X10 Community Forum
🛡Home Security => Problems and Troubleshooting => Topic started by: joshz on August 10, 2009, 02:03:59 AM
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I've been wrestling with this weird problem for a few weeks and searched on the web for an answer to no avail. My X10 floodlight mounted above the garage door is turning itself on at random times at night with no motion. Sometimes it will stay on forever, but can be turned off by sending it an X10 off signal from a remote. Sometimes it will stay on for some random length of time and shut itself down afterwards, only to come back on after a short period of time for no apparent reason. I've gone through resetting the light multiple times by following the instructions from the manual and this forum, but that doesn't help. I even put two plastic cards on both sides of the sensor to shield it from any stray light, but that doesn't seem to make any difference either. I'm at my wit's end, and hope someone might have an idea or suggestion. I really like to use X10, and have a wireless security system and other X10 switches at my home, so would like to use an X10 floodlight if possible. But this mysterious problem is dampening my enthusiasm for X10 devices. Wish some advanced users out there can help a newbie. Thanks in advance!
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My X10 floodlight mounted above the garage door is turning itself on at random times at night with no motion. Sometimes it will stay on forever, but can be turned off by sending it an X10 off signal from a remote. Sometimes it will stay on for some random length of time and shut itself down afterwards, only to come back on after a short period of time for no apparent reason.
Two possibilities:
1) There may be a spider or other bug living inside whose movement is being picked up by the motion detector.
2) Something may have indeed failed.
Jeff
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I had the same problem with mine when I first got it. I solved the control problem by getting a X10 Pro Wall Switch to control it. Now it only turns on when I want it to. The floodlight has no timers attached to it, the timers reside in the Pro Wall Switch. The floodlight only operates between dusk and a half hour after midnight.
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I've been wrestling with this weird problem for a few weeks ......... I really like to use X10, and have a wireless security system and other X10 at my home, so would like to use an X10 floodlight if possible. But this mysterious problem is dampening my enthusiasm for X10 devices.
I use the X10 floodlights (PR511) myself... and I am a big fan of the device. I take it from your post... that the floodlights maybe somewhat new?
JeffVolp is dead-on with his assessment.... but also take a 2nd look a where the sensor is pointed. Heat, and mechanical motion will also trigger these [type of] sensors. Look for [even a neighbors] AC unit, kitchen or bathroom vent, or pool equipment. In close quarters it maybe required to tape off an area of the sensor to shield it from an area.
I would assume (and since I know better than to assume I won't) you've checked/compared the code the floodlight is using.. is NOT using the security light setting on your X10 alarm system. The security light setting (on the DS7000) will turn that House/Unit code on... every time the home is entered while on the away setting.
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Thank you all for the tips! Yes, it's a new installation and I bought the floodlight new on eBay. I have the DS7000 unit code set to that of a porch light, controlled by an X10 switch. The floodlight is on a different unit code.
I did find the motion sensor to be quite sensitive, as it does trigger on slight motion properly when it's not always on. I have two trees in my front yard about 20-30 feet away and visible on two edges of the sensor lense, and a streetlight about 80 feet away casting some light on part of my driveway. The sensor is pretty far away from everything else. No bugs were found around it :-) I've tried to point the sensor down to stay out of the light from a setting sun, with its sides flanked by the two plastic cards to block off any stray light from its own light. So, it's now having a quite narrow view at the moment.
I'm even thinking about taping the sensor all out, and then I'll control the floodlight from an X10 eagle-eye sensor. Assuming the floodlight will stay off by itself after disabling the sensor altogether. If the weird behavior I'm seeing is known to be caused by an environment such to mine, I'd be willing to go down this route. But I'd like to see if there is something else I can try before using the floodlight as a really dumb one :(
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....But I'd like to see if there is something else I can try before using the floodlight as a really dumb one.
I have heard of floodcams acting up when overpowered lamps were in them... I would also guess you turned the sensitivity level down at the sensor (it is adjustable).
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Mine did not like halogen bulbs. Did similar things until I replaced the bulbs with non-halogen bulbs. Could be the excessive heat thing.
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What raster69273 brought up rings a bell. I was indeed using halogen bulbs. Interesting! I have got two plastic cards creating a separation between the senor and bulbs, therefore thought it should not be a problem. I'll get them replaced and try it out before calling it quits.
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I'm reporting back after some further experiment. This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen! I'm now completely blocking off any light to the sensor with plastic cards. The floodlight is still turning itself on. I can turn it off with a remote, but it will turn itself back on after a short while. What's even more strange is that it does occasionally turn itself off after a seemingly random delay, only to turn itself back on again shortly. That's all while I set the sensitivity to lowest and the darkness setting to highest. Unless I have a unit that is defective in a weird way, I'm completely baffled ???
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........ Unless I have a unit that is defective in a weird way, I'm completely baffled ???
I've been a big fan of the floodlight (PR511) for years. I've found mine to be simple and reliable. I've even installed one on my stepdaughters home. Your unit certainly sounds defective to me.
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Curious, what do you have HCUC set at?
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I have house code set to K, and unit code currently at 1. But I've tried unit code at 3 and 4 too. Is any code combination prone to certain problems?
BTW, I forgot to confirm earlier that replacing the halogen bulbs do not seem to make any difference.
I do not quite understand the logic governing the operation of this floodlight :-( My first bad experience with X10. I had liked X10 a lot, and was planning on adding more to my home. Oh, well...
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I had three x10 floods and all did the same as your is doing. I like the x10 concept but I think the quality of parts is crap. I have several non x10 lights that work perfect all the time. No random on/off at all. What I did was install an off the shelf detector in place of the x10 detector to control the lights. Now I still have the x10 signal sent throughout my house and the lights work off a reliable detector. So I have two sensors on one x10 chassis.
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I have house code set to K, and unit code currently at 1. But I've tried unit code at 3 and 4 too. Is any code combination prone to certain problems?
I was simply second guessing. The randomness of it all made me wonder if you had the PR511 light set to A1 and a "XXXXEYE" motion detector might have defaulted to the A1 code so the light was turned ON everytime the motion detector was triggered (the default to A1 is common when their batteries get low, or they get bumped hard enough to momentarily jog a battery out of place). But your use of M1 should eliminate that scenario.
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Dave, I do have EagleEye, but they are set to different unit codes. It's a new installation, so it should eliminate the battery running low issue. But that's a nice thought.
Sllimbri, I'm interested in learning how you did it. I could have used EagleEye to control this light. However, the fact that it's turning itself on randomly makes it a moot point. So, unless your solution can prevent the light from turning on by itself, I don't see any way I can still use this unit.
I bought it on eBay. And, the seller went into hiding without responding to my inquiries for exchange/return :-(
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joshz; Just keep in mind that the EagleEye Motion Sensors have a Dusk/Dawn feature. So if you have lets say motion on M1. M2 is on and off at dusk and dawn. Sometimes this feature is missed when setting up addresses.
EBay seller went in to hiding. That doesn't sound too good.
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Thanks for your suggestion, Brian. I did check my EagleEye motion sensor, and it has no conflict. Oh, yes, I did go out and get another PR511, and this one does seem to be working properly without my changing anything else. So, this pretty much points to the other unit as defective. I've wasted so much time on it :-(
With my limited experience with eBay, I've already run into problems twice. I think I'll give up on them, and stick with Amazon (so far so good with it, keeping my fingers crossed) and local stores (I'm beginning to appreciate them more).
Hope that I was just unlucky this time. With such a supporting community and this latest success, I'm not ready to give up on X10 yet. I'm moving on to install a computer module for interfacing with my security and video surveillance system etc.
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I am also cautious with a EBay seller. There are a few that have EBay stores and have good ratings. Some of the unknown sellers I would look at carefully.
Yes if you find what you want in an X10 web special it is very cost effective and many time you end up with a spare or two. That is used in a future project. I do check all the items I receive in a special. On occasion one maybe defective. I had one of the 4 Socket Rockets for the price of one. Have a bad one in the box, from the factory.
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Having had hundreds of successful transactions on eBay, I must say that most eBay sellers are honest people who accurately describe their merchandise. The several bad transactions include one fellow who was selling fake merchandise, and another was a liquidator.
The liquidator shipped us a different package from what was described and photographed, even though his listing said "what you see is what you get". We wanted the electrical items that could be clearly seen in the photograph, but they shipped us a different package of electrical items, which were useless to us. I guess to them all boxes of random electrical stuff were the same. They stood behind their "all sales final", and would not accept a return. PayPal was no help. Shortly thereafter, that liquidator was bounced from eBay, so I suspect others had trouble with him too.
On other transaction, after a hassle proving the merchandise was fake (at our cost), PayPal rebated most of the loss.
There are several large X10 distributers on eBay. I have bought from all of them, and would recommend them to anyone.
Jeff
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It didn't look like I was dealing with some rogue eBay seller in the beginning. I've bought a few other X10 items from him without any problem. That was the reason it didn't occur to me that the floodlight was defective and I wasted quite a bit of my time and some from you kind souls trying to get it working. He has 99.9% positive rating. I don't quite understand why he would stop responding to my inquiry. There would be more business to be done if this were handled properly. Oh, well.
I can use a couple of pointers to those eBay dealers you have used for a while. Please PM me if you prefer. I'll need to get a computer module and other stuff for future X10 projects. Thanks!
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It didn't look like I was dealing with some rogue eBay seller in the beginning. I've bought a few other X10 items from him without any problem. ..........
I can use a couple of pointers to those eBay dealers you have used for a while. Please PM me if you prefer. I'll need to get a computer module and other stuff for future X10 projects.
There are lots of great reasons to buy some things from ebay. But the X10 newsletter deals are always a better deal than anything I've ever seen on ebay for X10.
I fail to see the logic of spending MORE money for the privilege buying X10 products from an ebay reseller. And then looking to THIS FORUM (which X10 runs from it's own profits) for solutions.
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I agree that X10's deals can be excellent, and their site should be checked first when something is needed. But when we need something not currently offered in a X10 package deal, one of the major X10 distributors on eBay is certainly a viable option.
Maybe I missed it, but I have never seen things like the XPPF and XPF filters or XPCP coupler offered in a X10 newletter deal.
Jeff
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I don't ever remember an XPDF; XPFM or noise filters in any deals and not even easily found on the X10 web pages.
I also don't think the X10Pro repeaters or couplers and noise filters are offered on X10 sales pages.
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I don't ever remember an XPDF; XPFM or noise filters in any deals and not even easily found on the X10 web pages.
I also don't think the X10Pro repeaters or couplers and noise filters are offered on X10 sales pages.
Your right there! And there are good reasons to shop other places (ebay included). I do understand there is an addictive side to ebay. I just don't understand shopping ebay... and paying more.
Profit isn't an easy thing to make. And.. it would be my guess (correct me if you think I am wrong) if X10 fails to make profit... this forum will fail to survive.