Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Brian H]

I recently assembled and installed a XTB-IIR in my home. I thought you may find my adventure in troubleshooting interesting.

Equipment:
ELK ESM1
Smarthome 4819 TesterLinc with 1132B Interface.
Smarthome 1132CU Controller with Essentials Software for the Signal Test broadcasts, from the computer room.
X10 TM751 Transceiver
X10 TR16A Touch Tone Responder In the Master Bedroom.
X10 PF284 Powerflash Module In cellar close to the breaker panel.

The ESM1 showed 5 or more bars in all my outlets. Sending X10 signals with the 1132CU; TR16A;
TM751 in the Boost In AC connector on the XTB-IIR.

The TesterLinc with 1132B Interface showed a constant stream of. BSC Bad Start Code; BBK Bad Block and BCY Bad 3 Cycle Gap. From any of the test positions and modules.

So I tried the tests with the XTB-IIR powered off. I got the SAME results with the TesterLinc. So it was not the XTB-IIR. Thought maybe I have a two way module acting up and we know that Insteon Modules are two way.

Before I started looking at the Insteon Modules, I tried a second TesterLinc with the same results. Tried a second 1132B Interface module. Now ever test is OK, with both TesterLinc's. It was a BAD 1132B sending garbage to the TesterLinc when cold. Got better when it was on for maybe five minutes.

Using some RJ45 jacks, splitters and cable. I found the RS232 Output signal at -5.5 volts when cold and the TesterLinc spewing garbage. When it went to -6.95 volts I got correct messages. The second 1132B showed about -6.95 volts from the start. Also the Smarthome Synapse program used to directly talk to the 1132B showed no incoming data from the bad 1132B until it warmed up.

So Murphy got me and don't overlook your test equipment maybe giving you false results. As you are doing troubleshooting and have a tough problem or strange results.


Did some Google searches. Seems the 1132B has a reputation to fail.     

[Brian H]

I had a chance to look at the flaky 1132B with an oscilloscope and found some interesting things.

I don't feel that the 1132B's TW523 signals are truly a match to the X10 TW523 and Jeff Volp's XTB-IIR. Both use optoisolators for both inputs and outputs. The 1132B seems to be a TTL 5 Volt logic as no external components are needed to see the signals resting at a Logic High +4.95 volts and going to common when activated. It also shows that the Pin 2 common for both the TW523 and XTB-IIR is a data line set Low as it is marked as a General I/O Signal and is not directly connected to the common signal on the RJ45 signal jack..

I also have seen reports of early ELK M1 consoles damaging the 1132B's TW523 emulated signals. Seems their logic was 12 volts [well with in the TW523's ratings] but frying the 1132B's TW523 signal lines. ELK has modified the board for a lower logic level.

Back to my findings. When the unit was cold. There was a pulse right in the middle of the Zero Crossing signal when it should have been high. The TW523 emulated received signal also showed no actions to X10 signals on the line. As the unit warmed up the extra pulse started to get narrower and then be sporadic. Then when it just went away. Any power line X10 signal would make it blip back on. When fully warmed up. The extra signal was gone and the received output was logic high and pulsed low as the data was outputted.