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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: rdb4762 on August 01, 2010, 10:35:16 PM

Title: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: rdb4762 on August 01, 2010, 10:35:16 PM
I recently had to repair Windows XP on my computer. Since then, when units programmed to turn on at specific times do, all lamp modules also turn on. I've removed the batteries and cleared the interface memory several times (yes, I know the definition of insanity), and tried a variety of troubleshooting steps, all to no avail. I am able to control modules from the computer through the interface, and am able to add commands to the program -- they work, but all the lamps come on, too.

Anyone have any thoughts? CM15A going south on me? And, if that's the consensus, is there anywhere to buy just the module without buying the software again?

Dick
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: dave w on August 02, 2010, 03:06:18 PM
I recently had to repair Windows XP on my computer. Since then, when units programmed to turn on at specific times do, all lamp modules also turn on. I've removed the batteries and cleared the interface memory several times (yes, I know the definition of insanity), and tried a variety of troubleshooting steps, all to no avail. I am able to control modules from the computer through the interface, and am able to add commands to the program -- they work, but all the lamps come on, too.

Anyone have any thoughts? CM15A going south on me? And, if that's the consensus, is there anywhere to buy just the module without buying the software again?

Dick
Sounds more like a software problem than a hardware problem. Do you run your macros from the CM15A or from the computer. I assume from the computer otherwise repairing XP could have no effect.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: rdb4762 on August 02, 2010, 05:26:51 PM
I have no macros -- only time-based ON/OFF/DIM commands. The repair of XP was to eliminate a problem totally unrelated to ActiveHome.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: dave w on August 02, 2010, 05:51:41 PM
I have no macros -- only time-based ON/OFF/DIM commands. The repair of XP was to eliminate a problem totally unrelated to ActiveHome.

OK Let me ask this a different way. Are you running the timers from AHP or the CM15A??

What does the activity monitor show? Is it sending an "All Lights ON" along with what ever else you are turning ON?
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: rdb4762 on August 02, 2010, 10:57:06 PM
Timers from CM15A.

The Activity Monitor makes no sense to me -- it refers to macros, when all there are are timers (although a couple have identical settings). But the log doesn't even have an entry for 5:30 PM, when D9 (an RR501 transceiver module) was to turn on. It did, but so did (one-way -- all my modules are one-way) lamp modules D1, D10, and D13. Other appliance modules don't seem to turn on. At 6:30 PM, also not shown in the log, appliance module D7 was commanded on -- lamp modules D1, D10, and D13 all came on again. There are no ALL LIGHTS ON shown.

There's no new electrical equipment in the house, all the modules have been working fine for years -- the only recent change was the work I did on the computer. I did unload and then reload ActiveHome Pro software last night, and re-clear the interface and download timers and macros again. I'm close to attributing the problems to failure of the CM15A, but I don't like coincidences!
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: MichaelHlubb on August 03, 2010, 12:40:31 AM
I just took a look at my activity log, to see when my timers stored in my CM15A really run. The log shows the following event this evening for one Timer:

146   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B1 (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)
147   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B Bright 100% (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)

The timer is set to do four things
1. turn on at Dusk daily
2. turn off at dusk + 30 minutes daily
3. turn on at dawn daily
4. turn off at dawn +10 minutes daily.

so, it appears that the label applied by Active Home Pro does show Timers as Macros, also the timer activation doesn't appear to be at the 00 second.

It is confusing that you have the timers not showing in the log, when they should be there. That is, they should be there whether or not  that CM15A is the device where those timers are being activated from.  (you'd see a "received" in the log if some other controller sent the commands.)

One question I have, is there any chance your timers are stepping on each other?
Make that two questions, as I just thought of another, in the Active Home Pro preferences, on the macro Tab, is the check box for "Issue ON in place of Bright 100%" checked?

Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 03, 2010, 07:23:04 AM
I just took a look at my activity log, to see when my timers stored in my CM15A really run. The log shows the following event this evening for one Timer:

146   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B1 (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)
147   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B Bright 100% (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)

The timer is set to do four things
1. turn on at Dusk daily
2. turn off at dusk + 30 minutes daily
3. turn on at dawn daily
4. turn off at dawn +10 minutes daily.

so, it appears that the label applied by Active Home Pro does show Timers as Macros, also the timer activation doesn't appear to be at the 00 second.

It is confusing that you have the timers not showing in the log, when they should be there. That is, they should be there whether or not  that CM15A is the device where those timers are being activated from.  (you'd see a "received" in the log if some other controller sent the commands.)

One question I have, is there any chance your timers are stepping on each other?
Make that two questions, as I just thought of another, in the Active Home Pro preferences, on the macro Tab, is the check box for "Issue ON in place of Bright 100%" checked?



Do you really want the duplicate times in your timer?   Try deleting the duplicates and see how the timers work.  As to the macro tab, that's what AHP has always had.  It seems to standard.  As to the History Viewer showing macros when timers run, that's they way it is.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: dave w on August 03, 2010, 12:20:56 PM
Timers from CM15A.

At 6:30 PM, also not shown in the log, appliance module D7 was commanded on -- lamp modules D1, D10, and D13 all came on again. There are no ALL LIGHTS ON shown.

There's no new electrical equipment in the house, all the modules have been working fine for years -- the only recent change was the work I did on the computer.
rdb4762

There is one thing that does not make sense, IF you run all the timers from the CM15A , then the CM15A should not have been effected by the XP repair as the CM15A is not communicating with the computer. Port is closed until AHP opens it. It could be a problem with the CM15A but IMHO it is not the CM15A

1. Are D1, D10, and D13 your only lights?

2. In your timer, do you turn D1, D10 and D13 ON or OFF in one command?

3. Are D1, D10, D13 on the same circuit?

Try this: Immediately after the CM15A turns off the D1, D10, D13 lights,  use a remote and manually send an OFF command to any HCUC, doesn't have to be an address you even use in your system. Or if the CM15A turns off D1, D10, D13 when no one is in home or when everyone asleep, then set up a fantom Appliance Module on any House Code-Unit Code not used in your system and turn it OFF. Have the CM15A send this OFF right after it sends the off command to D1, D10 D13.

Does the lamp modules turn on now when D9 is turned on?
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: MichaelHlubb on August 03, 2010, 01:45:27 PM
I just took a look at my activity log, to see when my timers stored in my CM15A really run. The log shows the following event this evening for one Timer:

146   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B1 (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)
147   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B Bright 100% (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)

The timer is set to do four things
1. turn on at Dusk daily
2. turn off at dusk + 30 minutes daily
3. turn on at dawn daily
4. turn off at dawn +10 minutes daily.

so, it appears that the label applied by Active Home Pro does show Timers as Macros, also the timer activation doesn't appear to be at the 00 second.

It is confusing that you have the timers not showing in the log, when they should be there. That is, they should be there whether or not  that CM15A is the device where those timers are being activated from.  (you'd see a "received" in the log if some other controller sent the commands.)

One question I have, is there any chance your timers are stepping on each other?
Make that two questions, as I just thought of another, in the Active Home Pro preferences, on the macro Tab, is the check box for "Issue ON in place of Bright 100%" checked?



Do you really want the duplicate times in your timer?   Try deleting the duplicates and see how the timers work.  As to the macro tab, that's what AHP has always had.  It seems to standard.  As to the History Viewer showing macros when timers run, that's they way it is.

Dan,  I have no idea why you quoted my reply, nor why you think I have duplicated entries. I don't.
 The important part of my reply start with "so, it appears " the data above that was to confirm to the original poster that yes, indeed, timers get labeled as macros in the activity list.
The really important part of my reply.. well, I see Dave W has broken down to the right points. so I'll leave it there.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 03, 2010, 05:22:49 PM
I just took a look at my activity log, to see when my timers stored in my CM15A really run. The log shows the following event this evening for one Timer:

146   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B1 (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)
147   8/2/2010 20:10:28 PM   Macro   B Bright 100% (Kitchen Island Overhead Lights)

The timer is set to do four things
1. turn on at Dusk daily
2. turn off at dusk + 30 minutes daily
3. turn on at dawn daily
4. turn off at dawn +10 minutes daily.

so, it appears that the label applied by Active Home Pro does show Timers as Macros, also the timer activation doesn't appear to be at the 00 second.

It is confusing that you have the timers not showing in the log, when they should be there. That is, they should be there whether or not  that CM15A is the device where those timers are being activated from.  (you'd see a "received" in the log if some other controller sent the commands.)

One question I have, is there any chance your timers are stepping on each other?
Make that two questions, as I just thought of another, in the Active Home Pro preferences, on the macro Tab, is the check box for "Issue ON in place of Bright 100%" checked?



Do you really want the duplicate times in your timer?   Try deleting the duplicates and see how the timers work.  As to the macro tab, that's what AHP has always had.  It seems to standard.  As to the History Viewer showing macros when timers run, that's they way it is.

Dan,  I have no idea why you quoted my reply, nor why you think I have duplicated entries. I don't.
 The important part of my reply start with "so, it appears " the data above that was to confirm to the original poster that yes, indeed, timers get labeled as macros in the activity list.
The really important part of my reply.. well, I see Dave W has broken down to the right points. so I'll leave it there.

You do have unnecessary parts of your timer.   Lines 2 and 4 are not needed.  If you want the 30 and 10 minutes delay get rid of lines 1 and 3.

I have a night light in my bathroom that has a 60 minute offset/onset at dusk and dawn.  The timer as ONE line of code.    Keep your timers as clean as possible.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: dave w on August 03, 2010, 06:10:58 PM
OK Dan, now I'm confused.
 If lines 2 and 4 are not needed, then what turuns the lights OFF and if you get rid of lines 1 and 3, then what turns the lights ON? I use Homeseer not AHP, so I may not see everything, but I don't understand where you say there are duplicates in "michaelhubb's" macro?
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 03, 2010, 08:17:36 PM
Dave, go back and read both posts.    MichaelHlubb  is using AHP, not Homeseer.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: MichaelHlubb on August 03, 2010, 09:30:32 PM
OK Dan, now I'm confused.
 If lines 2 and 4 are not needed, then what turuns the lights OFF and if you get rid of lines 1 and 3, then what turns the lights ON? I use Homeseer not AHP, so I may not see everything, but I don't understand where you say there are duplicates in "michaelhubb's" macro?

yep, Dan confused me as well.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 03, 2010, 10:19:02 PM
Timers are very simple.  For Example: "Turn on at Sunset - 01.00.00 OFF at 1:15 AM."  The lamp will tun on 1 Hour before sunset and off at 1:15 AM seven days a week.

You can have several separate timers on each module.  Each timer runs at its specific time with specific conditions.

I have timers on 90% of the modules I have.   Basement and Attic modules do not have timers as they don't need them.
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: MichaelHlubb on August 03, 2010, 11:32:45 PM
Timers are very simple.  For Example: "Turn on at Sunset - 01.00.00 OFF at 1:15 AM."  The lamp will tun on 1 Hour before sunset and off at 1:15 AM seven days a week.

You can have several separate timers on each module.  Each timer runs at its specific time with specific conditions.

I have timers on 90% of the modules I have.   Basement and Attic modules do not have timers as they don't need them.

Dan,
We seem the have a misunderstanding here. 

I was not asking for any help with timers. 

I was replying to rdb4762 (the message above my first entry)
Title: Re: Unwanted turn-ons
Post by: dave w on August 04, 2010, 10:59:32 AM
Dave, go back and read both posts.    MichaelHlubb  is using AHP, not Homeseer.
Yes I know he is using AHP.

I did not remember you could use one timer for "on - delay- off" as you show in your August 03, 2010, 06:19:02 PM post. I am enlightened now. Thanks.