X10 Community Forum

🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Gismo on September 27, 2012, 09:55:23 PM

Title: Wierd CM15A
Post by: Gismo on September 27, 2012, 09:55:23 PM

OK this happened.  I noticed none of my lights came on as scheduled.  I took my CM15A from the outlet, and connected to my computer and it gave me an error that the usb device was not recognised.  So I removed the controller from the power source, removed the batteries, reconnected the power and it re-loaded the driver. The I manually turned on the lights thru the software and now everything is working again.  Is this something that just happens sometimes??

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: cjhallx on September 27, 2012, 10:31:22 PM

yup. replace the batteries if not done already and make sure that if you are using a different USB cable than or extended the original that the wire size is at least 24 AWG. The higher the number the thinner the wire.

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: Brian H on September 28, 2012, 06:05:28 AM

We have seen this before.
The total removal of all power including the batteries and starting fresh. Usually corrects the problem.

My thoughts are the microcontroller was lost in some loop and until all the power was removed. It stayed that way.
Not having commonly used decoupling capacitors on the ICs and power supply doesn't help either.

One added thing. Keep a current backup of your program files in a safe place if needed. Files ending with .ahx are the files.
 

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: toddbailey on November 07, 2012, 02:31:16 PM

Are you suggesting the cm15 is poorly designed and the circuit be improved by the owner?

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: dave w on November 07, 2012, 02:35:17 PM

Quote from: toddbailey on November 07, 2012, 02:31:16 PM

Are you suggesting the cm15 is poorly designed and the circuit be improved by the owner?

rofl  I don't care who you are, now that's funny!

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: Brian H on November 07, 2012, 03:59:06 PM

In a real old thread here.
Andre found in his case adding four capacitors to the solder side of the main CM15A circuit board helped his lockup problem.
If you are electronically inclined and feel OK with modifying electronics safely. Like no bare leads shorting things and soldering directly to connection pads.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=4548.0
Found a CM15A schematic where Dave Houston shows the added capacitors
http://davehouston.org/CM15A.pdf

Title: Re: Weird CM15A
Post by: skyhawk85u on December 04, 2012, 02:20:41 PM

I'm having the same problem, which I think I've had before. CM15A gives that USB unrecognized device when connecting to my computer. I know it worked a few weeks ago when I re-downloaded all the timers after an extended power outage. No idea when I last changed the batteries but I just did.

I'm afraid to pull the power and take out the batteries since at least the program is working now. If it doesn't come back to life with a complete power cycle then I'm worse off than I was before with no way to program my timers again. Maybe after the wife is done with her Christmas lights I'll take the plunge. In the meantime, any advice? Anything else to try? Is there a good chance that a complete power cycle will fix this?

Title: Re: Wierd CM15A
Post by: Brian H on December 04, 2012, 04:30:33 PM

Have you tried a different USB Port Connection on the computer?
I had a USB port connector on the front of my computer wear out and made intermittent connections.
I would also get a Unrecognized Device Messages.
Trying a different USB cable would also be a good thing to try.

Title: Re: Weird CM15A
Post by: skyhawk85u on December 04, 2012, 04:31:53 PM

Yeah, I tried different USB ports, different cables, and even a different computer. No dice.