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Author Topic: Phase Coupling Problem or Noise Problem (Or Neither)?  (Read 2770 times)

ricquelle

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Phase Coupling Problem or Noise Problem (Or Neither)?
« on: March 04, 2011, 07:58:13 PM »

My current set up:

TM751 Transceiver
CM19A PC Transceiver
Vanguard Software

House Code A1:
XCam2
Eagle Eye Motion Sensor
TM751 with Lamp Plugged In

House Code A2:
XCam2
Eagle Eye Motion Sensor
Lamp Module
Door Chime

House Code A4:
XCam2
Eagle Eye Motion Sensor
Socket Rocket
Door Chime

My Problem is with my lamp plugged into the TM751, the Lamp Module (A2) and the Socket Rocket.  Sometimes the appropriate unit will come on when the associated motion detector is triggered and sometimes it won't.  Sometimes the TM751 with lamp turns on and won't turn off even when another motion sensor is tripped.  In other words, the lamp operations are very sporadic.  Oddly enough however, the door chimes associated with House Code A2 and A4 work perfectly when the motion detector is tripped, while the lamps will not work.  The socket rocket at A4 is plugged into the same outlet as the A4 door chime that is working.  All lamps will work with my remote.

Is this a phase coupling issue ( I tried turning on my dryer to bridge the gap and it made no difference), a noise issue, or something else?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
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dave w

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Re: Phase Coupling Problem or Noise Problem (Or Neither)?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2011, 08:36:01 PM »

Sometimes the appropriate unit will come on when the associated motion detector is triggered and sometimes it won't.  Sometimes the TM751 with lamp turns on and won't turn off even when another motion sensor is tripped.  In other words, the lamp operations are very sporadic.  Oddly enough however, the door chimes associated with House Code A2 and A4 work perfectly when the motion detector is tripped, while the lamps will not work.    All lamps will work with my remote.

Is this a phase coupling issue ( I tried turning on my dryer to bridge the gap and it made no difference), a noise issue, or something else?

YES.

Your description could be describing noise, coupling, signal sucker, and/or poor RF range. Without a signal strength/noise meter it is difficult to pinpoint speciic cause.

Try to get one subsystem working at a time. Try moving the TM751 around to see if lights on A2 and A4 begin responding depending on TM751 location.

Unplug everything that could be noise sources (or turn off all breakers except the ones providing power to the TM751 and the light modules) and test for better operation.

here is link for troubleshooting   http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm.

I would invest in a repeater. Since you have a small system, perhaps try a XPCR which I see on ebay for less than 20 bucks.
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Brian H

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Re: Phase Coupling Problem or Noise Problem (Or Neither)?
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2011, 06:22:03 AM »

One other thing I noticed in your setup.

The A1 Motion Sensor has a Dusk Dawn sensor in it also. Dusk Dawn is the motion address +1 Unit Code.
So your A1 Eagle Eye is going to send an A2 On at dusk and an A2 Off at dawn. This may effect your A2 set of devices.
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ricquelle

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Re: Phase Coupling Problem or Noise Problem (Or Neither)?
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2011, 09:03:48 AM »

I moved the TM751 around, currently it is in the closest possible physical location to the breaker panel, which is directly one floor above it and about 5 feet to the left.  I have a concrete basement and the only outlets down there are for washer/dryer.  I also finally downloaded and played around with AHP last night.  Since moving the TM751 I am consistently getting A1 to go on and off as planned.  However, it still consistently is sending a A4 On  but never sends an A4 Off Code for some reason.  I setup a macro to have A4 turn off after a 1 minute delay and nothing 4 minutes later.  Then A1 came on and went off - still no off for A4.  It finally sent the A4 Off Code 15 minutes 18 seconds before A2 came on.  And now A2 is not sending an Off Code...

Does this provide any further clues?

Update:  I have taken everything off of HC A and put it on B instead.  That should alleviate any dusk/dawn problems. 
« Last Edit: March 05, 2011, 10:00:22 AM by ricquelle »
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