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[jpsigns]

i am just wondering what the frequency of
the rf tranciever is? and would there be
any conflict to use x10 on an electrical
system with two different power sources?
commercial application where we use
480/277v transformers to 240/120v. am i
able to use x10? or should i be looking at
another product?

[Brian H]

X10 uses 310Mhz RF for their wireless
remotes and receivers. The powerline signals
are 120Khz timed to the zero crossing of the
AC waveform. X10 signals are effected by
line noise and an industrial environment
maybe a challange.
Though Phip Kingery's articles are mostly on
residential stuff he does show some
industrial stuff in his stories. You may
want to give them a look.
www.act-solutions.com/uncle.htm

[Brian H]

Most X10 stuff is 120 volts and you look
like you are dealing with 3 phase. So one
added wrinkle getting the signal from phase
to phase with the signal at zero crossing.
Each phase is 120 degrees from the other
two. In the web site I mentioned. Act I
belive has industrial equipment like for 3
phase and coupling etc. I would not use any
X10 stuff in a mission critical situation.
Even here at my home. I am about 99.99% in
control. Maybe once a month one module; one
time; may miss a command.

[jpsigns]

brian what i am dealing with here is the
switched device is on one transformer and
the main controller will be on another
transformer. is there any conflict or how
can i bridge or couple the sources since
they are both seperately derived systems?
(no direct coupling of phases). can i use
an rf transmitter and reciever to
accomplish my goal or not?

[dave w]

In another career life I tried coupling X10
across multiple phases to use in video
studio lighting control....the results was
not a impressive.  Maybe things have changed
in two decades.

RF may work better, since you do not have to
couple X10 PLC signals across phases. It has
a faily short transmission range.  30 feet
is considered good.

[Brian H]

RF maybe better as you don't have to think
about phase and across transformer things.
Depends on the distance you have to go. The
remote in one building would have to reach a
tranceiver module in the other building. The
tranceiver can send powerline signal to the
modules in question.

[gil shultz]

Good Evening,

I would consider either a hard wired or a commercial RF solution.  You would have to do phase coupling on the transformer secondary to get the signal on each of the three phases.  That is on one transformer then you have to get the signal to the secondary(s) of the other transformers.  X10 does not typically go through power a transformer, which is why you and the neighbor down the street do not interfere with each other.

If you have networking installed this could make the problem much simpler.  The typical Ethernet uses only two of the four pairs in the cable.  Pins 1,2,3 & 6 are used the others are not. Pins 1&2 are one pair pins 3&6 are the second pair (yes they split the pair).  Be sure IT lets you do this, hooking up wrong can destroy some expensive equipment.

Have Fun
Gil Shultz