INSTEON® Micro Relay (On/Off)

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › INSTEON® Micro Relay (On/Off) - install query

lchiu7

6466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#198526 12-Jul-2016 19:17

Anybody ever installed one of these units in the wall cavity behind the switch?

http://www.insteon.com.au/INSTEON_Micro_Relay.html

It looks pretty straightforward except my switches are dual - that is there are two sets of switches for the same lamps at the opposite of the hallway.

Thanks

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

shortcircuit

86 posts

Master Geek

#1590617 12-Jul-2016 22:07

I've got them all through my place, I believe they should/must be installed by an electrician (I certainly wouldn't try it if the sparkie's curses are anything to go by).

The sparky installed one on a dual switch like yours but couldn't get it to work reliably and we took it out (I put an insteon bulb in the light instead- works fine).

The problems with the micro switches are:

They only just fit behind the switch plates, the wires are easily broken/dislodged, I've had 2 (out of about 8) fail suspiciously after thunderstorms- possibly a power surge? Other than that they are pretty responsive and reliable

Also a good idea to write down the module numbers before you install them.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

lchiu7

6466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1590840 13-Jul-2016 10:07

Thanks for that. The switch controls 5 lights in the ceiling so going to Insteon bulbs might be a bit pricy.

I will engage a sparky. I presume the issue you describe is finding space in the cavity for the microswitch?

Were you covered under warranty for the failures?

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

chimera

506 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1590850 13-Jul-2016 10:19

Ah... go with Fibaro gear mate, all the way!

What you're talking about is a 2 way lighting circuit. I have a 2 way in my hallway, installed Fibaro relay switch at the main end and it works fine. Whats more, the relay has 2 input/outputs so I have one channel controlling my main (ceiling mounted) lights and one controlling my (wall mounted) sensor lights.

It does mean you'll need to go ZWave, but Aeotec controllers are cheap.

lchiu7

6466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1590931 13-Jul-2016 12:31

Well I have already bought the switch so I do want to use it. I am also thinking of Zwave since that would provide a means to control my gas heater. The ignition is just a low voltage relay in the wall which I could replace with a Zwave enabled relay below the heater itself and control that via Alexa (using OpenHab and HABridge).

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.