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[Cubbyd]

I have one "module" that acutually triggers about 11 modules in my home to turn on Christmas Candles and dim them to 75%+/-.  There isn't a problem turning them on or off, but if I attempt to adust the dimming, it causes the AHP program to hang.  Any thoughts?

[Puck]

Are you using a macro for the dimming or doing it manually in AHP?

Are the 11 modules all on the same address?

What is the triggering module?

... it causes the AHP program to hang.

As in having to Ctrl-Alt-Del and end the non-responding task?
What AHP version and what plug-ins are you running?
What OS are your running on?

Need some more info. 

[Cubbyd]

Running the 3.204 verson of AHP (2 weeks old).

Windows xp sp2 auto update.

The 11 modules are all the same address ( F6) and it is not run from a macro, per se, albeit looking at the  activity monitor it say "macro", but then again, it says "macro" for all of the commands run from the interface.  It is just run from one module with a dim setting of 80%.  That seems to work fine.

It it when I attempt to manually dim them from the AHP PC screen that it hangs the application.

[Cubbyd]

Further info.....

From the standpoint of "hangs" what I mean is that the AHP PC screens locks up, and looking at the Windows Task Manager the AHP ap is  running at 96-99% for several minutes.  Ctrl-alt-del will stop it and dump AHP, and leave the module in question in an odd state (occasionally) ie - swiltch is "off" but dim is at 80%.

[Puck]

Ok, I'm trying to get a picture here....(please correct where needed)

In AHP you have just the ONE dimmable light switch module defined for Address F6...

It is just run from one module with a dim setting of 80%.

This would be done in a Macro....

...and it is not run from a macro...

Now I'm confused...  :-
What are you using to successfully trigger the 11 modules to dim?

It it when I attempt to manually dim them from the AHP PC screen that it hangs the application.

I don't know why this would be happening.... maybe another XP user has seen this 

[Cubbyd]

Let me take another run at this for clarity.

On AHP on my PC, in my Outside lights "room" I have a lamp module coded to F6 and an associated timer.  Spread around my home, in a number of different rooms, we have a number of Christmas window candles.  They are all lamp modules set to F6.  My AHP PC program is loaded into my -15A interface and generally controls them going on and off.  (It doesn't reach the two back rooms where I have a Radio Shack "Plug and Power" clock controlled timer also set to F6 to control those two rooms; which, I had used previously to control all of the timers, and it did the job,without an issue (including manual dimming).  I decided to get fancy and go the the AHP PC system and .... oh well, that is another story....)

No macros are involved with this.

[Puck]

OK... I think the confusion is thinking you were able to auto dim the lights but not manually dim them.

What is actually happening is you can turn them on & off manually, but the manual dimming kills AHP. 

Maybe use a macro....

Create a Dummy Switch (choose an appliance module) and give it say Address F5.
Create 2 Macros for that switch... One that Triggers by F5 ON, and the other F5 OFF

• In the F5 ON Macro: turn F6 ON to the desired brightness level
• In the F5 OFF Macro: turn F6 OFF

It doesn't reach the two back rooms...

Your probably have a Phase or Noise issue with these... lots of info on those topic here. 

[Cubbyd]

Re: Back room issues---
It is noise from a TV/surge proctected circuit.  Radio Shack controller is 15 ft from TV/surge and apparantly can overpower the noise.  -15A Interface is 75 ft away and probably too much attenuation at that distance.

Re dimmng issue. 
The interface is set to dim the candles to75%.  Seems to do it.  The problem, or quirk as it may be, is if I manually dim any other single module controllling a single lamp that  I have set up on the AHP PC app, it does it without a problem.  It chokes only when I attempt to manually dim the one "circuit" (F6) where I have 11 modules set to respond to the F6 code on the one control module/timer on the AHP.
Question:  The dimming process seems to take some time, say 2-3 seconds, to happen.  Is there any feedback from the lamp control modules to the AHP PC app?  And, therefore since there are multiple lamp modules on the circuit there is a bunch of garbled feedback (all 11 units are trying to "talk" back) and that is what is causing the problem.  I'm just guessing, but that is about all I can think of.

[Brian H]

LM14A is the only lamp X10 module [other brands maybe different] that is two-way and can report back its status if requested or programmed to report changes.
Do you have a phase repeater in the mix? Some get flaky with dims.

[Puck]

I have one "module" that acutually triggers about 11 modules...

What is the triggering module?

...the one control module/timer on the AHP.

I finally know what your triggering your lights with.   

To add to Brian's post:

• what models are the lamp modules you are using
• what type of switch do you have selected in AHP for F6

...if I manually dim any other single module controllling a single lamp that  I have set up on the AHP PC app, it does it without a problem.

Then it has to be specific to the lamp modules / AHP switch in this set up... but still most likely another AHP SW bug.

[Tuicemen]

I have a Radio Shack "Plug and Power" clock controlled timer also set to F6 to control those two rooms; which, I had used previously to control all of the timers

I'm unfamiliar with this device, is it a transceiver?
Try unplugging it and test from AHP.

[Cubbyd]

I am triggering all of the F6 modules with a "lamp module" in AHP.

My on site modules are a menagerie........

X-10:  LM465;  and would you believe a X10-014511 brown box; (it doesn't always seem to work....)

Stanley Home Products: 360-3057 "Lamp module"

Radio Shack: RS-2682B  "Lamp Module"

[Cubbyd]

Further:

No phase repeaters.....

[Cubbyd]

The Radio Shack controller is simply the digital clock with one set letter and either 1-4 or 5-8 with adjustable times for each number.

X10 used to sell them; don't know if they do now.  It is not a repeater or transceiver.

[Puck]

I don't know what the modules outside of the LM465 are, but the LM465 is not 2-way.

As long as the AHP Lamp Module is the basic NON 2-way, that should be fine.

Try dimming with all the modules unplugged. If that works, starting plugging them in one-by-one until you find the problem one.