X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: jjs7cams on January 05, 2019, 10:08:40 AM
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Just got raspberry pi 3b, running Raspbian and installed heyu 2.1. Also i am using TRIGGERcmd to allow using x10 light modules to be operated by voice commands with a google home smart speaker. Took a while to get working as I know nothing about linux etc. I am using a CM11a and again it works fine.
But every day at 3 PM lights on A1 come on, and then go off at 4 PM by themselves. I have created no macros for the CM11a and would not know how to do so anyway. There are no batteries in the CM11a. I did unplug the CM11a for several minutes to supposedly purge anything in it. From what little I can research, there are apparently all kinds of config files associated with Heyu. I have looked at them but do not understand their content.
So what is going on? Is there a file somewhere doing this, if so how do I stop it and where is it? Is Heyu doing this, Is the CM11a doing this on its own. I am at a loss to explain, but want to stop this.
If I do finally get it resolved, I would like to use the timer capabilities of the CM11a and Heyu but have no idea how to do so.
Thanks in advance and am sorry for my ignorance on what I am trying to do here.
Thanks
jjs7cams
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I don't know anything about Heyu but the CM11 may have something stored and unplugging it won't clear it. You'd have to go into it with AHP and clear the memory. Of course, the easiest way to solve the problem is to just not use A1 for any of your devices. Personally, I never use House Code A. If you want to keep everything on one house code you have 15 others to choose from (but avoid M).
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As for now I'm forced to use A1 on certain lights because it is tied to our ADT alarm system. There is a module which flashes a1 AND A2 when alarm goes off which I want to retain.
AHP is that active home pro. Years ago I had that on an old XP computer. Is the software still available, if so where. So I would have to down load it and then what. Again sorry for the ignorance.
Thanks
jjs7cams
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OK, I understand the ADT issue. That's changeable but you have to do it from the alarm keypad and find out how. B:( You can get the CM-11a Active Home software from here: https://thex10shop.com/pages/software-downloads Others here may be able provide more details on what to do next but you may find the setting once you open it up. You might see the event and be able to delete it or just wipe the whole memory.
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Thanks, I think I still have old notebook with a serial port. Will give it a try
jjs7cams
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BTW, there are 2 versions of the s/w. One is for newer PC's and it's probably the one you need.
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Active Home was the software the CM11A used.
The latest version of Active Home Pro. Also added support for the CM11A. Though some features didn't seem to be working 100% with a CM11A
If your Security Panel is sending a signal to a X10 PF284 or an X10Pro PSC01 Powerflash module. You can change its House and Unit Code dials to pick as new X10 address it is flashing the lights. If you can't get the A1 address thing corrected.
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The interface between ADT security and my system is a Powerline PL513 module. ADT installed at my request and was told could not change the A1 and A2 addressees for the flashing light. The module has not switches or dials to set anything.
jjs7cams
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OK.
The PL513 is an X10 interface from the Security Panel to the power line.
So you would have to change the X10 address through the panels settings if available. Sounds like it is not possible according to ADT.
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The change has to be made in the panel's programming. ADT uses a variety of panels. do you know what brand and model you have (Ademco Vista 20 perhaps?). Post a photo if you don't know.
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You’re panel is using a power line carrier card probably. You’re CM11 is using pure power line so the chances are there’s pre programmed events defined on your panel colliding with your CM11. As suggested clear those events on your security panel to stop the collision.
You didn’t mention what security panel you have. Is it by any chance a GE Concord.
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I did download a copy of AHP on a old computer, plugged the CM11a and followed menu choices to clear the memory of macros. There were errors in doing so, so no sure if it worked. Will know today at 3PM to see if the lights on A1 come on.
The X10 interface is this which is a power line.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/PL513
I have had this working for many years and the tech who installed this is long retired. Not sure if anyone one at ADT now would know how to change it. I'll try. As I remember when it was installed we wanted inside lights and outside lights to flash when there is a security alarm. So the inside home lights ended up on A1 and outside on A2. I believe we were told it had to be those two addressed at the time. It does work. But as many, said stay away from using the A house code. So if ADT can fix, would be great.
Otherwise the Raspberry Pi is working great using Heyu and Triggercmd with voice commands from our Google home smart speaker. And even can run the commands from the google home app on my android phone anywhere. We also have the X10 wifi working as well. So two ways to get the same result while not home.
Thanks to all for comments and advice so far. We will report back as to what happens after 3P if the CM11a was indeed purged.
So whats old is new in some regard with smart speakers and x10.
jjs7cams
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If the lights come on at 3 today then try unplugging the PL-513 and see what happens tomorrow. At least you'll know where the problem is. If you tell us the brand/model # of the panel we may be able to help you with that. Some of us have experience programming security panels.
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The lights came on today at 3P but did not go off at 4, so I suppose part of the wiping of the CM11a worked, but the wrong part. I will unplug the PL513 as suggested tomorrow and see what happens. But never had the problem before the CM11a was in use.
As far as the security cabinet, there is no number on the outside, it is a
ADT Pulse Safewatch Pro 3000 system with 2 keypads
Thanks
jjs7cams
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Unplugging the PL513 may not be the solution but it at least eliminates it as a factor. Worst case, you can add a timer to turn off A1 at 3:01 every day. :'
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When I used AHP 3.318 and a CM11A. I found it was not 100% working. Some features didn't function correctly. Don't remember if clear interface memory was one of them.
Unplugging the PL513 would narrow down the possibilities.
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Yes adding an additional timer to shut down 1 a minute or so later would work, but so far i do not know how to add a timer using the Raspberry Pi and Heyu with the CM11a. If someone has done this please advise, but I am researching how to do this as it might be the simple solution.
Which raises a question. Could I use AHP on an old windows computer to set the timer on the CM11a and then reconnect to the Raspberry PI?
As I posted earlier however, I did try to clear the CM11a using AHP but I received errors in doing so. So apparently it did not work.
Thanks
jjs7cams
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Yes, hooking it up to an old PC you could do that but then the memory won't be cleared for use with the Pi! B:( But, you could add a timer and then try to clear the memory again. But first wait and see what happens today with the 513 unplugged. I didn't ask before but is the CM11 plugged in?
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I didn't see this mentioned in the thread, but have you tried unplugging the CM11A, to see if the lights still come on at 3 PM? If they do, then it isn't the CM11A - it is either the ADT interface, or an external command from somewhere (a neighbor, a motion sensor, etc?).
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This looks like the model you highlighted https://www.adt.com/content/dam/adt/downloads/manuals/manual_safewatch_pro_3000_entrepreneur.pdf
Might be worth having a read of it to familiarise yourself with the panel.
Alarm companies used the likes of the 513 as an OEM solution to implementing X10 on their panels
They are not really programmable for the end user but it can be done. You should be able to create and delete events from the keypad though. The link to the manual should explain how.
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Yes I did unplug the CM11a and had the Pi off the other day and nothing happened, so pretty convinced it is the PI and or the CM11a and not the PL513.
By the way I did hook up the CM11a and installed AHP on another old xp computer this morning that has a real serial port. Used AHP and this time it did not give an error when cleared all macros. So we will see what happens at 3P today.
I did find the security manual on line as well and wil check it out. Would love to get it changed to another house code, but if ADT can figure out how to do it I'm sure they will want some payment.
Can't thank all of you enough for the responses and advice.
Will post later today what happens.
Thanks
jjs7cams
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If you fancy your chances here's a copy of the 513 Tech Note https://www.manualslib.com/manual/338867/X10-Powerhouse-Pl513.html#manual
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This should explain how you can change house code. In most cases you will need an engineer/installer code to make these changes. If you don't have one ask ADT for one. You are entitled to it. http://www.shieldlab.com/forum/index.php?topic=3081.0
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As I suspected it's a Vista 20 - a very popular panel. Plenty of online sources for the programming manual. But you may not need it since you already proved that the panel isn't the problem when nothing happened while the CM11a was unplugged. Hopefully your latest attempt at clearing the memory solved the issue.
BTW, I've been using Alarm Relay for monitoring for about 15 years and they're great to work with. They're happy to work with homeowners who have their own panels and they're much less expensive than companies like ADT.
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Solved. Looks like clearing the CM11a worked. At 3P nothing happened at least for today. CM11a plugged in, PL513 also in place, Raspberry pi running and working. So THANKS to all for the guidance.
I will look at changing the address for the ADT interface, but for now all seems ok.
Still not sure how the CM11a works. I have no batteries installed so I am assuming the macros are burned into the CM11a and stay there until modified or removed. Is AHP software the only way to do that. I would like to experiment with some selective timing sequences but not sure where to start.
There is some vague, at least to me, reference in the Heyu documentation that timing sequences can be done through Heyu and the Raspberry Pi, I assume from the terminal line. Way beyond me now unless someone can provide some direction.
Again thanks
jjs7cams
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The CM11A has a small EEPROM memory in it. To hold some programming.
It does no loose the programming when power is removed. It has to be cleared.
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Glad to hear youv'e got it working!
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With a fresh copy of Raspbian, the Raspberry Pi OS with nothing else installed just follow this simply written instruction. https://blog.wouterspaans.nl/2017/02/23/control-your-x10-lights-from-a-raspberry-pi/
Once installed there are sample scripts you can use. They can be found in the heyu folder installed on the SD card.
Just do a little googling if you need any further info on Heyu.
Yes as mentioned you flash the CM11 EEPROM with macros and timers. You can also flash them clear as you have now done.