X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: jfv379 on August 10, 2009, 06:40:29 PM
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Seven years ago I had a mini controller installed with my pool to operate the waterfall and pool light.
Several years later I had a module installed on a seperate outlet to operate landscape lighting in the back yard.
All worked well until this past week. The remote doesn't operate anything at night. I have plugged in the remote at the sight of each of the three items, and the remote works. Each item works manually. If I subsequently take the remote back into the house it will work all three items but only during the day. The remote is always plugged into the same outlet for the past seven years.
I spoke to someone who suggested to unplug the Transformer on the landscape lighting to see if that worked the others. The suggestion being that the transformer is interfering with the remote operation. If so, get a filter for the transformer. Does this make sense?
I can understand noise from the transformer being a problem, but why would it only apply to hours of darkness?
What kind of filter would I need and are they plug ins that would fit it a waterproof outlet box?
Any help appreciated. Thanks
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I spoke to someone who suggested to unplug the Transformer on the landscape lighting to see if that worked the others. The suggestion being that the transformer is interfering with the remote operation. If so, get a filter for the transformer. Does this make sense?
I can understand noise from the transformer being a problem, but why would it only apply to hours of darkness?
Any help appreciated. Thanks
Did you unplug the transformer and see if things worked?
Is the landscape lighting new? (like last week?) If not and system worked before, I doubt it is the landscape power supply, assuming it is a transformer and not a switching power supply, transformers do not "suddenly become" noisy (I suppose there are exceptions but there ain't a lot in a transformer to become noisy).
What did you get new last week that might be on only at night (i.e. cell phone charger, new computer, TV, etc. )
Yes, if you locate the noise source, plugging it in to an X10 noise filter frequently cures the problem. Sometimes it takes two filters.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Selecting_a_Filter
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I just received the info about the transformer and I'm at work now. So I have been able to check that out yet.
Nothing new has been added to the house.
It's actually the daytime nighttime thing that has me confused.
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The lighting is not new.
Installed about five years ago.
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OK, let's try this:
Any lights around the house on a CDS cell (electric eye)? How about one of those mecury/sodium vapor lights or a simple pole light?
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The is a photo cell which operates the front landscape lighting. It has been there as long as the back lights have been there.
No mercury vapor lights.
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Any new electronic device that is only on after dark?
Even a new cell phone charger that is on when you insert the phone and it is at night?
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Nothing new has been added to the house.
It's actually the daytime nighttime thing that has me confused.
It sounds like it is something ON only at night. I admit the landscape lighting fits this description. You said a photo cell activated the landscape lights so there would be some type of electronic control in the landscape power supply. That could be a source of noise. Also, is the power supply protected from rain? Different situation, but I had a rope light powered by a Lamp Module. The rope light's connector got soaked, laying in a puddle of water and until I discovered the leakage (electrical leakage) I had a monster noise problem on the circuit.
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The photo cell is on the front lands scape lights and has been there for the past five years.
The problem is with back landscape lights.
I don't recall if there was a cell phone plugged in at the times we have been trying to get them to work.
Because of my work hours, I have not tried disconnecting the transformer as yet. Will try that tonight.
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Photo Cells DO go bad from time to time. :'
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Thank you all for your help.
As a result of your suggestions, I have resolved the problem.
I had installed electronic switches for my entry door and garage lights. I had used CLF bulbs.
Do not put CLF bulbs in lights that are controlled with electronic switches. The instructions advise against this. I thought it would only hurt the life of the bulb.
This is what screwed up the remote controlling everything in my backyard.
I put regular incandescent bulbs in the reentry and driveway lights and the backyard remote fine.
Thanks again for all your help.
John
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Thanks for the update.
This may help someone else in the future.
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You can control CFLs with X10 switches, but you may have to add an in-line filter to block the noise generated by the CFLs from interfering with X10 communication. The small Leviton 6287 wire-in filter works well for that application. And, you have to use a X10 switch appropriate for the CFLs.
Jeff
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Nothing new has been added to the house.
See, you DID get something new...two new CFL bulbs :D
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Dave,
The bulbs and switches were not knew. Had them for the past two years.
Maybe a bulb was about to go. Who knows.
Jeff,
Not X10 switches. If I had to put a filter on them I don't know where it would. There certainly isn't room in the electrical box and the electronic switches are so big they almost didn't fit. The switches are also timers. Quite large.
Brian,
Hopefully it may help someone else. That's what is nice about these forums.
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Dave,
The bulbs and switches were not knew. Had them for the past two years.
Maybe a bulb was about to go. Who knows.
Yes I think either Jeff or Brian in an old thread described an old switching power supply that suddenly became noisy. That would be one of the most difficult X10 problems to analyze and troubleshoot since it "came out of the blue" in a perfectly operating system. A perfect example of a X10 signal level meter being a (almost) necessary addition to any medium to large X10 automation system.
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Not X10 switches. If I had to put a filter on them I don't know where it would. There certainly isn't room in the electrical box and the electronic switches are so big they almost didn't fit. The switches are also timers. Quite large.
The Leviton 6287 is pretty small: 1.6" x 1.9" x .8" thick. I had no trouble squeezing them in behind the Leviton X10 switches here (which also are pretty large). Unfortunately, many electrical contractors put in the smallest electrical box allowed under the code. If your switch box is too small, you might be able to fit the filter into the junction box for the first light in the string. It wires in series with the switched hot lead, with a connection also to neutral.
The switching circuitry in CFLs can vary with line voltage and temperature. A recent combination of those variables may have moved the frequency right on top of the X10 carrier frequency.
Jeff