessary communication and flickering.
• Filter scenes: Avoid scenes that involve many lights turning on/off simultaneously. This can overload the network and contribute to flickering.
• Change LED drivers: While you mentioned different LEDs in your previous house, some LED drivers might be more sensitive to Insteon communication than others. Experiment with different brands or models.
• Check wiring: Loose connections or faulty wiring in your electrical system can also cause flickering. Ensure all connections are secure and properly installed.

[BLH]

You can't update the firmware in the dimmers.
Only a source code and programmer connected to the dimmers programming connections would work.

[PrakashBaghela]

Flickering with Hub interaction sounds frustrating! You're definitely not alone, it's a known issue with some setups. Here's what I can share:

• Isolate the cause:
  • Try powerline filters on specific circuits near flickering lights.
  • Remove non-Insteon devices from the line to identify interference.
  • Temporarily swap a known flickering dimmer to see if the issue follows.
• Software solutions:
  • Update your Hub and all devices to the latest firmware.
  • Try disabling unused features like auto-detect or Insteon Security.
  • Consider alternative control methods like scenes or timers instead of app control.
• Hardware options:
  • Upgrade older dimmers to newer models if possible.
  • Some users report success with specific LED bulb brands reducing flicker.
• Seek community support:
  • Insteon forum can be a wealth of knowledge and experience. Share your setup details and troubleshooting steps.
  • Many users find other users or even Insteon reps providing helpful insights.

Remember, every setup is unique, and solutions may vary.

I hope this helps! Keep at it, and hopefully you'll find a way to eliminate that annoying flicker.

[scopedoc]

Lotus LED light fixtures and Insteon 2477D dimmers- I'm building a house- and hoping to used Insteon dimmers with Lotus lighting- anyone aware of any compatibility issues? thanks in advance

[dpm]

Ok. FINALLY SOLVED Flickering

The good folks at Insteon will not explicitly tell you this.

I like Insteon. I renovated an entire house with product I bought from EBay, while Insteon was in bankruptcy! Figuring if they did not “emerge” that I would use a universal control system.
I was very happy when they resurfaced.
I could not find the equivalent of the keypads anywhere else.
I had a previous house with a pile of Insteon (50 pieces) and never had this issue.
I get that it very much depends on the LED light and driver.
I tested my WAC Lotus 4” light with a 2477. Worked fined and dimmed quite well. This was before I bought and installed 60 lotus’, over 50 Insteon pieces.
And also before I realized the following:

The 6 and 8 button keypanels are VERY prone to flickering when dimmed. Especially when other Insteon traffic happens. The 2477 dimmer is not as susceptible, but not immune either.
After much research and consternation, and some help from super helpful Insteon rep on the phone. This solution worked for me and eliminated ANY flicker that I had……and I had a LOT!
Even though they cost about $12 each. I installed one of these for every string (or single) lights I had on a Keypad. And a few on ornery 2477’s. This was about 15 of them.
Problem solved!

They dissipate a little heat (the tech specs say 1.8w) so rather than add that heat to the dimmer’s heat, I decided to put them up in one of the lights on each circuit, in the metal enclosure where the WAC gets spliced into the romex. There is a convenient little plastic press fit connector there, that had extra slots. Super easy. Plus this solved the crowding in the switch boxes due to the depth of the keypads and dimmers. They get wired in parallel to the 120vac line.

This was such a disappointment when we first turned on the house on. And even after the testing before purchase/install….
I thought I would post this and try and save others the thrash.

https://ldsdimming.com/products/10-p...oad-stabilizer