Blue: switch on -> blinking

Digital Lounge General Discussion
#1

I’m new with Inovelli. Just installed a bunch of “blue” switches. All work as expected but one: when turning it on (switch mode), the (LED) lights start blinking (about 2 Hz) for a while and then turn on solid.

No problem with another switch. Is my Inovelli blue defective or just a weird configuration?

#2

LEDs on the switch or the LEDs connected to the load?

#3

I just changed line and load. Still blinking, but with a slightly faster frequency and it does not stop blinking any more.

So I assume line and load were correctly connected before.

#4

Neutral/Non-Neutral setup?
What kind of bulbs?

Do you have access to a multimeter or test light to make sure you’ve got your wiring correct?

#5

yes! Line is on Line, Load is on Load.

When I remove the Inovelli Switch and replace it by a dumb 2-way switch, it works!

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#6

Let’s try this again… Neutral or no neutral? What kind of bulbs (and total wattage of load)?

#7

Line to Line
Load to Load
Neutral connected
grounded

Load is: 4 x LED light 5.5 W each
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X9VR4N9/ )

  1. Inovelli Blue in Switch mode:
    blinking for 5 to 20 seconds, then constant light (for hours)

  2. Inovelli Blue in Dimmer mode:
    constant light until ~ 85% reached, then blinking for 5 to 20 seconds, then constant light

#8

May just need to install an Aeotec bypass.

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#9

I’m going to guess it’s a bulb incompatibility. Apparently, Feit bulbs can be funky. A different smart switch manufacturer recommends not using Feit bulbs with their switches.

You may be able to get by with a reduced output. Since it seems to work ok in the dimmer mode up to 85%, try setting the max output to 83%. That will adjust the dimming scale so that it will scale 0 - 100 but still limit the max output. In the switch mode, that 100% will be the reduced output as well. And that output will be below the trouble point reached in the dimmer.

Or, like @harjms suggested, try a bypass first if you’re worried about cutting the output.

#10

Don’t confuse this for having your wiring correct. Line and load are essentially interchangeable on a dumb switch. Most electricians will connect line to the bottom terminal, but that’s certainly not a guarantee!

I’d personally put a bypass inline at one of the lights to solve this, but if reducing the output as @Bry suggested works, and it’s bright enough for you, that’d be the free way to do it.

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#11

I did some further testing:

  1. exchange the Inovelli Blue with a GE Zwave Smart switch: lamps work as expected
  2. exchanged the “old” Inovelli Blue with a “new” one: same effect

so it’s quite obvious my LED lights are simply not compatible with the Inovelli switch

#12

Did you reduce the power output as suggested earlier?

#13

yes, that works, too.

#14

Read elsewhere on the forum that this is a big in the firmware? Had the same thing happen to me, switching from on/off mode to dimmer mode stopped the blinking for me.

#15

So I just had to switch to dimmer mode with a maximum output level. I thought I had done something wrong for far too long before I read this post. Just doing on/off mode would make it flash repeatedly.

Edit: Nope, I was wrong, I literally went back after posting this, and it was flashing.
Edit 2: Ah yup, it was a bulb compatibility issue. I’m sure I’ved used these elsewhere but I guess this one doesn’t like it. GE something or another.