🔌General Home Automation > Powerline Control Reliability

Active Noise Reducer – Maybe the CFL Silver Bullet?

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JeffVolp:

Some of you may be aware of my working on an active noise reducer to combat noise generated by the multitude of electronic devices in our homes today.  I just finished a feasibility test, and WOW, it works!

I started by injecting 120KHz at 1Vpp onto the powerline.  The XTBM indicated High Noise, and neither it nor a X10 module were able to decode commands coming from a Maxi Controller plugged into the same power strip.  I switched on the ANR and the XTBM indicated the noise dropped by a factor of 10.

The XTBM was then able to decode commands just fine, but the X10 module still had trouble until the 120KHz noise was reduced to 400mVpp before attenuation.  It did work fine at the higher noise level if I shifted the noise frequency +/- a few KHz off 120KHz.  But even with a noise source sitting right at the center of the X10 bandpass, the ANR allowed the module to work with a noise level that would normally totally block X10 communication on that circuit.
 
The next step is to build up a few beta units and get them out to people plagued with serious noise problems.

Jeff

Brian H:
Sounds good.

Noam:
Jeff -
Sounds wonderful, I'm looking forward to hearing more about it.

1. Would the ANR need to be connected to the line (I assume it will either be a plug-in box, or a box with a line cord attached) between the noise and the modules, or would it work anywhere it is plugged into the system?
2. Would it work for cases where noise is coming in from outside the home (like I had)?
3. What do you estimate the price range will be when you are ready to market them?

JeffVolp:

The XTB-ANR will be a plug-in module slightly smaller than the X10 XPPF filter.  It will severely load down any noise on the circuit it is plugged into.  When plugged into an outlet near the distribution panel, it should attenuate noise coming in from outside the home.  If the noise source is inside your home, best results may be obtained by plugging the ANR into the same circuit.  If there is noise on both phases, two ANRs may be needed - one for each phase.

I've done everything I can to keep the cost down, including using a transformerless supply.  I just totalled up the cost of the components.  The PCB and case are almost half the cost.  Even using bare bones PCBs without solder mask or silkscreen, the total is $32, not including shipping.  So, the kit will probably be $39, and the assembled unit $20 more.

Beta PCBs are on order now, and those units should be available in a couple of weeks.

Jeff

JeffVolp:

Insteon compatibility...

While the XTB-ANR works even better than I expected, the one issue remaining is Insteon compatibility.  Right now it will squash Insteon signals just like any other noise.  Since some of you have combined X10 / Insteon systems, I want to make it also “Insteon friendly”.  The problem is that Insteon signal bursts overlap the X10 transmit window, and noise that looks sufficiently like an Insteon command would not be eliminated from that window.  Thoughts?

Jeff

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