X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: Upstater on January 20, 2011, 11:02:00 AM
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I have a vacation home. I have a telephone transponder hooked up with (1) universal module. The module is plugged in below the thermostat for the forced air furnace, and the thermostat wire is run through the module. This way when I call I can turn the heat on/off. My problem is sometimes, and there is no rhyme or reason to when, the module clicks off.
Does anyone have any ideas before I have cracked pipes from freezing temps?
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Sounds like a noise issue to me!
You realy need to do some trouble shooting for the noise issue.
Problem is somethings don't even need to be on, just plugged in will cause issues. ::) :'
There just is no one thing that it could be. :'(
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My problem is sometimes, and there is no rhyme or reason to when, the module clicks off.
Does anyone have any ideas before I have cracked pipes from freezing temps?
Yup like Tuicemen says, we need clarification and more info.
Are you saying the module may not turn OFF when told to through the Telephone Responder? If so I agree with Tuicemans response of looking for a typical noise problem OR are you saying the module turns OFF for no reason? If so, that may not be noise. Noise usually only blocks X10 signals, thus preventing the intended action from taking place. Noise can "morph" the X10 command, but this is more rare (IMHO). If the command IS a morph you might try changing the house code and unit code.
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You may also want to push the Continuous Momentary switch back and forth few times. On the off chance it is flaky or dirty.
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What I am saying is the module turns off intermittently. If I set it on, so the thermostat is working and the current is flowing through the circuit, and I leave it will shut off by its self. Sometime that day, sometimes a week later. No rhyme or reason to when the module shuts off. I find myself calling every couple days just to turn it back on for peace of mind. Hope this makes the issue clearer....
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Hope this makes the issue clearer....
Is this something new in a system that was once reliable? Or did you just put it togeather and it has done this since first installed.
As a Shotgun (oh goodness, is that now P.C.?) I would:
1. Work the switch like Brian H suggests.
2. Change the HCUC.
If one and two don't work
3. Replace the Universal Module.
The surest troubleshooting would be to install a computer with CM15A and AHP to act as a logging program so that you would know if the UM is being told to turn off. Or Right now we are throwing darts blindfolded.
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It was a new module, as of last year, because I had this problem with the old one. It has no problem turning on or off by the phone line when I call or by the transponder when I've tried that. This is a vacation home and really don't want to pay for internet access to setup a computer there for the amount of use it gets. Just looking for something reliable and when I turn it on it stays on. I could understand if I was to lose power up there and that would screw with the module, but it has a mind of it's own.
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I have to agree with dave w.
Set up a PC and a program to log X10 activity!You can remove it once you see if the UM is recieving a off signal that is switching it.
I would Set the UM to a different HC and UC regardless.
>!
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You are not using the same unit code as the last digit of the security code are you?
When the phone rings. It sends a stream of On and Off commands to the House Code and Unit code the last security digit is set to.
The Universal Module has a mechanical switch in it. A power loss and restoration should not default it to Off. Unless X10 has done someting new. As lately they are redesigning modules to use modern available parts.
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Also you don't state if you have other X10 devices there or what HC is in use.
Motion sensors can send any number of HC UC1 off signals when the batteries get low (cold will do this)
Usualy motion sensors send A1 on/off when the batteries fail or get low but I've see other codes sent too.
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This is the only device in the house. The telephone transponder and this single module. I have the code set to 1, 1, 2 on the transponder and the module set to 1, so when I call I press 1, 1, 2, 1, * to turn the unit on.
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For giggles try something like G12 which really breaks up the bit pattern, which I would think would help eliminate a rare but possible noise morph problem. (i think)
http://www.x10.com/support/technology1.htm
Or, buy ya one of these gizmos and use the Telephone Responder as a Retro 1980's LED clock.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Aube/Item/CT240-01/
http://www.smarthome.com/30416A/Thermostat-Telephone-Controller-ACC0433/p.aspx
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/freevolve/Item/HE-TI1/
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I think the responder can only handle codes up to 10 but I'd try 8 or 9 keep away from the 1 and 2!
>!
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I think the responder can only handle codes up to 10 but I'd try 8 or 9 keep away from the 1 and 2!
>!
oops! Thanks for the correction.
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I think the responder can only handle codes up to 10 but I'd try 8 or 9 keep away from the 1 and 2!
>!
oops! Thanks for the correction.
Very good, I am going up next week and will try changing this, and see if it helps. Thanks.
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Be sure to let us know if it works or not! ;)
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well, for other reasons I had to go to camp yesterday so I figured I would change my code on the transponder. I changed it from 112 to 999. I turned on the module and the furnace kicked on. I left as friends of mine were coming to stay last night. When they got there, about 3 hrs later, the module had already kicked off again, killing the furnace?!?!??!!
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All you did was change the dial-in PIN. That did nothing with regard to trouble shooting the described problem.
Again...You need to change the House Code and Unit Code on the Universal Module and the House Code on the Telephone responder to eliminate possible outside control or a rare noise morph problem.
Is there any other X10 in the house?
Since this is the second Universal Module doing the same thing, it could be a Telephone Responder problem.
Also be sure and not set the UM UC to the same as the last diget of your PIN.
From the manual:
7.Set each Module to a Unit Code
between 1 and 8. Any Module(s) set
to the same number as the third digit
on the security code dial (on right)
flashes on and off when the phone
rings.
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So last week I went back and these are all the changes that have been made...
Changed my code to 9, 9, 9
Changed House Code to E
Changed unit number to 5
Unit worked for 3 days before it shut off again by itself!?
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I'm wondering if you have a noisy phone line. ::) :'
Maybe a DSL line filter would help.
Does the line sound clear when you call in?
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So last week I went back and these are all the changes that have been made...
Changed my code to 9, 9, 9
Changed House Code to E
Changed unit number to 5
Unit worked for 3 days before it shut off again by itself!?
Bummer.
Since you changed the HCUC it is not likely to be a neighbor. I don't think it could be noisy phone lines since the Universal Module is being switched off even when the Telephone Responder is not connected to the phone line. IMHO about the only thing left is the responder itself.
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I don't think it could be noisy phone lines since the Universal Module is being switched off even when the Telephone Responder is not connected to the phone line. IMHO about the only thing left is the responder itself.
I don't recall the user stating it turned off by itself when not connected to the phone line. ::) :'
Of coarse this isn't the time of year you want to disconnect from the phone line to test. :(
Is there an answering machine in the mix?
Do you have caller id? That would show you if a incoming call was recieved that may be triggering.
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I don't recall the user stating it turned off by itself when not connected to the phone line. ::) :'
Tuice you might be correct. I just ASSumed from Upstater's January 22, 2011, 08:05:21 AM post that the Telephone Responer was not being called, because I thought the friends were there. After re-reading the post that may not be true. But for noisy phone lines to be the culprit the Telephone Resonder would have to get called, and receive the correct password wouldn't it?
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But for noisy phone lines to be the culprit the Telephone Resonder would have to get called, and receive the correct password wouldn't it?
Thats why I asked about caller id it would show a missed call.
I've had noisy lines do all kinds of things when I was on dial up internet!
I know from past experience that noise can confuse computer programs designed to listen for key tones to be confused. Even answering machines see a # signal when the phone is hung up.
The possibility is remote that this is the case.
But I wouldn't rule it out without further examining the idea
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Sorry, I have been away for a few days. Hopefully I can answer all the questions raised here. There is no answering machine there, however there is caller ID. Phone line is through Time Warner Cable. Last time I went up I put a splitter on the phone jack so I can have the phone and transponder plugged into the same jack at the same time. Before this the phone would always get unplugged when we left and the transponder plugged in. So the transponder has been hooked up both ways, with and without the phone, and the module has shut off both ways.
I really would love to have everything automated with a computer up there but I just can't justify spending the $$$ on an internet connection. Perhaps I will try a DSL filter as recommended. I am just growing tired of this problem. This time of year and renters that are not familiar with the system are not a good mix. It's creating headaches for me and for them :(
I do appreciate all the help I am getting here :)