I'm totally new to this whole lighting thing. I'm wanting the lighting in my theater to be controlled through my MX3000 remote. I've got 4 zones of lights, all on separate circuits (sconces, stair lights, can lights over the bar, and can lights over the kitchenette). All of the circuits go into a single 4 gang box. What do I need to buy to be able to control all 4 circuits (on, off, dim) with my MX3000 remote? TIA

Insteon (at least for now) can not use a universal remote. They do have a "wired" remote that plugs into an outlet, and they revealed a wireless remote at CES.

Keep in mind that if you put multiple dimmers in one gang box, some or all of them will need to be derated. For example, a dimmer needs to be derated by 200W for every dimmer adjacent to it. So, in a 4 gang box, if you had 4-600W dimmers, the maximum wattage each dimmer could support, in sequence, would be 400W-200W-200W-400W.

Here is a link to the Insteon Forum, which has a lot more info on this: http://www.techmall.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=9

Tom

What's the best way to retrofit existing flip style switches? In my home, I have almost no single gang switches. Everything is in three and four gang boxes. Each bedroom for example has a three gang box. One switch for ceiling light, one switch for ceiling fan and one switch for a switched outlet. So, I would assume I would need 1 dimmer and two on/off switches and a 3 hole decora plate? The master BR has an additional switch (four gang) for the outdoor floods. So, one more switch and a four hole plate?

I see mention of people using multi-button keypads but they appear to fit in a single gang box, and I don't see how without cutting, taping, mudding and painting, to do this with my existing setup.

Recommendations?

Thanks tmnjus

Robertmee, Put the switches in according to the load with the lightest load in the middle. Probably the fan. I have same situation like you have, and no problems with either Insteon or UPB.

In my master bedroom, one bank looks like Insteon dimmer for main recessed lights (450 watt load), Fan Insteon appliance switch, Insteon keypad (8 switches plus one load that controls another bank of lights)

Robertmee, Put the switches in according to the load with the lightest load in the middle. Probably the fan. I have same situation like you have, and no problems with either Insteon or UPB.

In my master bedroom, one bank looks like Insteon dimmer for main recessed lights (450 watt load), Fan Insteon appliance switch, Insteon keypad (8 switches plus one load that controls another bank of lights)

Thanks for the suggestion. Any recommendation for the best value 'starter' kit or just start buying what one needs? The plan is to interface the control to a PC.

First, you would have to pick a communications technology - USB / Insteon / RadioRa etc.
Make sure your software company supports that flavor of technology. For instance MainLobby doesn't support Z-Wave, but does most others including high end systems like Vantage Infusion and Litetouch. ZWave will be next. CQC doesn't support Insteon extensively (I think). Homeseer supports Zwave and most of the rest.

You will need a power line controller. Normal options are serial or USB. USB is probably a better choice as serial is considered legacy in the PC industry now. Many times a PLC comes in a starter kit. Problem with starter kits is that they are usually plugin type controls, not hard wired into wall type. The plugin ones are pretty ugly in general.

First, you would have to pick a communications technology - USB / Insteon / RadioRa etc.
Make sure your software company supports that flavor of technology. For instance MainLobby doesn't support Z-Wave, but does most others including high end systems like Vantage Infusion and Litetouch. ZWave will be next. CQC doesn't support Insteon extensively (I think). Homeseer supports Zwave and most of the rest.

You will need a power line controller. Normal options are serial or USB. USB is probably a better choice as serial is considered legacy in the PC industry now. Many times a PLC comes in a starter kit. Problem with starter kits is that they are usually plugin type controls, not hard wired into wall type. The plugin ones are pretty ugly in general.

Thanks again...I was referring specifically to Insteon starter kits....I'm getting a bit closer in my mind to giving them a shot despite the early bad press. As for brand, is Insteon the brand as well as the technology and is SmarthomeLabs the manuf while Smarthome is the primary distributor? If there are different brands of the 'Insteon' technology, is one more preferred than another?

As for brand, is Insteon the brand as well as the technology and is SmarthomeLabs the manuf while Smarthome is the primary distributor? If there are different brands of the 'Insteon' technology, is one more preferred than another?
Insteon is the technology, SmartLabs is the manufacturer (or at least the one who contracts the manufacturer) and SH is the primary distributor but Automated Outlet also sells some products as well.

IMHO, having SL as the only source for Insteon products will hurt them in the long run. QC problems are a big issue with these switches. I have had numerous failures and as a result, I am moving over to Leviton's Z-Wave switches as soon as they become available.

Insteon is the technology, SmartLabs is the manufacturer (or at least the one who contracts the manufacturer) and SH is the primary distributor but Automated Outlet also sells some products as well.

IMHO, having SL as the only source for Insteon products will hurt them in the long run. QC problems are a big issue with these switches. I have had numerous failures and as a result, I am moving over to Leviton's Z-Wave switches as soon as they become available.

Z-Wave is the other technology I'm considering...Leviton's products have always been solid. Are you referring to the Vizia stuff? Any idea as to the price comparison to the ACT or Intermatic product lines? And anyone know about the Cooper Lighting Aspire RF line? I can't find anything other than Cooper's brochure.

IMHO, having SL as the only source for Insteon products will hurt them in the long run. QC problems are a big issue with these switches. I have had numerous failures and as a result, I am moving over to Leviton's Z-Wave switches as soon as they become available.

What kind of problems have you had? I Know that the initial hardware releases were a bit buggy, but its my understanding that they have spent alot of time solidifying the hardware (which is probably why that remote isn't quite out yet).

I am in a similar spot as i am remodeling a home and have gone through all the choices. I have also settled on Insteon and I bought a starter kit to install in my rental here to futz with it. One large problem that I overlooked - each dimmer and keypad needs its own neutral, and this house was built in the 50s - hence no neutral.

On the bright side though, I really like the feel of the paddles vs the other ones I have played with - HAI, Leviton, UPB and even Lutron. All the paddles are engineered the same way to click up and down, except the Insteon had the least amount of play side to side. I actually thought that the others seemed really cheap - and at $100+ per switch, the switch should feel nice and not rattle. The Insteon seems to have tighter tolerances (though this doesn't speak to the HW quality of course).

Regarding the type of starter kit - they are all pretty much the same and they just vary on what kind of lights you want to control. The table top controller is really intended for a master bedroom nightstand. The lamp controllers for table lamps and the kitchen kit has a fluorescent switch in it. I chose the kit with a keypad controller, and a couple paddles - then accented with a lamp dimmer and an appliance controller for some halogens. The bottom line is, you need to have 2 rf enhancers, and then just count up what kind of lights you want to control and pick the kit(s) that save you the most money.

my 2 cents....

I use this X10 device currently to let my IR universal remotes contol Insteon lighting:

www.smarthome.com/4040.html

This works great with my all of my Universal Remote Control Inc remotes so i can have macros to start my movies and adjust lighting, etc.

BTW -- on the quality issues with Insteon -- all of my later batches have been great and they swapped out all of my early devices with issues under warranty (I bought in right at the beginning). I have over 70 insteon switches and devices installed so far.

Hey guys thanks also, i have debating on buying the insteon starter kit. I think i will order them tonight. thanks again. by the way i want to start by controlling my media room and kids bedroom light (from downstairs)

I have put 25 plus Insteon products in my house in the last 50 days without a problem.

What kind of problems have you had? I Know that the initial hardware releases were a bit buggy, but its my understanding that they have spent alot of time solidifying the hardware (which is probably why that remote isn't quite out yet).
Sorry for the delayed reply.

With my inital batch of switches, they were failing at a rate of around 1-2 per week. I would replace them only to have them fail again. The issue was a faulty resistor in the early batches. I still have keypads fail this way.

My current issues are switches failing to respond to paddle presses. This definately hurts the WAF as she is tired of switches sometimes working.

I will be moving to some other technology in the near future. Probably Z-wave with the Leviton Vizia RF line, but I am going to get a few devices and test them in a small setup first before I order enough for the entire house like I did with Insteon.

Sorry for the delayed reply.

With my inital batch of switches, they were failing at a rate of around 1-2 per week. I would replace them only to have them fail again. The issue was a faulty resistor in the early batches. I still have keypads fail this way.

My current issues are switches failing to respond to paddle presses. This definately hurts the WAF as she is tired of switches sometimes working.

I will be moving to some other technology in the near future. Probably Z-wave with the Leviton Vizia RF line, but I am going to get a few devices and test them in a small setup first before I order enough for the entire house like I did with Insteon.

I must have gotten really lucky, as I haven't had a problem yet!

I have had zero Insteon failures, I am at over a year now since I installed them.

I have 7 switches installed and have one failed. The paddle on the switch stopped working but I was still able to control the lighting via Insteon. The biggest problem I saw was reporting the status when the switch was used manually. After I successfully linked the switch to the PLC it has been rock solid ever since. Granted I have a small installation of Insteon devices I would still recommend this technology.