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[pongo5295]

I am SURE this question has been answered many times over I just don't seem to be able to find the answer since I must not be asking the right question.

My X10 units seem to work in only a few of the outlets in which they are plugged in. It used to be about half the house but now it is a very few outlets - only two out of the MANY in the entire house.

What is happening? Is it correctable or should I just forget about using X10? I used to use them all over the house. Now I have lots of modules that just don't seem to work except for about two outlets. The modules are not dead - they DO work in those two outlets - I am not using any extension cords or power strips with them - I just plug them directly into the electrical outlets.

Thanks...

[jarleifv]

yes, your "issue" is fixable. It isn't actually an "issue" as much as it is by design. What you're experiencing is most likely something most people struggle with before installing a phase coupler. Your signals won't cross over to the other leg of your breaker box unless an inductive load is running on 220 (say a dryer), or unless you're really close to the nearest transformer. If you have an electric dryer on 220v, try starting it and see if your issue goes away. If not, you can purchase a phase coupler for less than $10, then install that and your issue will likely disappear. Make a few searches for phase coupling in the forum. I installed part# XPCP in my 1600sqft house, and it took care of exactly what you're describing.

 

[pongo5295]

Thanks for your response...

Does one need to be an electrician to install it?

I have found it online but have not found a PDF or description on how/where it gets installed.

Thanks again for your quick reply.

[Brian H]

Sounds like a phase coupling problem or power line noise and signal suckers.

With most homes. Power from the outside is split phase. Where there is 240 volts between the two Line wires and 120 volts between one Line Wire and the Neutral. The X10 signals have trouble getting to and back from the transformer on the street. So half the house does not get enough signals to work. Also many electronic devices can absorb X10 signals or make power line noise to make the signals corrupt.

If you have an electric dryer or stove. Turn it on and see if some of the dead areas start to function. They act like a simple coupler tho get the signals to the other line.
The XPCP and other brand passive couplers are wired into the Breaker Box for best results. Smarthome had a dryer outlet model that plugged in. I believe it is on the way out and only the three pin is now available. Many find an active coupler repeater is a better choice.

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=l2v2t8pnj3cr5fgm3ej6i3igm3&topic=19252.msg107493#new
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=9899.msg57946
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-remote.com/PCC/uncle.htm

[pongo5295]

By the way, I did buy a $29 device that was supposed to eliminate the phase problem. It was a device that plugged into the dryer outlet and then the dryer plugged into it.

It was worthless...It did not help in the least.

I took it back.

[Brian H]

Yes passive couplers can only pass the signals and noise from the other working phase.
If the signal is degraded to a low value. The low value is all the other phase starts out with and again signal suckers and noise makers will kill the X10 signals.
Try looking at a few of the threads in my earlier post and then feel free to ask questions.

[jarleifv]

I connected my XPCP at the breaker panel with about 4 feet of 14/3. My CM15A is about 6 feet from the Panel. I would think the passive couplers have less success rate if the CM15a is placed say 50 feet from the panel on phase 1, and the dryer with a passive coupler is 50 feet from the panel on the other phase...does that make sense?

[pongo5295]

I appreciate your responses and your links. I went through all of them and got quite an education on electricity and how X10 works along with the various types of coupling devices, repeaters, moving all X10 circuits to the same phase, etc.

When I first started using X1 over 25 years ago, all the devices worked in almost every outlet avaialable. When we moved to our new house, we had several problems over the years but nothing like the current issues. During that time, we have added many electronic devices as have most other people. Methinks those additional devices are a part of what is happening here in terms of the very quirky and non-reliable X1 devices we now have here.

To those who are savvy with electrical meters and electricity, X1 continues to be a dream product and I am happy so many are able to use the devices effectively and with no-to-few-issues.

Unfortunately, it also appears to me that X1 has become an electronics' hobbyist world where knowledge of coupling capacitors, tuned circuit couplers, passive signal couplers and other esoteric terms has become the norm with our more complex electronics usage.

I appreciate the extremely informative information I received today. However, I also believe that X1 is no longer the plug-and-go solution that I experienced many years ago - it all simply worked backed then.

I think X1 is no longer a viable option for people like myself unless they want to expend many $$$ contracting electricians who might not even understand all of the electronics background needed to make X1 work in the flawless manner of which I used to be accustomed. I am sure it is simple to those with a background in electronics.

Thanks again!!!

[dave w]

I connected my XPCP at the breaker panel with about 4 feet of 14/3. My CM15A is about 6 feet from the Panel. I would think the passive couplers have less success rate if the CM15a is placed say 50 feet from the panel on phase 1, and the dryer with a passive coupler is 50 feet from the panel on the other phase...does that make sense?

Not completely since the dryer is on both phases, but I know what you are saying. Which boils down to "passive couplers are OK unless your circuit distances are very long".

Repeaters are more expensive than passive couplers (although I see X10 XPCR repeater on eBay for around $18). But repeaters do more than just phase coupling. They also help overcome noise problems by boosting the X10 signal, most times to a level sufficient enough to over ride the noise and or signal suckers. So a good, high output repeater (for example the XTBIIR) can make a system go from "this junk is going back!!" to "wow, this is too much fun!" Whereas a passive coupler system may still need a dozen or more filters to make the system work. In the long run, even a cheap repeater like the XPCR is better than a passive coupler (IMHO).

[jarleifv]

"passive couplers are OK unless your circuit distances are very long".

that's what I was trying to say.. lol    on the simplification!   

[george536]

http://www.smarthome.com/4827/BoosterLinc-Plug-In-Signal-Booster-X10-X-10-Amplifier/p.aspx

what i used with a plug in dryer coupler, fixed all my issues got it for 99 shipped from amazon.com