3 way Dimmer switch?

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3 way Dimmer switch?

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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 14:39:51 - last edited 2021-10-20 14:49:17

I hate to be a broken record, but the switch/WiFi issue happened again and it appears to be a different issue than the WiFi or lights turniing off that have already been reported.  My lights weren’t switched on automatically (Amazon routine) again yesterday evening so I tried to turn them on by physically clicking both switches and then trying to use the app.  Nothing worked, but I didn’t try restarting them since I was frustrated and tired.  They were still not working a few minutes ago, so they never restarted or reconnected to the network on their own overnight.  The KS230 is still visible in the Google Home IP cache and still has the same IP address it's had from the beginning.  It was showing as idle after I tried speed testing it.  A second attempt showed a very slow .2Mbps, but the HS220s right next to it are showing 49Mbps.  So the switch is network connected in order to be able to get a speed test at all, but both still don’t work.  I’m going to restart it right now…

 

…and they’re working again. The WiFi quicky flashed orange and then flashed green before going to solid green.  The switch worked (for now) immediately after that.  I've clarified item #9 below accordingly. 

 

1. The round nightlight is always on regardless of whether the lights are on or off. (remote switch only)

2. The round nightlight is much brighter than other kasa switches including the main switch. (remote switch only)

3. The round nightlight ignores the on/off toggle setting in the kasa app.  (remote switch only)

4. The dim level LEDs don't all light up to the left like all the other kasa switches with the v1.09 update installed. (both switches)

5. Long Pressing including custom settings works but Double Tapping doesn't work and behaves like a single tap to turn the lights on or off. (remote switch only)

6. Amazon Routine to toggle switch off fails with Alexa and the kasa app reporting the lights off when they are actually still on.

7. Switch is not editable when setting up a scene.  The default setting is 100% and the app won't advance to edit page.

8. Lights occasionally turn off on their own.

9. WiFi issue?  The switches freeze up and are reported as out of range or network disconnected in the kasa app and need to be restarted from the main switch. However, they are still showing on the network from a Google mesh router with the same DHCP IP lease and can be speed tested.

 

 

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#477
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 16:37:22

@Connu 

Connu wrote

...

The KS230 is still visible in the Google Home IP cache and still has the same IP address it's had from the beginning.  It was showing as idle after I tried speed testing it.  A second attempt showed a very slow .2Mbps, but the HS220s right next to it are showing 49Mbps.  So the switch is network connected in order to be able to get a speed test at all, but both still don’t work.  I’m going to restart it right now…

...

 

Can you say how you speed tested the switch? I'd have thought a speed test would have to be initiated from the host/device. Perhaps the app provides a means to do this? Or are you referring to the speed as reported by your router/access point (as, for example, openwrt does)?

 

TIA

 

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#478
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 16:42:56 - last edited 2021-10-20 16:43:31

@jbr439 

 

I'm giving the speed that the Google router is reporting.  I have many dozens of different Kasa switches and they are all around 50Mbps except for one that is far from one of the access points and even it has 15Mbps connectivity.  The KS230 only hits .5Mbps.

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#479
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 18:02:33

@Connu I haven't yet experienced that WiFi issue with this set of switches.  Oddly enough, I've had it (not recently) with the non-dimming 3-way switch kit before, so it's possible that isn't unique to this product. 

 

What I'm noticing about the KS230 though, is that when the Alexa routine or command fails, this is the same time where the nightlight is on (on the MAIN switch) even though the lights are on.  When the Alexa routine fails, I go to the main switch and I press it twice - first to get the switch back in sync with the actual status of the lights,  (indicated by the nightlight going away)  then to actually shut them off.  However, about 50% of the time, the Alexa routine to shut them off works fine. I haven't noticed a pattern as to why.

 

Oddly, what pretty much works all the time now are brightness changes.  We'll typically turn them on in the morning (Alexa, good morning), then off/on manually once or twice depending on the day, then dim (Alexa, good evening) for dinner, and maybe dim again (Alexa, movie mode), before eventually turning off before bed.  (Alexa, good night)  Of all that, it's only the turning off that's still consistently a problem - and I think the presence of the main switch nightlight even when it shouldn't be there is indicative of why Alexa can't seem to turn them off - she's telling the Kasa API to turn them off, but the switch is telling the Kasa service that it's already off.  

 

 

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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 18:24:28 - last edited 2021-10-20 18:28:07

Hi @ChrisNorthNJ,

 

You may be right.  It's strange that it only started happening weeks after the first installation and now it's happened three times in two days.  It would be hard to believe that out of the three sets I bought that one wouldn't connect to WiFi, one wouldn't power up at all, and now the third is broken after a few weeks.

The broken routines and Alexa commands you describe are EXACTLY as I'm experiencing them.  The "off" routine and command are the ones that seem to be broken.  The "off" routine never works and the "off" command is a crapshoot.  The apps get out of sync and you have to press the switch once to sync and once to turn the lights off.  Definitely #6 and maybe #7 in my list.

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#481
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-20 18:36:20

@Carl,

 

My switch has disconnected from the network again.  I'm wondering if this switch is actually bad like the first two.  The network speed is also still very slow so I wonder if the WiFi signal/antenae is bad?  I also wonder if the entire v1.0 hardware batch is bad.

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#482
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-21 04:05:48

I installed the KS230KIT after getting it new from amazon and it worked ok after doing the update and moving some wiring around. After a few days now the main switch is a solid red (wifi dropped?) I've tried holding the reset button and restart and it brought it back to life a little (green/orange flashing) but it still wouldn't find it in the app. There was an update for the android app a few days ago I'm going to roll that back and see if that changes anything. Right now at best it works as a "dumb" 3 way dimmer oh and the satellite switch led as never worked for me.

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#483
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-21 16:42:44

@Gzeus 

 

Flashing Orange and Green indicates that the switch is in default mode.  This is why the App is not reconzing it.  You will need to go through the configuration process once more and reconnect it to your home's wifi.  

 

With the red WiFi light that does indicate the switch lost wireless connection so I would also make sure you have a solid wifi signal where the main switch is located.  If not you may need a range extender or other network expansion device to push a stronger signal to the area. 

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#484
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-21 16:51:59

@Connu 

 

Hi Connu,  1st I applogize in advanced if you already mentioned this earlier in the thread, but as you know this thread is extermly long and I simply don't remember it.  Based on what you are saying, you already had a replacement once?  I don't mind doing a replacement for you if you feel the switch is bade.  Though you will need to do these updates after installation just so you know.  The inventory team doesn't have the abilty to open packaging and update devices in our warehouse.  But if you feel a replacement is needed let me know. 

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#485
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Re:3 way Dimmer switch?
2021-10-21 17:05:40 - last edited 2021-10-21 17:28:39

Hi @Carl,

 

No worries.  I wasn't trying to spank you.  I just wanted to make sure you had my updated list.  I've already had two bad KS230 kits.  One was dead right out of the box with no power whatsoever.  I returned both to Amazon.  I'm past the return Amazon return window on the one I've been testing with.  I don't know if it's bad without one that I'm confident is functioning properly, but the slow throughput compared to other kasa switches riught next to it, and the fact that it's suddenly dropping off the network and in idle mode in my Google router, makes me wonder if it's failed.  I think it makes sense to get a replacement that your team knows is working if I'm going to be able to continue testing very well or all.

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#486
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