🖥️ActiveHome Pro > Help & Troubleshooting
Likely XPCR Failure
kenwood850:
Recently with the seasonal installation of some X10 modules for Christmas lights I found some modules were not responding to commands as they should. In the past however, if my memory is not faulty, they responded in all locations without a problem.
At the main electrical panel I have an XPCR unit that has been installed for several years and also installed are two 250V 1Mfd capacitors in series across the two phases. I also have an old carrier current intercom kicking around that I found can be used to hear the X10 signals if I open the squelch all the way.
What I have discovered on investigation is that with the two breakers closed so that capacitors are connected between the phases, I can here X10 signals on the intercom when the source is on one phase and the intercom is on the other. If I open the breakers on the capacitors, I cannot hear any X10 signals in the same configuration. If I then close the breakers connecting the XPCR, I still cannot hear the X10 signals on the intercom even though the light blinks twice on the XPCR with each command given.
From what I have seen, actually heard, I am pretty sure the XPCR has failed but I have several questions.
1. How many times should the light blink on a properly operating XPCR? I have a feeling the lights are only showing the reception of the original double burst signal from the source and it is not repeating it. The only thing I can find in the instructions is that the light blinks but there is no description of how it blinks.
2. If it has failed, and it appears that it has, I am also guessing that since the light still blinks on signal reception, fixiing it is probably not as easy as replacing a MOV or some such and it is best just tossed but I am open to suggestions.
3. As an aside, and nothing to do with my problem, in searching through past posts on XPCRs to see if I could find a blink sequence, I found where someone said that the both breakers connecting the XPCR should be closed simultaneously with no real explanation as to why. In the past I have flipped one breaker on and the other since they are not ganged and not had a problem. I am curious as to the rational for that statement. I would think as long as the neutral remains connected it would not be a problem. Even a ganged breaker might have some time difference even if it is very small.
Brian H:
One clarification.
You have both a XPCR and a passive capacitor between the same two incoming power lines?
So you are coupling the XPCR outputs back into each other.
1) I put my test XPCR on a test rig. After fixing it.
The LED flashed two times.
2) Hard to say. Probably not a MOV as I will elaborate shortly.
If the passive coupling capacitors worked but the XPCR with out the capacitors connected didn't. It could be a defective XPCR.
3) Some Coupler Repeaters have issues with power on one line only. I don't think this is a problem with an XPCR as in most installations the second Black wire is not connected to anything. Power is taken from Red to Neutral. If it is Off the unit is not powered.
Turning on one at a time maybe OK. With my XTB-IIR. connected to separate breakers. I try and flip both on at the same time.
Side note. NEVER power up an XPCR if the Neutral is missing. The MOVs and fuses for the Red and used Black Line wires will. Blow out and emit magic smoke. I replaced both fuses and MOVs and tested it. Seems to be fine with the tests I ran.
Tried both Black wires along with the Red. All seemed to have about a 3 volt X10 output. On a XTBM X10 meter.
If the modules where in storage. You may want to rotate the House and Unit Code dials a few times. Some times they get dirty and the code set is not what it thinks it is set too.
JeffVolp:
--- Quote from: Brian H on December 16, 2017, 10:01:11 AM ---With my XTB-IIR. connected to separate breakers. I try and flip both on at the same time.
--- End quote ---
There is no reason to do so. It is powered off Phase I. Phase II is strictly a 120KHz tuned-circuit coupling network.
--- Quote ---Side note. NEVER power up an XPCR if the Neutral is missing. The MOVs and fuses for the Red and used Black Line wires will. Blow out and emit magic smoke.
--- End quote ---
The MOVs and fuses were popped in a couple original XTB-II's that were misswired. The surge protectors and coupling networks in the XTB-IIR will withstand 240V so no damage is done if the neutral is open. (It just won't work.) If 240V is connected across Phase I and Neutral, the user replaceable fuse will pop.
Jeff
Brian H:
Thank you for the information Jeff.
My thoughts are. There is a MOV from each Line to Neutral.
With the Neutral open there was 220 volts across two of them in series. Since they are not precision components. More voltage was on one of them and it started to fail. Then most of the voltage was on the second one and it also failed.
Thank goodness the real small gauge wire blew open from the close to shorted connections of 220 volts.
kenwood850:
--- Quote from: Brian H on December 16, 2017, 10:01:11 AM ---One clarification.
You have both a XPCR and a passive capacitor between the same two incoming power lines?
So you are coupling the XPCR outputs back into each other.
--- End quote ---
I am not sure why that would make a difference unless there was a difference in amplitude or phase in the X10 signals between each leg. If there was a difference in amplitude I could see that stronger signal using the capacitors to reinforce the weaker leg, but I am not sure that would not be a good thing. As far as a possible difference in phase, I would think that both legs would use a the same generated signal to avoid that issue or otherwise there could be destructive interference or distorted signals with or without the capacitors. I will however try it both ways and see if there is a difference and that I am laboring under a misconception.
--- Quote ---1) I put my test XPCR on a test rig. After fixing it.
The LED flashed two times.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. I was not expecting that. Do you know if the XPCR waits until the incoming signal is completed before repeating it. That is what I would expect to avoid a collision that might result in the signal being distorted and unusable. Perhaps the blinking light shows only the incoming signals.
--- Quote ---2) Hard to say. Probably not a MOV as I will elaborate shortly.
If the passive coupling capacitors worked but the XPCR with out the capacitors connected didn't. It could be a defective XPCR.
--- End quote ---
The day after my initial post, my thoughts finally had enough conviction as to it being a bad XPCR as well so I ordered a replacement unit.
After placing the order, I removed the current unit from the panel and opened it up to see if that magic smoke your mention had escaped and there was nothing obvious. On the power supply board there was some discoloration on one side of the board where the largest SMD capacitor on the opposite side of the board is located. It looked like the discoloration of long term heat rather than the result of a catastrophic failure.
--- Quote ---3) Some Coupler Repeaters have issues with power on one line only. I don't think this is a problem with an XPCR as in most installations the second Black wire is not connected to anything. Power is taken from Red to Neutral. If it is Off the unit is not powered. Turning on one at a time maybe OK. With my XTB-IIR. connected to separate breakers. I try and flip both on at the same time.
Side note. NEVER power up an XPCR if the Neutral is missing. The MOVs and fuses for the Red and used Black Line wires will. Blow out and emit magic smoke. I replaced both fuses and MOVs and tested it. Seems to be fine with the tests I ran.
Tried both Black wires along with the Red. All seemed to have about a 3 volt X10 output. On a XTBM X10 meter.
--- End quote ---
All good to know. Thank you.
--- Quote ---If the modules where in storage. You may want to rotate the House and Unit Code dials a few times. Some times they get dirty and the code set is not what it thinks it is set too.
--- End quote ---
Another good thought. In this case I confirmed the module was working from another outlet and even tried several different modules by different manufacturers in case the signal was borderline and one module might be more sensitive than another. No luck.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version