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[rbolan]

My CM15A is probably one of the older ones (2005), and has been working reasonably well for that time, but it seems to have developed a mind of it's own lately.

My setup is pretty simple.  A single CM15A.  Monitored housecode A, no transceived housecode configured.  I have a macro that kicks in at dusk, turns on a bunch of indoor lights, waits a 1/2 hour, then turns on the outside lights.  Some of the indoor lights are set to turn off at 11PM via individual timers, and the rest are turned off by a macro that runs at daybreak and issues an all units off.  This all has been working fine, except for the following oddball thing that occurs occasionally.

At 11:40PM, the CM15A sends all of the ON commands to the inside lights again, so the units that were off come back on.  This is my first warning of what's to come.  Then at 12:20AM (notice the 1/2 hour gap), it sends out a sequence of commands, including an all units off, and then it sends an on command to the outside lights.  So at 12:20AM, my house goes completely dark except for the outside lights.  All of the entries appear in the activity log as TRANSMIT, and absolutely none of this activity is configured in AHP.

AHP 3.318
Lifestyle is NOT turned on.
I have saved my configuration file under another name.
I have dumped the contents of my config file and parsed throught it, and found nothing that looks like these timers.
I have disconnected the CM15A, removed the batteries, replaced them, reconnected, cleared memory, and reloaded and eventually the "phantom" returns.

Here's one thing I observed in my testing:  If I look at the hardware configuration, the memory usage shows 94.65% available.  After doing a clear interface memory, it still shows the same percentage.  Then after reloading, it still shows the same.

All fingers seem to point to the CM15A... but am I missing something?  I get the feeling it has some random fragments from days gone by that are still in there. Is there a procedure to factory reset the CM15A to ensure everything's clear?

 

[Tuicemen]

Have you emptied the AHP recycle bin?
AHP has been known to fire macros and timers left in the recycle bin.
Is it possible a neighbor has a x10 system?
Since house code A is the default house code for all x10 devices and everything reverts to that you should change that.
There are several threads on that.

As for resetting the CM15
You almost have it right removing the batteries should be the last step.
Purge delayed macros
Clear interface memory (do this twice)
Unplug cm15 from Computer (USB) and electrical outlet
Remove batteries
Wait 1/2hour  and replace batteries
Reconnect to power and PC
Update interface

[rbolan]

I checked the recycle bin, and it was empty.  While it's possible a neighbor has X10, I kinda doubt it.  And most neighbors are not very close.  I would expect something a bit more random if that were the case.  Also, if I were getting commands from another house, wouldn't the activity log show them as RECEIVE rather than TRANSMIT?  Just curious.

I have been procrastinating about changing my house code, but you're right... I think it's time.

Meanwhile, I will do as you suggest on the interface reset and see if that cleans it up.

Thank you for the fast response!

[rbolan]

Update:  I just finished following your reset procedure.  We will see if that makes a difference.

By the way, through each step, the interface memory utilization numbers did not change.  Total available was 94.65% when I started, after clearing memory twice, after the power reset and reinstallation, and it is still 94.65% after reloading it.

Should I be concerned about that?

[Tuicemen]

Memory will be affected by the dusk/dawn resolution setting.

[Brian H]

Yes Dusk/Dawn setting take up a small amount of memory.
I tested mine.
32 day interval 99.30% free memory
8   day interval 98.02% free memory
Daily 86.22% free.

[Noam]

1. Check your location settings (in AHP) and your timezone settings (in Windows).
2. Do you keep the CM15A connected to a running PC all the time, or do you disconnect it after you download?
3. What are the unit codes of the lights and the macros?
4. Do you have any X10 motion sensors in your setup?

[rbolan]

Locations settings are correct, as are the timezone settings.  The actual macros that are configured work perfectly when they're supposed to.  The problem is that I have a "phantom" that runs occasionally at 11:40PM.

The PC is running all the time, but AHP is not, although the driver for the interface obviously still is.

The unit codes range from A2 to A11.  The macros are A9(on and off).

There are no motion sensors.

An update:  After the reset of the interface per Tuicemen's instructions, all was fine the first night.  Unfortunately, last night the phantom returned at it's regular time of 11:40, when I noticed that some lights came back on.  So I went in, brought up AHP, purged delayed macro commands, cleared the interface again, and reloaded.  This prevented the 12:10 all units off from occurring.

So this doesn't seem to be an external force.  Really spooky.

[Noam]

Have you tried changing house codes?

[rbolan]

I haven't changed house codes... yet, but that's on my to do list.

Meanwhile, after reading through your list of questions, I decided to try disconnecting the USB after reloading, and for the last two nights the "phantom" has not returned.  That would explain why our house sitter has never reported any anomalies with the lighting while we're gone, because my PC has always been shut down when we're on vacation.  I will give it a few more nights to determine if in fact that has eliminated the problem.  If it has, then that raises all sorts of questions, but at least I will have a reliable installation again...

Fun stuff... Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and thought-starters.  Will keep you posted. 

 

[rbolan]

So...  12 days later, with the CM15 disconnected from the PC, the phantom has not resurfaced, and everything is working perfectly(insert Twilight Zone music here).  In my early tech-weenie days I would have loved spending the time doing a deeper investigation into the bits and bytes, but for now l'll just leave the USB disconnected and write this one off as one of life's mysteries.   

Thanks, everyone!   

[Brian H]

The CM15A doesn't have decoupling caps on its power supply and ICs. That is usually standard design for electronics.
I am not sure if the controller IC that also has the USB processing. Is extra sensitive to noise on the USB cable.
Dave Houston's web site has some added information on adding the decoupling caps.
I know a few others have added the caps over the years and fixed things like locking up.
http://www.davehouston.net/ImproveCM15A.htm