X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: artk on November 11, 2006, 07:00:07 AM

Title: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: artk on November 11, 2006, 07:00:07 AM
I have a SR227 wall outlet which my deck lights are connected to. I have a timer set to 6pm ON  and 7am OFF. The lights shut off at the right time   (7am) but will not come on. I've tried 4,5,7pm nothing. Any ideas ???
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 11, 2006, 09:35:26 AM
I have a SR227 wall outlet which my deck lights are connected to. I have a timer set to 6pm ON  and 7am OFF. The lights shut off at the right time   (7am) but will not come on. I've tried 4,5,7pm nothing. Any ideas ???

Do the deck lights turn on and off when you toggle the switch on the SR277 icon in AHP?

What happens if you unplug the CM15A from your PC and plug it into the bottom (unswitched) outlet on the SR277?

Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: artk on November 11, 2006, 09:58:46 AM
The switch works with the palm pad remote control and the rf style switch. I have not tried the  CM15A  in the unswitched outlet. I think the outlet is working correctly.
Art
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Puck on November 11, 2006, 10:09:00 AM
The switch works with the palm pad remote control and the rf style switch. I have not tried the  CM15A  in the unswitched outlet. I think the outlet is working correctly.
Art

artk: I don't believe Charles was question the outlet, as much as the electrical distance (and possible noise) between the controller and the outlet. [Looking to eliminate variables.  ;) ]

Charles: Good guess on the CM15A.  ;D
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 11, 2006, 10:38:35 AM
The switch works with the palm pad remote control and the rf style switch. I have not tried the  CM15A  in the unswitched outlet. I think the outlet is working correctly.
Art

artk: I don't believe Charles was question the outlet, as much as the electrical distance (and possible noise) between the controller and the outlet. [Looking to eliminate variables.  ;) ]

Charles: Good guess on the CM15A.  ;D


Puck,
You're correct - the test is intended to move the controller as electrically close to the switch as possible, and what could be closer than the unswitched socket on the same device.

As far as "guessing" the CM15A, it was an oversight on my part that I hadn't noticed the interface wasn't specified by the OP.

Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Puck on November 11, 2006, 10:54:13 AM
As far as "guessing" the CM15A, it was an oversight on my part that I hadn't noticed the interface wasn't specified by the OP.

After I made my post I checked through artk's 17 Posts, and found that on his very first one (and only there), he did mention AHP & CM15A. Flickering Fluorescent Light (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=9889.msg57779#msg57779)

Then I thought, WOW... What an Awesome Memory  8)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 11, 2006, 11:05:22 AM
As far as "guessing" the CM15A, it was an oversight on my part that I hadn't noticed the interface wasn't specified by the OP.

After I made my post I checked through artk's 17 Posts, and found that on his very first one (and only there), he did mention AHP & CM15A. Flickering Fluorescent Light (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=9889.msg57779#msg57779)

Then I thought, WOW... What an Awesome Memory  8)


It'd be nice if it were so.   :)

Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: artk on November 11, 2006, 04:45:15 PM
I will try that tonight. The  CM15A  is now 15' away the palm  pad is 25' away.
Artk
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 11, 2006, 08:26:32 PM
I will try that tonight. The  CM15A  is now 15' away the palm  pad is 25' away.
Artk

The CM15A can be physically 15' away but electrically 200' away.

Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: ArtClark on November 12, 2006, 12:26:12 AM
Just to throw in my 0.02, does the deck light outlet work when just controlled from the CM15.  I realise that is probably a stupid
thing to ask, but nowhere did I see that.  Now that I am typing this, it seems even dumber, but just pushing the deck lights
module on and off from AHP would easily verify if the CM15 could send the signal.  If the lights go off via the CM15, I assume
the signal gets to the wall module???  Am I being dumb? 

I really am amazed at how well you guys can remotely diagnose this stuff.  I always seem to get lost in the details and this is
probably one of those cases.  I don't mind showing off my ignorance, that's how I learn, but after I read the little discourse
between Charles and Puck I realize how good you guys really are.  If I am there, I can fix it, but I've always had trouble trying
to remote diagnose.  You guys just shock me with your insights.  (Keep it up...)

Good Luck Artk, and I'll be watching to see what happens.  (Learning new stuff IS the FUN part...)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 03:05:00 PM

The switch works with the palm pad remote control and the rf style switch...

ArtClark's post got me to RE-READ this entire thread:

Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 03:09:24 PM

Do the deck lights turn on and off when you toggle the switch on the SR277 icon in AHP?

artk: What is the answer to Charles' previous question?
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 03:36:28 PM

Just to throw in my 0.02, does the deck light outlet work when just controlled from the CM15.  I realise that is probably a stupid thing to ask, but nowhere did I see that...

But, you see, it *WAS* asked and remains UNANSWERED. :o Which prompted me to RE-READ everything and post my previous question.


...Now that I am typing this, it seems even dumber, but just pushing the deck lights module on and off from AHP would easily verify if the CM15 could send the signal.  If the lights go off via the CM15, I assume the signal gets to the wall module???  Am I being dumb? 

Not at all! You're stating the OBVIOUS! :)


I really am amazed at how well you guys can remotely diagnose this stuff.  I always seem to get lost in the details and this is probably one of those cases...

In my case, it's:



Learning new stuff IS the FUN part...

That, Mr. Clark, is the KEY. 8)

And, when it stops being fun, you need to step back and ask yourself why. :-\

P.S. What program do you compose your ORIGNAL replies in? I noticed when I QUOTED you that there were hardcoded CRLFs.
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: freewilly on November 12, 2006, 05:40:56 PM
Guys, Not sure if this has already been covered, but I just put in an outlet to control some over cabinet lights and for some strange reason, everytime I try to turn them off they come back on in about 5 seconds.  The computer doesn't show a command to turn them back on, but they do.  I switched out the outlet to make sure that was not the problem, and sure enough same problem remains.  Any Ideas?  O yea the lights are fluorescent (wonder if this is causing this?)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 05:44:25 PM

...Not sure if this has already been covered...

...Any Ideas? 

...O yea the lights are fluorescent (wonder if this is causing this?)

Yes, yes and most likely... ;)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: ArtClark on November 12, 2006, 06:15:39 PM
TTA

I am composing all my replys directly on the forum website.  I just have the old-school of typing a "return" when near the right
margin.  (Defining my own column width)  This is a leftover from old (Pre PC) word processing and web page formatting.

Hopefully, It won't cause too much trouble.  I would have to really pay attention to stop the learned typing method.   ;D
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Brian H on November 12, 2006, 06:28:04 PM
Try a power tap with the lights and a old fashioned 7 watt night light in the same outlet. If the problem goes away it is local sensing current restarting the lights.
The Local Control circuit basically lets you turn ON a module that is off by cycling the controlled light or appliance power switch off then back on again.
The small current is enough to have the fluorescent lights try to restart and trigger this circuit. Also the wall switch isn't two way and doesn't update the CM15 to the changed status.
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 07:42:55 PM

...I just have the old-school of typing a "return" when near the right
margin.  (Defining my own column width)  This is a leftover from old (Pre PC) word processing and web page formatting.

Hopefully, It won't cause too much trouble...   ;D

If you normally view this forum FULL SCREEN, temporarily switch to a WINDOW. From the window, move your cursor to either side until you see <-> appear and then drag that towards the center to make the window narrower to see what it looks like to folks with a smaller default screen size than you. ;)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 12, 2006, 07:48:16 PM

Try a power tap with the lights and a old fashioned 7 watt night light in the same outlet. If the problem goes away it is local sensing current restarting the lights.
The Local Control circuit basically lets you turn ON a module that is off by cycling the controlled light or appliance power switch off then back on again.
The small current is enough to have the fluorescent lights try to restart and trigger this circuit. Also the wall switch isn't two way and doesn't update the CM15 to the changed status.

I thought that you were accidentally replying to the wrong thread (since I was discussing this exact same solution with artk) until I remembered / noticed that freewilly had jumped in! :D

Maybe prefix your reply with a QUOTE or a member name next time. ;)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: freewilly on November 12, 2006, 08:20:06 PM
sorry bout jumping in but it seems like a good place to join.  I think I do have a local control issue.  I am using a SR227 and am curious if anyone has ever operated on this unit to stop local control?  I want to keep using it but have never operated on this model before.

Freewilly
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: artk on November 13, 2006, 09:30:41 AM
I replaced my X10 module with a smart home appliance module and it works without and extra lights. I must of had a bad module.
artk  :)
Title: Re: Wall Outlet problems
Post by: Brian H on November 13, 2006, 04:21:23 PM
I replaced my X10 module with a smart home appliance module and it works without and extra lights. I must of had a bad module.
artk  :)
The Smarthome modules have less local sensing current than the X10 ones and if programmed right can be set to ignore the local control. So frequently a flickering load on an X10 will not on a Smarthome. That said Smarthomes Insteon modules have other issues.