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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: sthopkins@gmx.com on March 27, 2010, 11:49:27 PM

Title: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: sthopkins@gmx.com on March 27, 2010, 11:49:27 PM: I have recently moved into a new house (new construction) and am having problems with my computer interface controlling about half of my modules and switches? What's up with this? I have about 15 installed through out the house.
Title: Re: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on March 28, 2010, 01:08:49 AM: Quote from: sthopkins@gmx.com on March 27, 2010, 11:49:27 PM
I have recently moved into a new house (new construction) and am having problems with my computer interface controlling about half of my modules and switches? What's up with this? I have about 15 installed through out the house.

First and most obvious question is "what computer interface?"

Next question is do you have any sort of phase coupling in the new house?

Those and any other details you can think of would help a great deal in attempting to help you.

>!
Title: Re: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: Brian H on March 28, 2010, 06:39:34 AM: About half the home does not work.
Sounds like a phase coupling issue or noise and signal suckers.
If you have an electric stove or dryer. Try turning them on and see if more modules start responding. This is not a 100% test but may show a phase issue is present.

Few link with good data:

http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=9899.msg57946
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=fia4somvt646m1f9ar60hogk94&topic=7951.0
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-solutions.com/PCC/uncle.htm
Title: Re: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: sthopkins@gmx.com on March 28, 2010, 07:30:45 AM: I am using the Active Home Professional computer interface to control all modules. Downloaded to the CM15A. We will be running he dryer later today and will test while that is running. What is phase coupling?
Title: Re: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: Brian H on March 28, 2010, 07:40:43 AM: Homes are usually wired as Split Single Phase.
From the street the power transformer is center tapped. 240 volts from Line to Line for high power devices and 120 volts from the center tap [Neutral] to either line. For you low power devices. The load is roughly balanced with each Line to Neutral.
For an X10 signal to get from one Line to the other line. It has to go to the transformer and back. The transformer makes a good signal killer and the signal on the other line maybe extremely weak or not even make it back.
A phase coupler bridges the signal from one phase to the other.
Of all the links I gave. Jeff Volp's has the best explanations of noise; signal suckers and couplers/repeaters etc.
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm

I personally use both his XTBM Signal Test Meter and XTB-IIR Repeater.
Title: Re: Some modules work some modules don't
Post by: Msradell on April 09, 2010, 12:59:50 PM: I have to agree completely, the XTB-IIR is the best thing invented for X-10 in a long time! I haven't had any signal problems since installing one.