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[bitman]

Hi,

I am learning to play pedal steel guitar so I went to a local jam session that was advertised in the local craigs list.

As I was leaving after it was over I approached what we call here "The mud room". That is entry way where we remove muddy and snowy shoes.

The light was out and reaching in and around the corner I found no light switch.
The owner of the home said "Go on in, the light will come on for you" I took one step in and the light came on.
I turned to him and said. "X10?" - He said "Yep! old technology but it works"

We exchanged x10 pleasantries as I put on my shoes. I told him about the 220 appliance trick to find out if a problem with some sockets requires a phase coupler. I asked him if he was a member here and he said no.
Pity I say as you all are so cool.

 

[troll334]

Sweeeet !
How cool is that !?
It's not every day you 'run in to' someone using X10.
Bravo.

[Brandt]

a while back...I guess one of my co workers saw that I 'liked' X10 on Facebook...turned out he had a ton of X10 stuff and sold it to me!!

[birdzeye]

What's the "220 appliance trick"??

[Brandt]

What's the "220 appliance trick"??

using a 220v appliance as a phase coupler

[bitman]

What's the "220 appliance trick"??

If you have x10 devices that don't work in some sockets but they work when a 220 appliance such as a dryer or oven is on then your problem is phase coupling.

Otherwise it's something else such as noise

[Dan Lawrence]

You can take the "220 appliance trick" a bit further by putting a0.1 uF 250 VAC capacitor across the screws in the box behind an electric stove.  It will bridge the phases (electric stoves are 220 volts) and the stove never knows the capacitor is there. All stoves are "plug-in".

[Brian H]

If you try the capacitor thing.
Make sure it is rated for across AC power Line Use.
I believe X2 is the designator for across power line use.

[lodtrack]

The capacitor thing... also make sure it is rated for at least twice the line voltage. It is also wise to ensure you connect it to breakers that are tied together as someone may get an unpleasant(and dangerous) suprise if one breaker only is opened to work on the circuit wiring...Loddie

[Dan Lawrence]

The specs for the capacitor came from my former local X10 dealer who closed his business (called PIGS Electronics) in 2008 (mostly due to X10 USA's refusal to sell the AHP/CM15A to dealers and raised the costs of other X10 items to dealers that heavily reduced their income) but saved the old site on a Comcast site.  That's where the capacitor in my stove's outlet came from. He worked out of his home which was about 15 minutes from my house. 

[Brian H]

Dan. The 0.1uf 250 VAC rating is a good one.
The VAC rating indicates it was rated for power line use.
I know PIGS Electronics would have only sold ones rated for AC.

[Dan Lawrence]

Gary Gabris, who ran PIGS Electronics, is a class guy.  I got a lot of X10 items from him over the years.  X10 sales were a side job for him.  I got my CM11A and Active Home from him.  He and his wife used to keep Chinese pigs as pets, that's where the name came from.  As you might expect, their house was X10 controlled.