X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Other Automation Systems => Powerline Control Reliability => Topic started by: J.B. on September 15, 2010, 04:16:42 PM
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Just wanted to leave some feedback on my XTB-IIR.
Received my XTB-IIR today and wired it up right away.
I just moved into a larger home and added a fair amount to my system and was having a few issues with signal level.
I tested every module as soon as I installed the XTB and all responded perfectly to every command sent.
I am using a CM15A plugged into the X10 digital input on the XTB and tomorrow will be receiving my V572RF32.
The unit is very well designed and assembled and Jeff was very pleasant and responsive to emails.
Just wanted say thanks to Jeff for a great product and you have another very happy XTB-IIR user.
I'd recommend Jeffs products to anyone looking to improve their x10 reliability.
Thanks again! #:) >!
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Thank you very much for the feedback!
Jeff
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Got basically the same setup as your getting. Cm15, XTB-IIR, V572. I couldn't believe what a difference the last 2 items made! Once you get your V572 (You won't believe the range you'll get!) you will surely have a system that is 99 percent effective. I say 99 because nothing is perfect. Although Jeffs products are pretty close. I would like to also thank Jeff, you are one of the people out of a select few that make automation fun again!
>! #:)
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I am using a CM15A plugged into the X10 digital input on the XTB
plugged into an XTB or XTB-IIR? How did you plug it in? I don't own a CM15a so I don't know what your talking about.
Would I be able to plug a CM11a into the XTB-IIR?
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(First, anyone feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood anything and posted any wrong info here.)
Would I be able to plug a CM11a into the XTB-IIR?
Possibly.
The XTB-IIR has a polarized input on the front that your CM15A or other transceiver plug in to. This allows their signal to be directly boosted and repeated.
I should receive my V572RF32 tomorrow which can also interface directly to the XTB-IIR via its modular jack on the bottom of the unit.
You don't have to plug your CM15A or other transceiver directly to the input, if the XTB-IIR can hear a transceivers signal, it will boost and repeat it.
It's best to install the XTB-IIR as close as possible to your service panel though and directly boost your transceivers output.
If I recall correctly, the CM11A has a grounded plug on it. The newer XTBs I don't believe do, but you can wire one as there is an internal connection for ground.
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Yes when I was testing my X10 power line signals around the house. With an XTBM. I used a TM751 in the front AC outlet on the XTB-IIR and a Palm Pad.
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Yeah I was going to say...the CM11a has three prongs, and the XTB-IIR receptacle only takes two. I am not familiar with the CM15a, so I don't know how many prongs it has.
It looks like I could use an XTB with the CM11a if I wanted to boost it's output separately.
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CM15A has two prongs.
My early one has polarized pins.
The later one two of the same size pins.
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I would think you can use the CM11A with the original XTB and use a passive phase coupler along with it in your panel.
The XTB-IIR also couples the phases of your wiring, though I think you can attach it to only one phase if you want.
Where the XTB is a standard plug-in unit and doesn't directly feed both phases, you may require a coupler as well if you don't already have one.
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I would think you can use the CM11A with the original XTB and use a passive phase coupler along with it in your panel.
I own an XTB-IIR, but it only has two pin receptacle. Looks like the older model XTB-II has a ground on it for the CM11a. Oh well. Maybe I'll get an XTB someday.
On a side note, it's too bad the XTB-IIR doesn't emulate a CM11a as well as the TW523 for us heyu users to have a replacement.
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I think the older XTB-IIRs had a grounded x10 input, maybe someone can confirm that you could install a grounded one and use it with something like the CM11A.
I see that the terminal strip for the receptacle does have a spot for ground.
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Hi all,
I just got back from an airport run, so I missed most of this conversation. Yes, the early XTB-II did have a grounded receptacle on the cover. That did allow the old CM11A to plug right it, but it needed an expensive 4-prong plug and receptacle to wire it to the panel.
I switched to a polarized receptacle on the XTB-IIR to avoid having to deal with that 4-wire connection. Ground is not used internally by the CM11A, and is only passed up to its AC receptacle. So that ground can be left unconnected if the CM11A receptacle is masked off. The CM15A can plug directly into the X10 Boost input on the XTB-IIR cover. I hope this clarifies the issue.
Jeff
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so Jeff, I could safely use something like this between the XTB-IIR and the CM11a:
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=476291§ion=11769&minisite=10026
?
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so Jeff, I could safely use something like this between the XTB-IIR and the CM11a:
Yes.
Jeff
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awesome thanks!
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I am now convinced that I need an XTB-IIR. Yesterday I did an install inside my ceiling fan in my office area of an XPDF for the light and an XPDI3-IW for the fan. I also installed an XPT switch (3 on/off w/dim) to control it. Today I was doing some testing with my XTBM plugged in to an outlet in the room that is on the same circuit as the fan. When I use the XPT wall switch/transmitter I get a level of 5.03. From the CM15A I am getting a signal level of 0.52. A few times when sending from the CM15A I was getting erroneous results. Sometimes the XTBM might say E03 OFF, sometimes It would just show E03 and sometimes nothing at all or <NOISE>. I think a boosted signal would solve a lot of these problems. I currently have an XPCR connected which has been doing okay except for a few things like this. I'll be ordering my XTB-IIR soon.
BTW, I put the XPDI3-IW inductive dimmer on my ceiling fan to test what people here said about dimmers like these causing hum from the fan. Surprisingly there is absolutely no hum. In our guest bedroom, the previous owner wired in a dimmer slide switch to the fan in there, and I hear significant hum from that one. I will be putting the same setup in that room as I did in my office. Curious to see if the fan hums...
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The XPDI3 is designed for inductive loads and may not cause a hum where other types of dimmers may.
Some loads may still hum.
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BTW, I put the XPDI3-IW inductive dimmer on my ceiling fan to test what people here said about dimmers like these causing hum from the fan.
My XPDI-3 made our Casablanca fan buzz like a whacked hornets nest. What is the brand of your fan?
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My XPDI-3 made our Casablanca fan buzz like a whacked hornets nest. What is the brand of your fan?
I am not sure, it was one that was here when I bought the house. Any idea where I can find a brand name on it?
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My XPDI-3 made our Casablanca fan buzz like a whacked hornets nest. What is the brand of your fan?
I am not sure, it was one that was here when I bought the house. Any idea where I can find a brand name on it?
It's not important enough to get the ladder, I was just thinking if your non humming fan was a different brand than Casablanca I might replace our bedroom fan just so I could get speed control back. Thanks
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It's not important enough to get the ladder, I was just thinking if your non humming fan was a different brand than Casablanca I might replace our bedroom fan just so I could get speed control back. Thanks
I may have to get up there anyway cause I think that the wife may want the unit codes switched so the light is before the fan. If I get up there to switch it I'll take a look and see if I can find any information.
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Thanks Dan, but don't break anything doing it ;D