X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: phred on April 16, 2007, 10:27:07 PM

Title: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: phred on April 16, 2007, 10:27:07 PM
I had a Leviton Wall Receptacle Module (top outlet X10) with my recirculating pump for the hot water plugged in.  It was controlled by an X10 Powerhouse Mini Timer.  Everything worked fine for 4+years.  A couple days ago the X10 outlet would no longer work.  I thought it was just a worn out relay from turning on and off 2X per day for a few years.  I installed a regular old outlet and put in an X10 (AM466) 3-pin Appliance module.  Timer still won't turn on the pump.  I took the timer and plugged it into the same outlet as the Appliance module and it works fine.  Now I'm thinking it is phase coupler related since I walk around the house and some outlets work fine and others don't.....BUT, I have an X10 Pro XPCR wired in near the breaker panel.  Nothing changed in the house ie. no new electronics etc. that could cause noise.  I tried turning on the dryer to see if that would work and it made no difference both with the breakers for the XPCR on or off.  Any clues??  Maybe I'll try another Leviton outlet and see if that receives better than the Module?
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: Walt2 on April 17, 2007, 08:01:20 AM
Your timer might be "worn out".

Its electronics might have drifted off or aged, and it isn't sending out the same "good" signals as it did when new.   It works OK when plugged into the same outlet, as the receiving module, just because at that sort distance, it can be off and still work,
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: phred on April 18, 2007, 01:17:33 AM
Thx for the suggestion.  I finally figured it out.  Just to be sure, I checked all over to see if anyone had plugged in something noisy.  Sure enough, in the corner of the garage was a power strip with battery chargers for some walkie talkies.  Unplugged that and everything works like a champ again.
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: TakeTheActive on April 18, 2007, 01:26:18 AM
Quote from: phred on April 16, 2007, 10:27:07 PM

...Nothing changed in the house ie. no new electronics etc. that could cause noise...


Quote from: phred on April 18, 2007, 01:17:33 AM

...Just to be sure, I checked all over to see if anyone had plugged in something noisy.  Sure enough, in the corner of the garage was a power strip with battery chargers for some walkie talkies.  Unplugged that and everything works like a champ again.


;)
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: Walt2 on April 18, 2007, 07:08:18 AM
Sorry TakeTheActive, but I would not categorize AC adapter/chargers as "new electronics".  In my house, as I am sure in most homes, AC adapter/chargers get plugged and unplugged constantly.
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: Brian H on April 18, 2007, 12:21:56 PM
Trouble is the newer wall warts maybe a switching type and not like the older ones we have normally seen. With an old fashioned transformer rectifiers caps and maybe a regulator.
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: Walt2 on April 18, 2007, 01:24:20 PM
Quote from: Brian H on April 18, 2007, 12:21:56 PM
Trouble is the newer wall warts maybe a switching type and not like the older ones we have normally seen. With an old fashioned transformer rectifiers caps and maybe a regulator.

You are correct.

My point, though, is if someone asked me if I bought any new electronic gadgets, I don't know if any AC adapter would come to mind.  Therefore, I don't fault phred for not initially thinking of them.  I mean, if someone asked me, my thoughts would go more toward...  new HDTV?  nope...  new PC? nope...  new CM15A?  nope.   
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: TakeTheActive on April 18, 2007, 01:53:37 PM
Quote from: Walt2 on April 18, 2007, 07:08:18 AM

...In my house, as I am sure in most homes, AC adapter/chargers get plugged and unplugged constantly.

And that's just ONE of the things that make X10 such a fun and long-lasting hobby - you never know WHAT'S going to mess up your previously perfect installation. :D

Quote from: Walt2 on April 18, 2007, 07:08:18 AM

...Sorry TakeTheActive, but I would not categorize AC adapter/chargers as "new electronics"...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I've read posts where a new / replacement cellphone, or a work laptop brought home for the weekend, disrupted an existing X10 setup. If you're not going to include those AC Adapters / Chargers in your troubleshooting, well then, IMO, you're going to be "chasing your tail" looking for the culprit.

I have a couple of old APC Surge-Supressor Power Strips. I used to love them because they had the 90 degree offset outlets allowing multiple side-by-side wall warts. But, sadly, they are HUGE X10 Signal Suckers. :'(


BTW, Walt2 - I noticed that you recently started using italics for UserIDs; the previously-defined (maybe even written somewhere ) standard is BOLD Purple. ;)
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: TakeTheActive on April 18, 2007, 02:04:20 PM
Quote from: Walt2 on April 18, 2007, 01:24:20 PM

...I don't fault phred for not initially thinking of them...

The purpose of my post was NOT to fault phred, but to point out that practically anything not purely resistive (resistive meaning tungsten bulbs, plain-vanilla toasters) that consumes electricity can be a culprit (new cellphone, work laptop, surge-supressor outlet strip, etc...). ;)
Title: Re: Is my Smart Coupler/Repeater bad?
Post by: KDR on April 18, 2007, 07:21:27 PM
In support with TTA and what he is saying about AC adaptors... I have a GameCube and when you plug in the wall wart to power it up it kills ALL X10 on the tail end of that circuit. I have a short extension cord plugged into a filter and the GameCube plugs into that. That fixed the problem. Also my Sears battery charger for my drill (when plugged in) does X10 in but in a couple of outlets in my basement its OK. Keeping that in mind some times it might be that where you plug it in might make a difference. I guess what I'm trying to say here is... if you haven't added any thing to the household.... ask yorself if anyone has moved anything to a new location?

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR