Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[JeffVolp]

I had been doing some noise testing, and out of curiosity I decided to compare the various X10 filters I have.  The testing was done on an isolated lab circuit with about a 50 foot electrical run to the panel.  Testing was done using a X10 Maxi Controller as the signal source, and the infamous Lumoform LED light as the noise source.  Readings were made with the XTBM-Pro, which measures noise just before, during, and just after the X10 transmission window.

There were two surprises.  One was how poorly the 20A XPF filter performs.  It is essentially a severe signal sucker itself, and does not do well blocking noise from the LED light.  And I was surprised that the 15 amp XTB-F15 performed significantly better than the 15 amp ACT F120, both from a signal loading and a noise rejection standpoint.

I knew the X10 XPPF was a good filter from prior testing.  This test confirms the XTB-F10 performed as well for noise rejection, and the XPPF actually loaded down the Maxi Controller more than the XTB-F10.  The XTB-F15 doesn't do quite as well because it uses lower value inductors to handle the higher current.

           Rating  X10 Level  Pre X10   Window   Post X10

No Filter   -----     8.12V     .03V      .99V      .98V

XPPF          5A      7.32V      .01V      .01V      .01V

XPF          20A      3.32V      .01V      .15V      .14V

AF120       15A      6.20V      .01V      .04V      .04V

XTB-F10   10A      7.88V      .01V      .01V      .01V

XTB-F15   15A      6.88V      .01V      .02V      .02V

Jeff

[brobin]

Interesting post Jeff. Except for the XPF, I have all of the above plus some Smarthome 1626-10 10 amp filters which claim 49.2db attenuation. This will help in selecting the right one when needed - hopefully not soon. I have some installed on a couple of laser printers and UPS units. Thankfully, the LEDs in the overheads that came with the house have not been troublesome.  I used to have them on TVs but the ones we have now, 2013-14 Samsung/LG/Sharp models, cause no problems (knock on woodgrain!).
 The Smarthome one is the only one that's ever blown a fuse, which is a soldered in slo-blo easily replaced. I now use an XTB-F15 on that printer.

[bkenobi]

I use primarily SmartHome plus a couple XPF filters.  If you get a SmartHome filter at some point, it would be interesting to see how it compares.  I know the 5A and 10A versions are identical outside of the fuse that's soldered in place, so either one would be useful and should provide identical results.

[JeffVolp]

If you get a SmartHome filter at some point, it would be interesting to see how it compares.

Sorry, I don't have any SmartHome filters, and see no reason to purchase one just for comparison.

Jeff

[bkenobi]

I understand.  I was just suggesting that since you sometimes have second hand equipment on your site that I assumed was from other users.  I figured if that were the case, you might run across one of these versions.  No problem either way.  Having a side-by-side comparison of the typically used filters is a really nice resource!