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[RJShults]

Can you help solve a problem for me?  My X-10 only work wjen the laundry room ceiling light switch is 'on'.  Only some outlets work when the switch is 'off'.  Everything else on that circuit has no effect on the outlets, only that ceiling light switch.  Any ideas?

[roger1818]

Hmm.  That is a strange one.  What type of light are you using in your laundry room?

PS.  I moved your question to its own thread in a more appropriate forum for general troubleshooting questions.

[Puck]

Can you help solve a problem for me?

The more info, the more probable. 

My X-10 only work wjen the laundry room ceiling light switch is 'on'.

What is your X10 setup? ... controllers, transceivers, modules... etc.

Only some outlets work when the switch is 'off'.  Everything else on that circuit has no effect on the outlets, only that ceiling light switch.

Is the outlet(s) controlled by the light switch? More details please... Thanks.

[Tuicemen]

RJShults: Sorry for the slow reply (was away for the weekend)
As  Puck and Roger stated more info is needed in order for us to help with this strange problem!
Have you mapped your electrical circuits? [/b]]Topic: How-To: Map Your Electrical Circuits  (Read 789 times)
There seems to me there is an issue with the wiring. Is the laundry room also the room where the electrical box is?
Also check this thread out: Topic: TTA's X10 Troubleshooting Tips Thread [Updated: 2006/11/18]  (Read 3410 times)

Roger : thanks for splitting this off to its own thread!

[RJShults]

Thanks for the respone guys!  This is a florescent ceiling light.  One of those energy efficient 9" circular ones. There is one wall switch at the entry door, and one wall switch at the exit door. ( I have no idea why this is, as the two doors are about 6 feet apart and both switches are on the interior of the laundry room walls.  If I reach my arms out, I can operate both at the same time.)  Both switches control the light. Either can be used to turn the light on and off.  One does NOT have to be in the 'on' position for the other to operate.The rest of that particular circuit are the lights and outlets in the den including this computer, which is on 24 hours per day.  I have already tried the system with different combinations of the laundry room switches ( one on, the other off and visa versa ).  My x-10 system consists of only two lamp controllers currently, until I can solve this problem as it affects almost half of the houses outlets.

Any ideas?  Please don't tell me that this is a first. ( I hate firsts like this )

Thanks again all !

[RJShults]

Just some more info for you.  The lamp controlled outlet is in the living room on the other side of the house.  No circuits are shared. There are no common walls or outlets between the laundry room and the living room. The problem exists in many of the other rooms too.  The electric box is outside on the garage wall. Again, no sharing takes place. My X-10 transceiver is plugged into an outlet that is on the same circuit as the laundry room ceiling light.

[Puck]

Both switches control the light. Either can be used to turn the light on and off.  One does NOT have to be in the 'on' position for the other to operate.

This is just a typical 3-Way light switch set-up... very common.

From what you describe, it sounds like you have a phase issue. Your Transceiver is on one house phase and your lamp modules are on the other. Why it works when this light is on is somewhat of a mystery. A light circuit should not bridge electrical phases. With the light off, turn on your dryer (assuming it's a 240VAC and not gas) and see if you can control the lamp modules now. If so, I suggest getting a phase coupler. If not, maybe move your Transceiver to another outlet.

What is the model number of the Tranceiver? (TM751 / RR501 / etc.) Are you controlling the lamp modules with a remote? I'm sure you already made sure the outlet the Transceiver is plugged into does not have it's power removed when the light is turned off. 

Also, it appears from what you said that your PC is on the same electrical circuit as the Transceiver. PC's are big noise generators and can cause X10 problems as well. There are also filters available for keeping noise off your electric lines.

[roger1818]

I'm sure you already made sure the outlet the Transceiver is plugged into does not have it's power removed when the light is turned off. 

Yes, do check this!  Normally turning on a fluorescent light will make problems worse, not better.

I guess it is possible that there is something else in the house that is generating powerline noise (see my tutorial here: Noise, Noise Filters and Automatic Gain Control) and that the florescent light has a filter that is absorbing some of that noise, but it would also be absorbing the X10 signal so it isn't very likely (though not impossible).