X10 Community Forum
📸Cameras & Camera Software => Legacy non Wi-Fi X10 Cameras => Camera General Discussion => Wireless Cameras(non IP) => Topic started by: ETalmadge on March 23, 2006, 08:52:27 AM
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Need some help here.
I have two Floodcams on each corner of the back of my house. I have one set to A1 and the other to A2. The lights on the one set to A1 remain on, not turning off after the set delay. I have tried many things and am at a loss what to try next. It doesn't matter if I have them set to "Auto" or "Manual". It doesn't matter if I am using a Transceiver or not. The unit set to A2 comes on with motion and then turns off like it is designed to. If I am using a Transceiver and manually shut off both units, a couple minutes later, A1 will come back on and stay on. I've also tried shutting them off manually and then removing the Transceiver, still the same outcome.
Any and all advice is welcome.
Thanks.
???
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The problem most likely is the motion sensor + 1 code thingy! try motion sensors send 2 codes one for daytime/night time, one for off/on if on of your lights is set to the night /day code it will come on and stay on at night even if you turn it off with a remote as light afects it! Try moving the problem lights unit code to #4. ;)
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Thank you, I will try that and respond with results. :)
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Check out this link.You may find it helpfull.
http://www.x10.com/support/faq_floodcam.htm
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Thanks JimC.
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No luck guys. I tried both suggestions and it didn't help. As a matter of fact, I realized last night that it's not only the floods that aren't turning off, the camera is also staying on. I did a little test last night after trying both these suggestions. I manually shut off the floodcam with my remote and timed how long it would take to pop back on. I did this 5 times and everytime was right at 60 +/- seconds (don't know if this means anything). I left the settings to totally dark for the floods and did notice this morning that they went off when it started to get light out, but check the TV and the camera was still on. I'm at a loss. :-[
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ETalmadge,
Contact X10 tech support. I know they have a procedure for getting this to work that is more involved than what was in the link I sent you. I had the same problem and they emailed me a procedure that did work. I am at work now but when I get home I will see if I can find it. I had the problem several years ago but I think I still have the email.
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Ok next thing to check is noise this is a little tricky to find but not impossible.
I read on this board just a few days ago in fact to use a portable fm radio set to empty setting and walk aruond to different devices, switches/outlets and when the radio picked up increased static or hum that was the problem sorry can't remember the thread ( a search should find it!) ;)
another way is to find the breaker that is powering that cam and find everything that is also powered by it by turning it off. Ones you know every thing that is on it unplug everything but the flood cam turn power back on. Slowly plug things back in untill you find the culprit! ;) :)
Once you find the cause a filter will fix the problem ;)
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Tuicemen: I can surely try that, but wouldn't the other floodcam have the same problem? They are powered by the same switch and breaker.
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One would think so but maybe one is closer to the noise making it more suceptable to it! I'm grasping at straws here! ;) :)
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I found this at another web location and it more closely resembles what I remember doing to get mine working. I used a couple of strips of electrical tape to cover the motion detector. It is important that the sensor be completely covered. You may have to repeat this several times but it did work for me. The times they specify are important don't short change them. Use a watch and add a little extra time.
Turn off or disconnect power to the FloodCam.
Turn the "Light Sensitivity" dial all the way to the "LIGHT" setting (extreme counter-clockwise position).
Turn the "Delay" dial all the way to the "MIN" setting (extreme counter-clockwise position).
Cover the motion detector; then turn the power to the Flood Cam back on. After about 30-60 seconds, uncover the motion detector.
Now walk in front of the FloodCam; then leave its viewing area for at least another 60 seconds.
At this point, the lights should turn off.
If the lights have not turned off, stay out of the viewing area of the motion detector and use any X10 remote control to send an "OFF" signal to that FloodCam. Make sure that the House and Unit code you use match the one set on the FloodCam.
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JimC: Those are the exact same instructions you sent in the above reply via the x10 link. The only thing I didn't try is the tape. I will try it again with the tape.
Thanks.
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hi!
was wondering--did u ever get the flood lights to go off like they are supposed to? i hve tried everthing mentioned (yesterday) and i ended up just unscrewing the bulbs. i'm kinda new 2 this but it seems awfully difficult mostly because the instructions are vague and there are not mant trouble shooting answers.
thanx in advance
kaemack
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Kaemack:
No such luck. :( I tried everything mentioned this past weekend and thought I had it. It worked just fine throughout Friday night and the lights remained off on Saturday. Come Saturday night, the problem was back. I guess I will have to pick up the phone and actually call x10 support. ??? Will let you know if I ever get this working!
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I just installed my floodcam on Saturday and had the same problem, lights would not turn off. I followed the instructions mentioned in this forum including the covering sensor with black electrical tape. The lights turn off after completing the steps, but then came back on after a minute or so. I followed the steps once again and the lights came back on after a minute. I then turned off the power from the floodcam, then adjusted the cam to the dark setting. I turned the power to the floodcam back on and then remotely turned the lights off. From that point, the lights stayed off. At night, it came on only when motion was detected and turn off one minute later. Just like it was suppose too. Today Monday, it still works fine. Off during the daylight hours and on when motion during the dark hours. Don't know what really made it work, but just wanted to let you guys know what worked for me. It probally was just coincident. But it works and I won't touch it again for right now. I think these procedures work best during daylight hours.
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chinaboy-
do u have a multiple floodcam system? do u have multiview? a vcr commanderII? do any of them work for u? did u have problems getting them 2 work?
thanks
kaemack
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I only have one floodlight and 3 Instant on color cameras. I use multiview to record snap shots and webview to monitor the cams remotely. The only problem I have with multiview, it does not show the correct camera when going thru the different cams. I had the same problem like everyone else with the floodlight not turning off. But the steps I followed below work for me. I do have the vcr commander, but havent found the need to hook it up yet.
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Hey guys, mine are on their way back - enough messing with them. Just not worth it. As a matter of fact, I had an X10 Support Rep tell me I would be much better off and get better picture quality if I went with stand alone floodlights (like I originally had installed) and use the low-light b/w cameras. May give this a try. Thanks for all the suggestions and good luck to those of you that want to keep fighting the floodcam. ;)
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Don't send it back, get a XPS3 switch and wire it to control the Floodcam. It will turn the power to it on when you want it on and turn it off when it's not supposed to be on.
The non Floodcam X10 floodlights have the same problem - they won't turn off in daylight hours, even it defined in AHP. Add a XPS3, perfect control!!!!!
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i'm glad it worked 4 - u...i thought mine was working fine until i came home from work only to find that the flood lights had been on all afternoon/nite. a nuisance for my neighbor!!!
kaemack
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I was just curious, I am now using the AHP to monitor and control my cameras. I am using the FloodCam VT38A. Is there a way to actually see from within AHP that the lights to the floodcam is on. I know I can tell the camera is on by the On Air indicator. But the light may be on too, and I would like to make sure that stays off. Also can I turn the lights on but the camera off or viseversa from with AHP. Thanks
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Get a XPS3 switch and wire it to control the Floodcam. It will turn the power to it on when you want it on and turn it off when it's not supposed to be on.
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I'm having the same problem as with quite a few people I see from searching X10's website. I did come across 1 post which I am going to try tonight. Try setting your floodlights further away from your motion detector (i.e. spread them further apart or maybe up or down) Apparently the heat from the lights can cause the sensor to trip as they are heat sensors not actual motion detectors.
I had these hooked up to my previous house and everything ran fine for over 2 years, but I do admit I had the lights pointing directly down while the camera was actually facing directly straight out, Well good luck, I will try it tonight and report back in a few days. If anyone else trys please let us all know before people start going crazy around here....lol
Cheers
Jason
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Hi all,
I have figured out the cause of the lights NOT turning off. I fixed mine after three months, three different vt38a's, umpteen times up and down the ladder, etc. etc. I put the light up for the third time on Saturday, that night the lights came on when motion was detected and it was after dark. But they would not go out. Sunday I brought the lights down again and tested the vt38a plugged in to the wall and a detached light, it worked fine most of the time. One time when the light was pointed slightly towards the motion detector it locked on, but the rest of the time it worked fine. Back up the ladder, this time I installed the floodcam as far away as possible from the light, but still pointing in the same direction, as that is where you want the light and camera to point. Darkness, motion, light locks on again! Took a few mental pictures and thought about it today. Tonight I taped a 2"x2" piece of metal (solid dark plastic will work) to the side of the floodcam under the hood. Tonight it works fine. I can now put my ladder away.
Here is the problem; Floodcam circuitry turns OFF and ON the light only if it's dark. If the bulb is mounted so that it sheds even a small amount of light on the motion detector, the detector assumes it is daylight and then fails to turn off the lights. They are locked on. My shield keeps the light off the sensor so it doesn't think it is day.
Depending on the mount location and angle to view the lights may work fine for many people. If the view angle is in line with the three mount holes the lights would probably be ahead or behind the camera and not shine directly on the sensor. In my case the view angle was 90 degrees to the three mount holes, thusly the sensor and light(s) are beside each other and reflect onto the sensor causing the problem.
For X-10 floodcam engineers, the fix is to have motion turn on the lights if it is dark and turn off the lights when motion times out all the time, day or night.
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Interesting find!!! I am confused to where you are putting the metal piece. You said you put the metal on the side under the hood. Are you referring to the lid where the settings are located? Are you saying that this method will allow me to turn the lights in any direction and still work without problems.
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Interesting find!!! I am confused to where you are putting the metal piece. You said you put the metal on the side under the hood.
Without actually owning a Floodcam (but owning PR511s and other similar photo/motion sensitive floodlights; i.e. remember the HeathKit folks? IIRC, only allowed 3 Housecodes: A, B, C), I'd venture a guess that hphandyman is advising that you BLOCK *ANY* light from the floodlights (that turn ON) from reaching the Floodcam's Window (where the photocell and motion sensors are located).
I had a similar problem, years ago, with a non-X10 Motion Detector Floodlight, when light from the base of the bulbs was escaping via a ΒΌ" CLEAR gap and 'confusing' the sensor. I solved it by spray-painting the base of the bulbs with heat-resistant (backyard grill, IIRC) black paint.
So, bottom line - put the metal piece (or any 'piece' that blocks the light) *WHEREVER* it blocks the light! ;)
[COOL! 76 Posts = Sr. Member 8) (I wonder what 76 'Not Helpfuls' is? ;D]
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Hi again
I actually used a 2X5" piece of metal taped on to the side of the flood cam placing it forward in line with the hood over the motion detector. Then the light beside the sensor cannot leak light into the motion detector.
Thanks
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Hey, y'all!
It's been quite a while since I was on the forum and it looks like they've changed everything but the quality of the products!
Do you happen to have a Ninja camera base working with these two Flood-Cams? Or, are you using a Ninja remote? I have discovered that, if you use a Ninja remote in conjunction with Flood-Cams, the Flood-Cam lights will not turn off. I also once had a problem where a Flood-Cam was turning off and on repeatedly. It was a case of light bouncing off an object on the porch which made the camera think it was daytime, so the light switched off. I just quit using the day/night feature. 'Hope this helps!
~Kenny
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Just bumping this to the top as it seems like some viable solutions here. Thanks to those who contributed, and any updates on the success/failure of your fixes? Thanks!