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RichardL
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| Posted: February 05 2011 at 15:39 | IP Logged
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I have 27 KPLs and am facing constant issues with them going dark. I am pulling the tab and resetting them so the links remain.
Does anyone know what this issue is, or any fixes?
Thank you.
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grif091
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| Posted: February 05 2011 at 15:56 | IP Logged
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Some of my KPLs do that during brief power interruptions or repeated short interruptions as the electrical switching equipment automatically resets after a short. We have a problem with squirrels running around on transformers. They generally succumb during the event and are blown off the transformer after one or two automatic resets. It is these .5 to 1 second interrupts that seem to bother the KPLs. A simple drop in power when a limb takes down a line is okay. Also turning a breaker off does not seem to cause the KPL to go dark. Only these short duration power glitches. Air-gapping the KPL brings back functionality.
I know of no way to fix this. My newer KPLs do not seem to do this but the situation is not an every month occurrence so it may just not have shown up yet on the newer KPLs.
Edited by grif091 - February 05 2011 at 15:58
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Lee G
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RichardL
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| Posted: February 06 2011 at 23:15 | IP Logged
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For me this is now a regular occasion. Since my post yesterday, I have had to air-gap/reset 2 KPLs. On one I had to do a "rebuild" since it reverted back to a 6 button KPL, and lost it's links (all my KPLs are 8 button). The power here is quite reliable, we have underground service, and I do not see any real flicker or flash activity... This is really becoming a pain, I wish there was a fix. Lee, I also feel bad for the squirrels in your area!
I'll post any findings.
Thanks,
Richard
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BeachBum
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| Posted: February 06 2011 at 23:22 | IP Logged
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Could it be the surges that are causing the problem? We also have underground utilities but I installed a whole house surge protector and have not had any issues with KPL.
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Pete - X10 Oldie
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RichardL
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| Posted: February 08 2011 at 12:24 | IP Logged
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Good point, but yes I too have a whole house surge protector. See photo. Do you know if they "go bad". I have had it for probably about 8 years now. ...or any other KPL thoughts?
I have APC power supplies for all my computers, with their software running. However, they state that events of short durations are not recorded into the logs.
Thanks.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: February 08 2011 at 13:50 | IP Logged
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I have a whole house surge protector mounted on the power meter by the electric company. Mine went bad during a hurricane. I called the electric company and informed them the surge protector did not protect be from the surge.  It took them a little while to see the humor in it as the surge was a 12 foot wall of water. 
My battery backup for the computer has a program which monitors the power and logs any noise, outage or surge. Lee is the expert on KPLs and if he doesn’t have a solution you might be stuck with the problem.
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grif091
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| Posted: February 08 2011 at 14:31 | IP Logged
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Only time I have a KPL go dark or lock up is during a power interruption of very short duration or repeated up and down in close succession. A simple clean drop in power such as turning off a circuit breaker has not resulted in any KPL problems. At times I will resolve a dark KPL by turning Off a circuit breaker as that can be easier than pulling the air gap switch. Many of these Insteon KPLs have been installed from practically the beginning of Insteon so they are aged.
I know of no way of preventing the problem. Also might not be a problem with newer KPLs. I can go a year without seeing a problem and then have the problem a few times in a week. Always associated with electrical supply problem. The first time I saw it many years ago I was not at the house and no other signs of problems. Clocks were fine, even the digital clock in the VCR was still set. It was not until I was at the house when a KPL went dark that I realized what was causing it.
Of course this does not mean you have the same problem.
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Lee G
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RichardL
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| Posted: February 14 2011 at 18:01 | IP Logged
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I can imagine that a 12 foot wall of water would make KPLs go dark, and maybe upset a few other things as well 
As far as my situation on dryer ground, I agree - it may be that some are just getting old. The ones that go dark are generally repeat offenders. Is there a way to deal with Smarthome regarding this? I have 27 and the thought of reinstalling all (including labelled clear button conversions) is painful, besides the cost.
Thanks,
Richard
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grif091
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| Posted: February 14 2011 at 21:28 | IP Logged
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My dark KPLs occur only when there is a power glitch and that does not happen with enough frequency that I thought about replacing them. I can go a year or more without the problem. May be more of an issue during the stormy months or when the squirrels are active. Mine are all well past the warrantee so Smarthome would not replace them even if they were so inclined.
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Lee G
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RichardL
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| Posted: February 14 2011 at 21:52 | IP Logged
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I'm afraid I too am well past any warranty period, kinda afraid of that. Many, many squirrels here, but all services are underground. I also (litterally) gather garbage cans full of acorns from the huge Oak trees, I leave out some piles of the nuts and thus have fat squirrels! Maybe a distraction from munching on wires. Right now those piles are under about a foot of snow...
Any thoughts on the ability to monitor power glitches. Tonight I had to reset another KPL.
Thanks,
Richard
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Topic: KPLs going dark
