First off I want to say how awesome the community is here after reading through a bunch of posts. Really getting into the weeds with folks is nice to see.
This is my first foray into smart switches so forgive any terminology confusion. I have been using Home Assistant for a couple years. I successfully installed one of my Blue 2-1 Switches in a single pole setup.
My issue: My LED fixtures turn on and off every 0.5 second or so if I turn my lights on with either dumb switch and they will do the same if I turn my lights off with the dumb switch and then turn them on with the smart switch. I can see the switch turning on/off in Home assistant as well as the actions in the logs.
My Setup:
Replaced existing switch (light up dimmer) with Inovelli 2-1 Blue switch in a 4-way setup with 2 dumb switches controlling 2 LED fixtures (basically these are hallway lights).
The best I can tell it’s the first wiring setup as per the instructions:
Things I have tried/confirmed:
Switch is configured for multi-way (confirmed in HA)
Switching line and traveller - same behaviour
Switching load and line - Smart switch turns off when dumb switch is flipped
You believe you have a line/load in the same box. The fact that there are only 3 conductors in the last box seems to support that.
Looking at the last box, there is a yellow conductor that should be the switched hot going to the light. Is that yellow conductor present in the middle box with the 4-way switch?
It’s more difficult to trace individual conductors as opposed to Romex, so we’ll have to do this in a number of steps.
BTW, resist the urge to experiment. Please don’t arbitrarily move conductors around just to see what happens. At one point you provided a hot to the load terminal, which isn’t designed for that. Hopefully you haven’t damaged the switch.
Thanks for the reply! And the advice about experimentation. I confirmed the switch still worked afterwards and the original problem persisted but I’ll be on the lookout.
I opened up my middle box to check it again and confirmed the yellow conductor doesn’t exist in the middle box.
Here’s a diagram of the connections: (gray is white (neutral?) and the yellow bits are wire nuts)
My best guess is that the load leaves the far box via the yellow and goes to the light, which is separately getting a neutral. Perhaps the extra white in the primary box is going to the light as well. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to trace individual conductors (instead of Romex) via pictures.
If that’s the case, the drawing you posted is exactly correct, but the wiring to the Inovelli is the same nonetheless. The two brown travelers go to the Load and Traveler terminals. I can’t see the back of your switch, so double-check that.
I can make a couple suggestions, but not much more.
I’d double-check to ensure the switch is set to 3-way/dumb. Maybe try setting at the switch or setting improperly in HA then putting it back, etc. A factory reset to reset to single pole as a starting point couldn’t hurt either.
Beyond that, consider using Auxs or get an electrician to confirm your wiring topology.
Thanks for your detailed consideration and responses!
My best guess is that the load leaves the far box via the yellow and goes to the light, which is separately getting a neutral. Perhaps the extra white in the primary box is going to the light as well.
Yes that makes sense based on other 4-way wiring diagrams I’ve looked at.
If that’s the case, the drawing you posted is exactly correct, but the wiring to the Inovelli is the same nonetheless. The two brown travelers go to the Load and Traveler terminals. I can’t see the back of your switch, so double-check that.
Glad to know I had it wired up right the first time!
I’d double-check to ensure the switch is set to 3-way/dumb. Maybe try setting at the switch or setting improperly in HA then putting it back, etc. A factory reset to reset to single pole as a starting point couldn’t hurt either.
I will try this. I did set it at the switch and confirmed it in HA but I haven’t tried changing it back or resetting.
Beyond that, consider using Auxs or get an electrician to confirm your wiring topology.
If I’m understanding correctly Auxs will fix my issue due to them connecting/talking to the main smart switch in a different way than traditional load/travellers? Mostly curious how it works and if it’s a way to spend my way out of this issue.
I’ll say that Auxs theoretically SHOULD fix your problem, but the dumb switches SHOULD work as well.
I don’t think your wiring will support using Auxs, however, as you don’t have enough conductors between the boxes. I think it’s going to take 3 conductors between, and if I’m not mistaken, you only have two. Double-check me, as it’s a bit tough to see into your boxes. Your last box only has the two travelers and the load conductor.
Your load box is the last box. If you keep the Inovelli in the first box, you need to send the Load, a traveler and a neutral to the other two boxes.
If you put the Inovelli in the last box, you need to send a hot, a neutral and a traveler between all three boxes.
I don’t have much experience with THHN in conduit, so someone that does may be able to shed some light on how to install Auxs with your configuration.
I have a similar issue with the flashing on and off, but it’s inconsistent. I have a motion sensor that typically turns them on and off and on occasion, they go into the flashing on and off and I have to turn it off using one of the dumb switches. Everything worked fine for over 2 years and recently started this behavior.
The load is 3 can lights, about 15 watts each with neutral wire with the 4 way. This is either 1) a bad switch, unlikely as it’s worked fine for 2+years 2) firmware update issue 3) load/light issue.
My guess is #3. When this started, one of the 3 bulbs was going out, flickering on its own , sometimes not coming on at all. I swapped to all new bulbs and didn’t have issue. (Were the bulbs the problem is just a symptom ???). It’s been working fine for a few months but has recently started happening again. Random and rarely, but it is occurring. Maybe another bulb is about to go out and trigger the problem?
I have almost 40 of these switches and this is the only one having this issue. It’s also the only one with a 4 way, all others are either single pole or 3 way.
Hmmm. Part of me is wondering if the switch is throwing something should it not affect all three lights. Since you’ve got a bunch of switches, you could swap you out and see if you get the same issue on the four way with the swapped out switch.
