X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: Hemingray on May 09, 2007, 10:02:04 PM

Title: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: Hemingray on May 09, 2007, 10:02:04 PM

Found this on ebay advertised as a phase coupler, but I dunno if it would work. Does it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-PHASE-COUPLER-FIX-INTERMITTENT-X10-PROBLEMS_W0QQitemZ160114739667QQihZ006QQcategoryZ40976QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Title: Re: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: steven r on May 09, 2007, 10:34:13 PM

I believe the answer is yes and no. While putting a capacitor across the phases can work, I believe mounting it in the breaker box violates wiring codes putting you, at the very least, in danger of violating your home insurance if it is discovered. It needs to be done outside the breaker box which means a bit more work than indicated in the eBay ad. I'm pretty sure I've seen plans to do it right on this forum. Furthermore while the "drier test" the ad suggests can work, it is not foolproof. Also you could have a noise or a signal sucker causing the problem.

Personally I choose to buy a coupler that just plugs in at my drier.

Title: Re: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 09, 2007, 11:15:27 PM

You can use a 0.1 uF 250 VAC Capacitor which is available at electronics stores. Pigs Electronics in Baltimore (http://www.pigselectronics.com/) sells one for 99 cents.  You can mount one in the connection box for an electric stove.

I got one years ago (when the CP290 was the "cat's meow" in x10 control) to bridge the phases in my house. The capacitor consumes no power, just remember to cut the breaker that controls the stove power OFF before connecting it.  When you turn the breaker back on, the stove doesn't know it's there.

Title: Re: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: Hemingray on May 09, 2007, 11:34:31 PM

I could likely build this into a small 220V plug, there's an unused 20A/220V outlet in the garage.

Title: Re: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: JeffVolp on May 10, 2007, 12:18:13 AM

630VDC should be OK for 250VAC, but I recommend one UL rated for 250VAC.  The one we offer on eBay is cheaper than Pigs when you include S&H.  (We pretty much give them away after fees and packing costs.)

I wrote a tutorial on couplers that you can access here:

http://jvde.us/x10/x10_couplers.htm

Jeff

Title: Re: Does this work as a coupler?
Post by: Brian H on May 10, 2007, 02:07:04 PM

The cap I used before adding a repeater was rated for across AC Power.