X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: lee911 on August 14, 2010, 02:01:29 PM
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After reading all the forums on signal suckers, etc; I've discovered that my TV is sucking power away from a WS13A module. I want to insert a Noise Filter for the TV. Two questions:
- are these available at any retail locations? Or is it primarily an X10 product?
- can I plug this into the wall, then plug the power bar into the filter?
Thanks
Lee
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1. No. and yes.
Also ACT and Leviton make filters. I think Fry's is one of the few brick boxes that still carry X10 products, but I don't remember seeing filters.
2. Yes AS LONG AS THE CURRENT RATINGS FOR THE FILTER ARE NOT EXCEEDED. Especially true of the X10 5Amp filter (XPPF). So add current of everything plugged into the power strip. If equipment specs only gives Watts, divide the Watts by 120 to get Amps
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Many of the online Automation Dealers carry them.
You should get ones designed for X10 as some generic ones actually absorb X10 signals as noise.
I have used Smarthomes FilteLincs and ACT AF120s.
XPPFs as mentioned don't like to be overloaded at all.
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After reading all the forums on signal suckers, etc; I've discovered that my TV is sucking power away from a WS13A module. I want to insert a Noise Filter for the TV. Two questions:
- are these available at any retail locations? Or is it primarily an X10 product?
- can I plug this into the wall, then plug the power bar into the filter?
Thanks
Lee
Try X10 Pro http://www.x10pro.com/pro/catalog/platform.html#filters
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I've been trying for an hour to find these filters on the x10 website, but the search only takes one the forums - never the actual products themselves. The x10 website is such a piece of snake-oil salesman crap! I wonder how much business that they lose because of how it is designed?? Annoying popups, come ons, sound, screen space eating graphics. Ugh. Their webmaster should ashamed. The site is so unprofessional. B:(
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Use the Hotlink I posted to the X10 PRO site in the post above yours.
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the hot link is how I found out about the product. I can't find it on the actual x10 site with pricing info. I'm looking the other vendors products that have been mentioned, like Smarthomes. They are found easily with a google search.
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Here's the link to the main X10Pro site: http://www.x10pro.com/
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OH!! I've never seen that site before!! Thanks. It is SO much better than the other x10 site. :)%
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X10s web site even in the AHP pages modules tab doesn't sell the filters.
A Google search will find both the XPPF and XPF filters on many vendors sites.
Some of the EBay dealers are very reasonable price wise.
As far as I know X10Pro does not sell directly from their site and uses dealers.
The XPPF is rated at five amps. It gets very warm if used at close to the five amp rating.
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X10 Pro does sell direct, I bought a Pro Inline Fixture Module to replace a very old similar X10 module bought from a local dealer in 1990 that failed 18 years later. Strangely, the billing was done through X10USA. X10Pro is a division of X10USA.
Now for the "News of the Weird": When the new module arrived the old one started working and continued to work for 7 more months. Like it realized the replacement was on hand.
X10 does make your house look like magic, lights turn on when nobody is in the house.
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Now for the "News of the Weird": When the new module arrived the old one started working and continued to work for 7 more months.
Yes I have had that happen too. I think they talk to each other.
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Now for the "News of the Weird": When the new module arrived the old one started working and continued to work for 7 more months.
Yes I have had that happen too. I think they talk to each other.
Don't know. When the box with the new one arrived, it went upstairs in the closet where the Spare Box lives since the old one started working. I didn't open the box until the old one finally died 7 months later.
X10 hardware is pretty good but I don't think it's psychic. :'
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X10s web site even in the AHP pages modules tab doesn't sell the filters.
A Google search will find both the XPPF .......................
1) Ebay has good prices on filters
2) check smarthome.com for models to pick from
3) stay away from xppf from x10 at all costs: it says 5 acmp UL rated but has been proven to catch fire at a little over 3 amps! no internal fusing. caught my 2x4 wall on fire at 3.5 amp load!
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Try this. All I have ever done is call x10, ask for the best pricing on X10 Pro branded items and they add them to my orders.
I've been receiving the XPPFs from x10 for $4.59.
It may be possible not all service reps will do this, but it doesn't hurt to ask. >!
Mike, there's a chance you had a defective XPPF. I've been running very close to the 5amp max on mine and check them fairly often for the first few days and every so often after that. I haven't had one that felt even slightly hot to the touch.
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J.B
I loaded one with a 400 watt set of light bulbs as a test. In less than a half an hour. It was too warm in my opinion and opening it showed the coils forms had started to warp and melt.
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I guess I've just been lucky so far.
Expecting an XTB-IIR in the next couple of days. Once installed, I may see how many of the XPPFs I can get away with removing.
Where several people seem to have heat issues with them, it's better to be safe.
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J.B; Well it could also be the average load through them. Some loads may not draw their maximum constantly.
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I have a power strip/surge protector in my living room that has A/V system, Tivo, Wii, Subwoofer, IR relay system, Internet signal relay system (goes through the wiring), and some assorted other things plugged into it, and another one in the back of the house (the same room as my x10 laptop system) that has p/c, lcd monitor, lamp, modem, printer, pc speakers, phone chargers plugged into it, and another in the middle of the house that has a landline phone power and iphone power chargers in it. I was considering getting a 15amp filter for each strip to basically cover a whole bunch of bases at once. Would that be OK, or would it be better to get a filter for each individual plugin?
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I would think filtering each strip as a whole would be fine.
I believe others here have done the same.
The only thing you may have to look at would be the Internet Relay System. If it is behind a filter. It is possible it may loose contact with the rest of its system units.
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Ihntx,
would they happen to be on the same breaker?
If so, you could considering adding an XPF filter at the breaker panel to filter out that whole circuit for A/V and computer stuff.
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It's been a while since I've posted. I bought three filters and have tried them on various electrical products around the house thinking that I might find out which one is causing my x10 signals to not be received, but so far no luck. The only thing that I can't try it on is my LCD television because it is mounted on the wall, and there is no way that I'm going to unmount it to get to the plug. I can never get all 4 of my cameras to switch on an off correctly. At most I can get 2 to work correctly, but mostly I have one that dominates the entire system and never will turn off (it's inside where the other two are outside). That all said... it doesn't do me much good anyway because the AHP software will never run more than a couple of hours at most before it crashes and asks whether or not to send a report to microsoft. There are no updates to the software. I'm running it on a recently purchased dedicated B:(netbook with XP (bought specifically just to run this software). So if the software won't even run, then what is the point? is there any other option out that other than AHP that will work with the x10 motion detectors and cameras and CM15a and all of the other EXTRA equipment that I've bought over the last six months just trying to get my simple 4 camera wireless system to have some remote possibility of actually working as advertised??? B:(
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frustrating huh? well, seems most of us have got thru most of these issues. the ahp software should run for months at a time for u as it does for a lot of us. especially on xp! u say u never updated.....if that's the case, i'd bet a six pack of ur choice that if you updated to the latest 3.297 u would end up with a non crashing system. worth a try.
u sound in deep enough like most of us, to buy a signal watcher thing; I'.d tell u name of em but cant remember here on the couch right now.... but the cheap one that just has bar graph showing sig strength would probably be well worth the (iirc) $ 50 at this point? then u can see effect (or lack thereof) of those filters etc.
finally, my experience with the x10 cameras has been they are not capable of switching between more than 2 on a system - reliably. since the picture quality is so crude in my opinion I am not that worried about the cameras not switch well. I spent the money on one good 1028x1200 or so HDTV camera (IP70 for $ 150) that came with decent software including motion detection, face detection, couple other detections, 2 way audio, optional wireless thing, and web server.
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thanks for the tips. I'be been doing the 'check for updates" and always get that I'm current, but I see in about that I have v 3.271, I guess that the option to check for updates is incorrect. I will try to find current version and see if that makes a difference. I don't drink, but this whole experience is caused me to seriously consider taking it up! >!
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I have 3.271 and check for updates. Says there are none.
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Just as a note, when you visit http://www.x10.com/support/support_soft1.htm
You only need to download the one that says ActiveHome Pro. Ever since version 3.296, it will automatically update all the plug-ins you have installed.
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I downloaded and updated AHP and all of the plugins. AHP has already crashed twice in less than 30 minutes... BUT for the first time I am actually getting emails about motion!! That's a good sign and does give me some hope!
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thanks for the tips. I'be been doing the 'check for updates" and always get that I'm current, but I see in about that I have v 3.271, I guess that the option to check for updates is incorrect. ............ >!
yup, link posted below ur post. go get it. the 3.296 does have some relevant fixes worth downloading. note dusk/day/nite/ etc words still do not work for conditions.
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I have the 3.296 installed, and it is still crashing every few hours. I'm running a test right now to see if the issue might be with my screen saver (BOINC). I'm turning it off. I also now am getting the emails for remove viewing, but I can't figure out what to do after I click the link on the remote PC. THe old vanguard had a procedure to follow, but I don't see any instructions on the AHP. All that I get is a tiny box on the screen. Right clicking gives me nothing that will do anything. thanks,
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browser model? google chrome does not work & Firefox doesnt either i believe (both of which I use). IIRC u have to use internet explorer. It is the only one I know of that will download the java or whatever script that is required and run this remote x10 thing.....
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my laptop that I want to remote view on is windows 7 pro 64 bit w/ ie8 as the default browser. AHP is running on a netbook w/ WinXP. I just turned on AHP and turned off my screensaver (which was BOINC) to test why AHP might be crashing. AHP crashed in less than 30 minutes, so the screensave is not the issue. I'm going to now test to see if the issue is that two of my 4 cameras are not being received, so there is only snow on the video display.
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I have the 3.296 installed, and it is still crashing every few hours.....
Just thought of another thing... if you are using video recording, THAT may be causing your crashes rather than base ahp program. turnit off if so and see
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I have my macros set to only records if there is movement. Isn't that the point of having the motion detectors????? ???
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ah... there u go!
sure thats the point, but do u want ur system to stop crashing?? turn video record off! My experience is that when TWO records try at the same time, ahp will crash. period. the video section of the code cannot handle it IMO.
anyway, my cameras turn on the automatice snapshot routine when motion seen, try to change to that camera (works about 40% of the time) and takes stills every 1 sec for 30 seconds. no crashes since changing to this.
try turning off video and change it to auto snapshots and I bet u no more ahp crashes!
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my laptop that I want to remote view on is windows 7 pro 64 bit w/ ie8 as the default browser. AHP is running on a netbook w/ WinXP. I just turned on AHP and turned off my screensaver (which was BOINC) to test why AHP might be crashing. AHP crashed in less than 30 minutes, so the screensave is not the issue. I'm going to now test to see if the issue is that two of my 4 cameras are not being received, so there is only snow on the video display.
my two cents worth on these comments......
I have two machines with win7 64bit I use for remote view and they work.
snow on screen.... sounds like they are sending but too far away? try moving one close the receiver to check it? anyway, crash is likely your video. I played with changing the video record codex for many hours and thought I found one that reduced crashes but none totally. sbaoshots=ok video=crash in my book.
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I removed the macros for the two cameras that I have that are not being received correctly. AHP sends emails with pictures of snow. When I got up this morning AHP had crashed again. I rebooted. Now AHP crashes immediately upon startup. I have the current version. sigh. :P
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What version do you have? I suggest backing up any .ahx files you have and use the Add-Remove in the Control Panel to totally remove AHP and any folders it created, then reinstalling what you have without any plug-ins. If everything runs correctly (all timers run correctly) then install any plug-ins you want.
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B:( B:( B:(
I've now removed two of the four cameras to see if the one's that I just get static from might affect AHP. I uninstalled all of the software with fresh downloads from the x10 site.
I reinstalled AHP and tried letting it add the plugins itself. AHP still crashes after a few hours or less.
I uninstalled all and reinstalled AHP and manually installed all of the plugins. AHP still crashes after a few hours or less.
I've tried uninstall / install in various configurations.
Now AHP no longer recognizes my registration code, but some of the plug ins are recognized. Even if I copy and paste the registration code for AHP directly from the email (which I still have from last May) from tech support, AHP still does not recognize my registration code. So now nothing works at all.
It's now been 6 months of off and on that I've been trying to get my simple 4 black and white wireless cameras to work as advertized. I've purchased extra hardwire as suggested by x10 tech support. I've upgraded pieces as suggested by tech support and other members. I've upgraded the software. I've phyiscially altered the hardware (I replaced the one sided flat antennae on the video reciever with a pole antennae from a wirelss wi-fi box). I've add plug ins. I moved my PC and related video receiver and signal sending gear to all of the possible places that I have in my home that I have available to use. I've tried different frequencies on the cameras. I've tried line filters. I've tried removing my wi-fi extender system (which goes through the house wiring - a big red flag). NOTHING WORKS. I CAN NEVER GET ALL CAMERAS TO WORK ONE AT A TIME and I've NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SOFTWARE TO RUN FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS WITHOUT CRASHING.
I've spent almost enough now that I could have purchased a nice wired system with color display, night vision, pan/scan cameras and audio, VCR and internet access. :-\
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you have good patience my friend!
question: when it crashes, what is going on? I mean, is a ahp program loaded and running? KISS principal tells me maybe you want to clear CM15 memory and NOT run a program at all and see if it crashes? double KISS says maybe back off even more to find a system that does not crash: don't install va12 drivers (just dont plug it in when you do install) and dont plug in cm15 either. so just install ahp and maybe no add ins at all and just start the program without a ahx program at all. does it still crash doing nothing? if not, add ONE switch and see. if no crash, add one more thing. keep it up until you find the thing that causes the crash maybe?
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I've started from scratch and removed everthing including my macros. So far I've been running AHP for over 24 hours with 3 cameras and a simple macro that says movement causes 1 minute of snapshots. So far no crash. This makes me think that taking video (which the old macros did) was the culprit. I also hooked up my old tm751(transceivers) and light switches and added timers for them. So far... sometimes they work, mostliy.
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i dont want to say I told you so, but isnt the MAIN difference that you are NOT RECORDING VIDEO?? right?? the video record was your problem all along is my guess - why i said that from the start. dont record, snapshot instead.
bet as you add more stuff back in, it will continue to work full time with no crashes like my win7 64bit systems do. as soon as you add vid record back you will screw it up. If you cant stand it, and try vid record again, you dont have to uninstall and reinstall, just delete the vid record stuff 100% and your system will again be 100% up. Hopefully with new programers involved again they wilol address the vid record issue.
You also cannot include switches and stuff working - "most of the time" - into this same problem - they are totally separate! vid record = ahp crash. nothing to do with whether a switch turns on 100% of the time with a macro or not. Once past the crashing ahp, now you start addressing the macros not working 100% of the time. there are many many reasons why a macro may not work 100% of the time. Noise, your programming wrong screw up, trying to use conditions like dusk/dawn/day/nite (on some systems only apparently), sig strength. etc.
You just gotta take them 1 item at a time. If you lump them all together and say what is THE problem, you will never get past them. If you take them 1 small piece at a time you too will end up with an x10 system that you can enjoy!