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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
 Posted - 08/16/2012 : 12:02:59 PM
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I'm installing a new FanLinc (2475F) that I just received from Smarthome. I've hooked it up to control both the light kit and the fan, and it seems to work fine, no communication issues, etc.
The only issue is that it makes a fairly noticeable buzzing sound, regardless of whether the fan or lights are on or off. I even disconnected the lights completely and put them back on a switch, so the FanLinc only controls the fan itself, and it still buzzes.
I've seen several other comments about how quiet the FanLinc is, so I'm wondering if I've got something wrong. Has anybody else run into this problem or have an idea what might cause it? Thanks.
[UPDATE]
I got a replacement from Smarthome. I hooked it up the same way, and it works perfectly now. No buzzing at all. I guess it was just a bad device. |
Edited by - jdntx on 08/22/2012 2:10:37 PM |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6883 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 12:15:08 PM
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| The FanLinc should be supplied by unswitched 120 VAC. The red Load wire on the SwitchLinc or KeypadLinc installed in the wall and wired to that ceiling fixture should be capped off, with no wires connected to it. The FanLinc should *not* be powered by the output of a dimmer, they should only be electronically 'linked'. |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 12:27:39 PM
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I do plan to control it with a KeypadLinc, but right now I am bypassing the switch and running the power straight to the FanLinc, so I can only control it with software right now until I set up the keypad as a controller.
I'll check again to make sure I'm not capping off the wrong line/load for the KPL. |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 2:24:47 PM
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Yes, that is definitely how I have it wired. The red load wire on the keypad is capped. The black line wire on the KPL is wired to the live line from the wall, and the load to the FanLinc is also wired directly into that. Even tried it by taking the KPL out altogether and connecting the load to the FanLinc straight into the line.
One thing that's interesting is that when I use any other switch on the circuit, the noise gets even louder as those lights are dimming on/off. I think it could be a grounding issue. As I was examining all of the wiring, I happened to notice that for some reason, the ground wire on the fan itself is cut. It's wired into the fan but then they cut it at the ceiling. I checked another fan in my condo and it's done the same way. Does that sound like a reasonable culprit? |
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stusviews
Advanced Member
USA
8448 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 3:07:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jdntx
Yes, that is definitely how I have it wired. The red load wire on the keypad is capped. The black line wire on the KPL is wired to the live line from the wall, and the load to the FanLinc is also wired directly into that. Even tried it by taking the KPL out altogether and connecting the load to the FanLinc straight into the line.
You have the load wire connected to the line?
quote:
One thing that's interesting is that when I use any other switch on the circuit, the noise gets even louder as those lights are dimming on/off.
A different dimmer controlling a different light causes the FanLinc to buzz?
quote:
I think it could be a grounding issue. As I was examining all of the wiring, I happened to notice that for some reason, the ground wire on the fan itself is cut. It's wired into the fan but then they cut it at the ceiling. I checked another fan in my condo and it's done the same way. Does that sound like a reasonable culprit?
The ground is a safety issue. It should not affect the operation of the device. (A loose ground can cause buzz in audio equipment.) |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6883 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 3:13:16 PM
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No, a missing ground wouldn't cause buzzing.
The next thing to do would be to verify the fan is properly set and wired. From the FanLinc Properties tab in HouseLinc, set the fan to High. Use the pull cord on the fan to adjust the fan speed through all the settings--high, medium, low, off, then back to high, to confirm you are set to the highest speed. The fan should be left at this speed--in fact, you might want to disconnect the pull chain with it in the High setting so no one is tempted to mess with it.
Verify wiring by using the FanLinc Properties tab. Click the button to turn off the fan, then click the buttons to turn on the light to 100%. Does the light turn on, and does the fan stay off? If not, check that you correctly attached the FanLinc output wires, fan to fan and light to light.
Lastly, verify the light itself. Is the bulb a standard incandescent or something different? Did the fan previously have some kind of dimmer built in? |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 5:05:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by stusviews
quote:
Originally posted by jdntx
Yes, that is definitely how I have it wired. The red load wire on the keypad is capped. The black line wire on the KPL is wired to the live line from the wall, and the load to the FanLinc is also wired directly into that. Even tried it by taking the KPL out altogether and connecting the load to the FanLinc straight into the line.
You have the load wire connected to the line?
Yes, maybe I didn't explain that well. Instead of connecting the line to the black/line on the KPL and the load to the red/load on the KPL, I connected them to each other to bypass the switch. At the ceiling, this is connected to the black/line on the FanLinc. The buzzing still happened. Then I added the KPL by connecting the black/line, but the red/load is capped off so it doesn't control the load. It's just a remote control right now. (And of course, all of the neutrals are connected like normal.) If that still isn't clear I'll have to draw a picture. :)
quote:
Originally posted by stusviews
quote:
One thing that's interesting is that when I use any other switch on the circuit, the noise gets even louder as those lights are dimming on/off.
A different dimmer controlling a different light causes the FanLinc to buzz?
Yes, it's always buzzing but it gets louder, almost like I can hear it sending signals in Morse code, when another switch is pressed. Even if it's not controlling anything, it still causes the buzz. If I hit a button on the KPL (not set to control anything yet) then it lets out a little buzz-buzz-buzz pattern. Even if I set my PC (HomeSeer) to poll all devices, I can actually hear it as it polls the devices. It even does it if I turn on a switch on a different phase. I'm almost starting to wonder if it's RF-related rather than power line because of that.
quote:
Originally posted by Tfitzpatri8
The next thing to do would be to verify the fan is properly set and wired. From the FanLinc Properties tab in HouseLinc, set the fan to High. Use the pull cord on the fan to adjust the fan speed through all the settings--high, medium, low, off, then back to high, to confirm you are set to the highest speed. The fan should be left at this speed--in fact, you might want to disconnect the pull chain with it in the High setting so no one is tempted to mess with it.
Yes, I did do this. I can set it to all of the speeds and it works fine if you don't mind the noise. Not a bad idea on the pull-chain. This is just being installed temporarily to test everything out, but when I install them permanently in my parents' house I don't want people to be able to change that.
quote:
Originally posted by Tfitzpatri8
Verify wiring by using the FanLinc Properties tab. Click the button to turn off the fan, then click the buttons to turn on the light to 100%. Does the light turn on, and does the fan stay off? If not, check that you correctly attached the FanLinc output wires, fan to fan and light to light.
I actually don't even have the light wired into the FanLinc at all. The blue light load wire is capped off. The light kit on the fan is wired to a totally separate switch. But I did hook it up that way originally to make sure I had the wiring correct, and I was able to control the fan and light separately via software.
quote:
Originally posted by Tfitzpatri8
Lastly, verify the light itself. Is the bulb a standard incandescent or something different? Did the fan previously have some kind of dimmer built in?
The bulbs are incandescent and it's your basic, cheap fan that they put in apartments and condos with no dimmer or any features like that. |
Edited by - jdntx on 08/16/2012 5:13:13 PM |
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stusviews
Advanced Member
USA
8448 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 5:18:37 PM
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| If you disconnect the fan load wire, that is, connect the FanLinc to line (black) and neutral (white) only (the blue and red capped separately), does the FanLinc still buzz? |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 5:26:50 PM
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I will have to try that again tomorrow. It seems like I did try disconnecting the loads for both of them at one point and it still buzzed, but I'm not 100% sure about that because I tried several different configurations. If that causes the buzzing to stop, then what would the fan itself be doing to cause it even when the FanLinc has it turned off?
Thanks for the help. |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 8:41:42 PM
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| Just tried it again. Line and neutral connected to FanLinc, load for fan and light both capped off separately. It still makes the buzzing sound. To try to rule out the fan and that circuit, I tried just hooking up the FanLinc to the line and neutral (with no loads) for a light switch in another room. Same result. Maybe my FanLinc is just bad? |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6883 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 9:05:58 PM
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Could be. It is possible for a wiring error to damage internal components. Please don't take this the wrong way, but by any chance did you generate sparks while you were hooking it up? If not, it could be someone else did then repackaged it and returned it as unneeded, rather than admitting there was a problem.
You are posting to a user-to-user forum here. If we can't figure it out, your next step would be to contact someone with Smarthome's tech support. The Insteon Gold support line is printed at the end of the Quick Start Guide that shipped with the unit. |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 10:18:10 PM
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No offense taken, I'm certainly not an expert on these things. But I have hooked up about 15 other devices (not FanLincs though) with no problems. There weren't any sparks or anything like that. Just the buzzing from the beginning.
Tech support is probably my best bet. I just wanted to make sure here that what I was hearing was abnormal before I go through the troubleshooting and return process. Speaking of getting a bad returned item, do you know what the latest version of the FanLinc is? The one I got is 1.1 and the device ID starts with 14. Based on most of the switches I got recently, I would expect something in the 1B-1D range if they're somewhat sequential. |
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Tfitzpatri8
Administrator
USA
6883 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2012 : 10:27:21 PM
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| My experience suggests that the Insteon IDs are assigned on a per-product basis. Get an Insteon light bulb and a SwitchLinc and a FanLinc at the same time and the three will come with totally different ID numbers. |
Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast |
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jdntx
New Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2012 : 2:09:13 PM
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| Thanks for the help guys. It was a bad device. Got a replacement and it hooked it up the same way, and there's no noise at all. |
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Topic |
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FanLinc buzzing? (Fixed; replaced bad device)
