Levitron HCM06-1D Recent Undesirable Operation

[Dave4720]

I have two Levitron HCM06-1D 1000W dimmers on two separate circuits.  I have V572 and XTB-IIR.

I have these set to a dimmed level, so an ON command will turn ON the previously stored dim level, OFF command will go dark.  I have minimum DIM level set, so I can easily manually reset stored DIM level to minimum DIM level if needed.

These have worked well for many months.  Now I have problem.

After an ON command is issued, I get the stored DIM setting.  However, some time later I find them at FULL ON.  I reset to DIM level, and again, some time later I find I am at FULL ON.  It’s like someone is playing a joke - setting FULL ON some time after I set DIM level.

I already know the routes and testing to do to find errant commands, noise, neighbor X10’s, etc., etc., etc.  What I am looking for is OTHER non-command possible causes that I’d never find by searching for command related anomalies.

So, is there a condition these Levitron HCM06-1D 1000W dimmers can see to cause a reset-to-full-ON condition? 

I will disconnect all X10 controllers from the house, turn the Levitrons on by hand, and monitor X10 traffic with XTBM.  If I get the behavior with no X10 commands, I’m going to think it’s some other non-command cause.

[dave w]

So, is there a condition these Levitron HCM06-1D 1000W dimmers can see to cause a reset-to-full-ON condition? 

I will disconnect all X10 controllers from the house, turn the Levitrons on by hand, and monitor X10 traffic with XTBM.  If I get the behavior with no X10 commands, I’m going to think it’s some other non-command cause.

I don't know of anything that would cause your full on, other than an errant extended code command. But I think your troubleshooting is sound.

Good luck.

[Brian H]

The HCM06-1D manual. Seems to indicate that if the minimum dim is being used. The module will never go to Off but to the minimum level set by the lever.

[Dave4720]

More update.  Disconnected CM11A controller last night and this morning they were full ON again - and of course, not shut OFF due to dawn event because CM11A disconnected.

Another observation … I shut them OFF, did the morning routine, and when I went to leave for work, they were full ON again.  This now was from an OFF position, not a DIM position.   I notice some very brief light blinking sometimes … like a power line glitch.  I noticed one of those this morning, and by the time I left the house, the HCM06-1D’s were full ON.  Hmmmm …

I suspect some powerline glitches - not just simple noise - causing the HCM06-1D to come up to the full ON state.  Come to think of it, I have another lamp module that come ON without good cause sometimes - it could be related.

[dave w]

 I notice some very brief light blinking sometimes … like a power line glitch.  I noticed one of those this morning, and by the time I left the house, the HCM06-1D’s were full ON.  Hmmmm …

One of my two active neurons just fired.

If each of the HCM06 only controls one bulb, check the bulb for tightness. I have some old X10 wall switches that seem to have the "local control" feature...which makes no sense to me but maybe the wall switch is just a redesign of the Lamp Module, and X10 manufacturing only disables the local control when they think about it.

Anywho, bulbs can loosen from the socket due to thermal expansion/contraction which may false the "local control" circuit.

[Dave4720]

Solved!  See http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=22385.0