X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: freeatlast on August 26, 2007, 09:53:11 PM

Title: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: freeatlast on August 26, 2007, 09:53:11 PM
I have had a ton of problems getting my X10 stuff to work in this house. Let me start by saying I'm not new to x10 and have been using it for over 20 years, but I'm stumped.

I have a pool light and outdoor light (both controlled by switches) and I have a 220v Switch for my pool pump (XPS2) I control these with a remote (KR22A).

Nothing worked until I installed a coupler/repeater (XPCR) and since then, the only thing that works is the XPS2 and whatever I plug into the remote's receiver. The lights will not work at all. I have replaced both switches at the lights.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on August 26, 2007, 10:26:42 PM

While we can probably help, more information is necessary.   ;)
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 01:54:05 AM
1st Answer: WS467
2nd Answer: TM751
3rd Answer: House code set to E (have tried various house codes) . Receiver(works) is naturally 1, patio light is 2, pool light is 3, and the working pool pump is 4.
4th Answer: Yes.

I have replaced both non working switches with new ones.

Hopefully that is enough additional info. As I stated in my original post, I am not new to this.
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on August 27, 2007, 02:30:44 AM
Quote from: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 01:54:05 AM
Hopefully that is enough additional info. As I stated in my original post, I am not new to this.

No offense intended!

Just that the information you originally provided was too "sketchy" to get an idea of where to start looking for the problem.

Next stupid question... what type of lights (i.e. incandescent, CFL, etc.) are the patio and pool lights?

Oh, and another one... are the offending lights connected to any kind of GFI device either on the same circuit or maybe the circuit breaker itself?
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 12:07:19 PM
No offense taken. :)

The pool light and the patio lights used to work. Of course they now work only manually with the switch. I don't know what kind of light the pool light is it is an in-ground pool.

Yes they are and always have been connected to a GFCI.
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: Tuicemen on August 27, 2007, 06:46:32 PM
Other then Signal Suckers and Noise Generators as explained by JeffVolp    in  X10, Noise Generators, Signal Suckers, and Filters  (http://jvde.us/x10/x10_filters.htm)  your TM751 may have failed, I've seen a few of these go over the years! ::) ;)
It may be time to replace it! A friend had one that failed, would work as yours but not control any thing else on that house code! :( ::)
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 08:57:05 PM
But if the 751 failed it wouldn't control the XPS2. That is my dilemma, why will only one switch be controllable?
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on August 27, 2007, 10:14:45 PM
Quote from: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 08:57:05 PM
But if the 751 failed it wouldn't control the XPS2. That is my dilemma, why will only one switch be controllable?

You beat me to it!   :D
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: KDR on August 27, 2007, 10:26:42 PM
Is the pool pump running most of the time? If the brushes start arcing due to wear they could create noise on the line due to the arc. Since its 220 vac it could be on both sides of the power line. Maybe give it a try knowing the pump is turned off.

(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
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 11:14:26 PM
didn't work before the XPS2 was installed! I've tried with the pump circuit breaker turned off as well.

How do GFCI's effect x10 equipment? Anyone know?
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: Charles Sullivan on August 27, 2007, 11:42:10 PM
Quote from: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 11:14:26 PM
How do GFCI's effect x10 equipment? Anyone know?

Normal GFCIs shouldn't be a problem.  I have my main CM11A on a GFCI circuit and AM486 Appliance Modules on three other GFCI circuits.  But it may depend on the particular GFCI brand/model, and there have been many questions about the newer arc-detecting GFCIs.

Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on August 27, 2007, 11:55:19 PM
Quote from: Charles Sullivan on August 27, 2007, 11:42:10 PM
Quote from: freeatlast on August 27, 2007, 11:14:26 PM
How do GFCI's effect x10 equipment? Anyone know?

Normal GFCIs shouldn't be a problem.  I have my main CM11A on a GFCI circuit and AM486 Appliance Modules on three other GFCI circuits.  But it may depend on the particular GFCI brand/model, and there have been many questions about the newer arc-detecting GFCIs.



Yes, many gripes about the newer "Arc-fault breakers" absorbing X10 signals!

If things used to work, something has changed.  It appears it wasn't the WS467 switches since you traded them out already.

Any (and I mean ANY) new equipment in the house?  Newer power supplies can really be a problem.  Something as simple as a charger for an I-Pod could kill a leg of your power system as far as X10 signals are concerned.
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: steven r on August 28, 2007, 09:56:56 AM
Quote from: Charles Sullivan on August 27, 2007, 11:42:10 PM
Normal GFCIs shouldn't be a problem....
...But it may depend on the particular GFCI brand/model, and there have been many questions about the newer arc-detecting GFCIs.
Perhaps I've been lucky but I haven't had problems with either my GFI outlets or my arc-detecting GFI breakers.

BTW.. Am I using the wrong term to just say GFI? Is the proper term GFCI now?
Title: Re: I'm Frustrated!!
Post by: Charles Sullivan on August 28, 2007, 02:21:12 PM
Quote from: steven r on August 28, 2007, 09:56:56 AM
BTW.. Am I using the wrong term to just say GFI? Is the proper term GFCI now?

GFCI seems to be the most commonly used term, and the package for a spare unit I have is labeled GFCI.   But I doubt there any confusion in referring to the device as a GFI.