I posted this issue in the general Bug/Enhancement Thread but never got any real answers, so trying a new, individual, thread:
White Series - 3-way + Dumb - Lights Cycle On and Off when Dumb Switch in ON Position
I have recently installed about 6 switches. 2 are in 3-way configurations with a dumb switch. I’ve noticed that depending upon the state of the dumb switch, the lights will cycle off and on (i can see them going off and on constantly via home assistant). It’s almost like something is happening on the traveler and causing the white switch to think it’s being toggled. I was able to find a similar issue, on the forum, with the Blue series when it came out. Seemed like a firmware issue???
Below is the scenarios and outcomes, if this helps:
Dumb Switch: Off
White Switch: No Issues; works as expected
Dumb Switch: ON
White Switch: Lights cycle off and on once turned on from the Smart Switch. Turns off fine, from Smart Switch
I’d love to get this figured out. I should also mention this was a straight swap from a Red Series On/Off switch, so I have to think it’s something with the White Series.
Don’t have an answer, but trying to tie this down a bit. Dumb switches don’t have and off and on, they just have two positions.
So does the issue always arise when the dumb switch is in one position (up or down), or does it arise when the dumb switch turns on the light, regardless of to which position (up or down) it was moved to turn the light on?
Dumb Switch: Up / White Switch: On = Good/No Flash
Cycle On/Off from Dumb Switch = No Issues
Turn off light using White Switch and On with Dumb Switch
Dumb Switch: Up/ White Switch: Off = Lights Off/No issues
Dumb Switch: Down (turn on) = Flashing Lights
Turn off flashing light with Dumb Switch (down) and Turn back on with White switch to get back to start state. Repeat above, so seems to be something with turning off first with the white switch.
It could be firmware, but I don’t think anyone else here has reported a similar issue.
A couple suggestions (WAGs really . . ):
Pull the Inovelli and double check to make sure no conductors are loose or came loose when you tucked the switch back in.
Is this in the on/off or dimmer mode? If dimmer, try reducing the max illumination. It could also be a switch/bulbs compatibility thing. (Do you have any identical switch configuration/bulb types and if so, do you see the same behavior?)
Same behavior in on/off or dimmer modes. I can try reducing max brightness in dimmer mode, and report back.
Checked the wiring many times and can duplicate before stuffing back in the box.
Have another white switch in 3-way with a dumb switch, and it does the same. What’s strange is that I can see, in home assistant, that it’s toggling off and on (why it’s flashing) when it gets into this state.
Switched out the led bulbs. Can put the red back in, same wiring/bulb, and there is no issue
I’ll see what max brightness does… that’s option 5 in the advanced config?
Crazy question, since i have to do this from the switch. if i’m reading this correctly, do I have to hit the up button 90 times to set it to 90 max brightness.
I’ve never set that parameter at the switch on any series, but according to the instructions, that would be correct. Perhaps someone at Inovelli can comment.
I had the same issue with mine. In HA, dropping brightness down fixed it but the max brightness didn’t save.
Strangely, changing the bulbs fixed the issue, don’t know why but it did.
Replaced the dumb switch with an aux. Working fine now. Maybe something with certain bulbs and these new switches?? like @amoldycookie I too switched out the LED bulbs, twice, and still got the flickering, but glad that resolved it for you. Now to go order another aux for the other 3-way disco lights.
The Aux is the way to go because it also supports the button-tapping feature, which you can’t do with a dumb switch. But for those trying the dumb switch, note that LEDs also seem to do better if the dimmer is set to “trailing edge” (particularly older LED bulbs, though no idea if that has anything to do with your specific flickering issue)
I had this issue with a 3 way, light would continually blink off/on if the dumb switch was in the up position. Oddly enough, the Inovelli would work fine on the dumb switch “Off” position.
I have the exact same bulbs working in another 3 way with a dumb switch, so I’m not sure what’s going on. I’m going to try to switch out the bulbs just to see.
(I would order aux switches, but they are sold out in Canada).
Any aux switch will work, so no need to wait for an inovelli one. i just used cheap GE ones of amazon. We shouldn’t have to do use aux switches, but it is what it is.