X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Other Automation Systems => Powerline Control Reliability => Topic started by: JeffVolp on March 06, 2021, 10:13:03 AM

Title: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on March 06, 2021, 10:13:03 AM
This had been posted on our own forum, but that went off line when our website host updated the forum software.  With the main X10 Forum back on line, it wasn't worth the effort to rebuild our forum.

The XTBR and XTB-523 were converted for mostly robotic assembly, and will remain available for the foreseeable future.

The XTB-IIR/+ will be discontinued when the current inventory is gone.

Because of numerous requests, a limited number of the XTB-232 and XTB-ANR are available again.

The XTBM/Pro meters and XTB-F10/F15 high-current plug-in filters are no longer available.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on May 06, 2021, 10:09:48 AM
I just ordered PIC microcontrollers for another batch of devices.  Mouser is almost out of stock on one of them, and is quoting 42 week and 52 week delivery after their stock is gone.

It looks like electronic devices other than cars may be impacted by the semiconductor shortage.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: bkenobi on May 06, 2021, 12:02:44 PM
There is a picture I saw posted yesterday of a speedway in Kentucky that is completely filled up with Ford Super Duty pickup trucks that are 99% deliverable sans some logic chips.  This is becoming a huge problem for industries you would not expect it to affect!

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2021/05/03/ford-gm-semiconductor-chip-super-duty-kentucky/4918434001/
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: Brian H on May 06, 2021, 04:18:07 PM
My Nephew works for a manufacturer of equipment like light bars and sirens. For emergency vehicles.
They are having similar issues with parts. Like Chips.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on May 10, 2021, 10:33:48 AM
My Nephew works for a manufacturer of equipment like light bars and sirens. For emergency vehicles.
They are having similar issues with parts. Like Chips.

From Mouser - the PIC used in several XTB products:

On Order:
2,010 Expected 3/10/2022
1,320 Expected 3/14/2022

I ordered more back when the fan started to get dirty, and should have enough to carry me through.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on August 02, 2021, 02:26:22 PM
It is time to order more components, and I am astounded how poor inventory is.  A .01uF polyester capacitor that has always been available is out of stock almost everywhere.  Same for the .22uF used in the coupling networks.  Alternates are either too big to fit or from lesser known companies. (I use components from well-known top-tier companies.)  Semiconductors?  A part that was supposed be in stock today had its expected date moved to 7/13/22!  Prior to 2020 it was rare that anything was not in stock.

This must be hitting other manufacturers too, and the availability of products may limited this coming holiday season.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: brobin on August 02, 2021, 07:05:34 PM
https://www.thedrive.com/news/40458/thousands-of-unfinished-ford-super-duty-trucks-are-parked-at-kentucky-speedway-due-to-chip-shortage
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on August 03, 2021, 08:39:54 AM
https://www.thedrive.com/news/40458/thousands-of-unfinished-ford-super-duty-trucks-are-parked-at-kentucky-speedway-due-to-chip-shortage

Yeah, I had read about the specialized automotive chip shortage.  But generic polyester capacitors?

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: Brian H on August 03, 2021, 02:47:38 PM
Some of the good quality electrolytic capacitors are starting to show real long lead times on Mouser. After their present getting low stock is used up.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on September 10, 2021, 09:53:17 AM
I just got a quote for ordering the next batch of partly assembled XTB-523 PCBs.  The cost per board increased 65% since my last order 2 years ago.  I had planned to continue that product line with mostly robotic assembly, but it looks like it may be the end of the line for that one too.

Obviously, this will be rippling through other products too.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: petera on September 10, 2021, 06:38:42 PM
That really doesn’t bode well for the future of X10 Jeff. Here in Europe there are no official resellers of X10 equipment remaining. The guy I used to purchase X10 equipment from literally disappeared overnight. I’m down to what spares remain in my stockpile. When they’re gone I’m afraid it’s curtains for X10 here. Such a shame but such is the world we live in now.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: Brian H on September 11, 2021, 06:12:55 AM
That seems to be a fact with many products.  :(
You don't find many dealers selling X10 anymore here. Just the X10 sales site itself. I am now again getting weekly sales mail.

Smarthome has discontinued many of its modules and now is partnering with Nokia. For a line of Nokia enabled Insteon devices.
Many of the modules we use everyday may never be back. As the new owners (Richmond Capital Partners)  are cutting out low priority devices.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: dhouston on September 11, 2021, 08:54:45 AM
Here in Europe there are no official resellers of X10 equipment remaining.
Laser still lists a small inventory of X10 items.
https://www.laser.com/index.php/category/X-10_Home_Automation/cPath/234/osCsid/vnir5tdkll9r04ih4omkigcp41 (https://www.laser.com/index.php/category/X-10_Home_Automation/cPath/234/osCsid/vnir5tdkll9r04ih4omkigcp41)
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: petera on September 11, 2021, 05:37:52 PM
Here in Europe there are no official resellers of X10 equipment remaining.
Laser still lists a small inventory of X10 items.
https://www.laser.com/index.php/category/X-10_Home_Automation/cPath/234/osCsid/vnir5tdkll9r04ih4omkigcp41 (https://www.laser.com/index.php/category/X-10_Home_Automation/cPath/234/osCsid/vnir5tdkll9r04ih4omkigcp41)

Selling off residual stock. Was looking for a CM19 (433mhz) no luck at all. In fact my last purchase from new from my previous supplier was stinking of dampness and failed after two weeks. I had to turn to eBay for supplies. No shortage of CM12s and CM15s but no CM19s so far.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on October 29, 2021, 03:51:55 PM
Talk about inflation!  I'm ordering parts to finish out the last of the XTBR / XTB-523 PCBs.  Some prices have increased 50% or more since my last Mouser order.  LM318 op-amp from $.94 to $1.31.  5V regulator from .27 to .42.  Surge protector from 1.04 to 1.43.  While most increases were in the 10% - 20% range, it all adds up.

Some components, such as the 1N4148 I had been using, are out of stock into 2023:  4,229,061 Expected 2/1/2023

Fortunately, I found alternates.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: brobin on October 29, 2021, 04:09:22 PM
Can't be true.  The Chairman says there is no inflation.  Gas up over a $ a gallon is just your imagination too. rofl >!
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: petera on October 29, 2021, 09:09:15 PM
Inflation has gone through the roof worldwide. They reckon things won’t settle till the third quarter of next year. You were fortunate to find a competitive alternative. Asian suppliers are really feeling the brunt of shortages owing to the effects of the pandemic.
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on November 14, 2021, 11:53:04 AM
PIC12F1822 from $0.91 (09/09/2020) to $1.29 each at 100 pieces (11/14/2021)
PIC16F1823 from $1.02 (12/09/2020) to $1.47 each at 100 pieces (11/14/2021)

Yeah, only 6.2% inflation.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: brobin on November 14, 2021, 01:19:36 PM
Be thankful you can even get them! Let this truck driver tell you why, https://bit.ly/3Fhkc8u
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on November 14, 2021, 02:22:37 PM
Be thankful you can even get them! Let this truck driver tell you why, https://bit.ly/3Fhkc8u

I had read that maybe a week ago.  But in this case it is a production problem.  Mouser shows 122 stock for the 12F1822 DIP, and I ordered them all.  Next shipment isn't due until next June.

There are plenty of the SMD version available, but I used the DIP to make it easy to do a firmware upgrade.  For example, the noise monitor feature can be added to an original XTB-ANR just by swapping the PIC.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on December 29, 2021, 02:03:31 PM
Another Mouser order, another bunch of price increases:

DF04M bridge rectifier from .19 to .30 (100 qty)  up 58%
10 ohm 1W SMD resistor from .09 to .22 (10-99 qty)  up 144%
TL432 voltage reference from .17 to .23 (100 qty)  up 35%
MMBT2222A transistor from .05 to .09 (100 qty)  up 80%
PV37W103C01B00 trimpot from 1.74 to 2.10 (10-49 qty)  up 21%

Yes, it is pennies here and pennies there.  But with 50 or more components in a product, it adds up.

And of course there are the components back ordered until next summer or fall.

I've been buying components for almost 2 decades, and there have never been increases across the board like there have been over the last year.

Jeff
Title: Re: XTB Product availability
Post by: JeffVolp on March 16, 2022, 12:25:15 PM
Just checked availability of one of the PIC microcontrollers I use:

On Order:
5,948 Expected 2/13/2023
3,540 Expected 3/6/2023

No version of DIP or SMD was in stock at Mouser, Digikey, or any other distributor here in the US.  This may get worse with the supply of neon from the Ukraine being curtailed.

While I have sufficient inventory for now, component availability may cause the end of many products - not just mine.  Future firmware updates may require the existing chips to be re-programmed rather than providing new chips.

Jeff