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thanks Jeff---what are some "small plug-in power modules"? USB phone charger bases, for example?
And switching power supplies? - tv's? Anything that can be powered on by a remote, right?

Small plug-in power modules are just that.  They could be cellphone chargers or power modules for various widgets.  Many things today have a separate power module rather than plugging directly into the AC line.

Most electronic devices today have dispensed with large, heavy, and expensive 60Hz transformers.  Instead they rectify the AC line voltage and feed it to a DC/DC converter to produce lower voltages.  When that converter runs near the X10 carrier frequency, it can cause problems.

Jeff

This is usually a symptom of powerline noise.  Turn off or disconnect any likely noise generators and see if that makes a difference.  Likely culprits are CFL or LED lights and small plug-in power modules.  But anything with a switching power supply can inject noise onto the powerline.

Jeff

thanks Jeff---what are some "small plug-in power modules"? USB phone charger bases, for example?
And switching power supplies? - tv's? Anything that can be powered on by a remote, right?

Power Line noise as pointed out.
Is starting to be a possibility.
You may want to go that route and see if you can find something.
You don't find may X10 signal meters these days.

This is usually a symptom of powerline noise.  Turn off or disconnect any likely noise generators and see if that makes a difference.  Likely culprits are CFL or LED lights and small plug-in power modules.  But anything with a switching power supply can inject noise onto the powerline.

Jeff

thanks Brian
Yes, using code B is more involved and manual. Agghh

Two minutes ago, I turned on the pump, #10, from the remote, and, as usual, #6 came on; number 6 is a rocket socket screwed in a sconce.
So, in essence, turning on/off other numbers may or does turn on the pump. Or, turning the pump on/off may or does turn on #6 only.

Sure, I could start to disconnect x10 switches, and chargers and bulbs, but, honestly, I don't have the energy to troubleshoot. Obviously, having some sort of x10 signal reader would be an easier start to try to find the culprit(s), but I think they don't exist any more.

Can't hurt to try the XPS2 on B as a test.
Just remembering to use the remote. Both the HD501 and the remote have to be set to B. Along with the MT-14A

Have you tried a different XPS2?

See what happens when you change the house code.

Any X10 repeater in the mix? That could be messing things up?
What are you using for the HR12A X10 RF receiver to the power line?
If it is a TM751 or RR501. They only do one House Code. If you use a second House Code. The TM751 or RR501 will also need to be reset. Along with the HR12A.
The MT14A can only be set to one House Code. So more than one House Code can cloud things up.

This may come out funky with multiquotes.
1. I don't have another xps2 to try. I changed its code to 10, and it still turns on on its own when the mt14a sends other on commands. Should I change the xps2 house code to B to try it out or rule out xps2 craziness?

2. I have an xtbr repeater plugged in under the main panel.

3. Perhaps my xps2 is flaking out??

4. I have an IBM HD501 that has RR501 in the fcc id

I suggest replacing the XPS2.

I've had problems with XPS3 switches in the past losing their minds when they get old.  Among the quirks I've observed are:

• Not responding to transmissions whose signal is too weak
• Not responding to transmissions whose signal is too strong
• Responding intermittently
• Turning on/off erroneously in response to partial transmissions
• Turning on/off erroneously in response to transmissions intended for other unit codes
• Turning on/off erroneously in response to transmissions intended for other house codes
• Turning on/off erroneously in response to line noise

My theory is that when the switch's electronic components age, the PIC eventually receives a distorted signal and either skips incoming bits, interprets noise as missing bits, or both, though I haven't done any reverse engineering to back that up.

Since XPS2 is the 240V version of the XPS3, they're likely the same design otherwise.

Sounds like the now discontinued. SC503. Maxi Controller.
Not sure if a similar unit is now being thought about.

Smarthome made a 4071 ControLinc Maxi.
That was an X10 controller.
It did have a few extra feature like sending out the codes to add things like scenes in their X10 clones that could have a scene added to them.
It also could do all 256 X10 Addresses.

Too bad there doesn't seem to be anything similar now.
There are some of varied shape on Ebay.

must be a 16 button with all functions.