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[jshores]

I've been slowly improving the reliability of my installed X-10 devices by adding couplers, repeaters, filters, etc.  Today I began to install a number of XPPFs on my UPSes, etc. After installing them, I actually had worse problems than without them!  I lost control of rooms I had control of.  So, I removed them.  After picking a couple of other strategic places to install them, I corrected some previously existing problems and resolved the problems introduced by the XPPFs.

So, anybody seen this before?  Any ideas why a device designed to resolve noise problems would appear to make modules stop responding altogether?

I'm stumped.

[Brian H]

When you filtered the UPS units. The X10 controller was not on the filtered side was it?
My APC BX1000 has the UPS on the filtered side and the controller on the pass through AC Outlet [I have a Smarthome 10 amp filter on mine].

[jshores]

No, the controller is in the basement on a separate circuit.  The filters were just used for a power strip that handles the TV, amp, DVD, VCR, etc., and the UPSes that cover my PCs.  All I know right now it that installing them made things worse; so I removed them.

[LittleLarry]

 Just wondering if you ever hooked the XPPF's back up or not?

I have a few items that are eating my x10 signals and it would seem I need to add a couple XPPF's to let the x10 signals get through.

Currently the signals are being eaten by a laptop powerpack and a pair of 3m air purifiers.

One thing that concerns me though, is that I really want to have the laptop powerpack and purifiers on a surge protected outlet, but these XPPF's do not look like they protect against surges\lightning, etc. I hope a combo x10 filter\surge protector is available.

Do the majority of x10 users recomend this XPPF?

http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/xppf.html

I couldnt seem to find it on x10.com's site, do they carry it as well, as I would rather order through them. I saw them on the x10pro.com website though.

[dave w]

One thing that concerns me though, is that I really want to have the laptop powerpack and purifiers on a surge protected outlet, but these XPPF's do not look like they protect against surges\lightning, etc. I hope a combo x10 filter\surge protector is available.

Do the majority of x10 users recomend this XPPF?

http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/xppf.html

I couldnt seem to find it on x10.com's site, do they carry it as well, as I would rather order through them. I saw them on the x10pro.com website though.

1. You can plug the XPPF into a surge protector. Not sure if the Smarthome filters have surge protectction built in or not.
2. ?
3. The XPPF is an X10 Pro product, it won't be on X10.com.

[Brian H]

The Smarthome filters I have [5 and 10 amp ones] do not have any surge components in them. They do have a slow blow fuse in them and if mildly overloaded long enough or heavily for a short time. Will open leaving the filter dead until a new fuse is soldered in.

[BaBaLou.]

If I may Just Ask!

• Can one use a 20 amp filter on a 15 amp breaker/circuit? or even a circuit that only have a few CFL lights on it.
• Will then 20 amp filter suck more of the x10 signal coming near it but not through it as compared to a 5 amp filter?
• Scenerio: 6 CFL pod lights (Cans) on one switch, next to the light switch is 2 outlets, all on the same circuit. With wanting to use a X10 switch can the filter be wired in at the switch, will it effect the an X10 signal of which is being passed to the switch and maybe the outlet next to it or should I try to keep the filter as far away and wire it at the first Light after the switch?
• FYI, I do have a 2-5 amp plug in filters, One used on power bar for chargers(laptop,cell phone) and not far on a separate circuit one power bar with the computer on it. The power with computer plugged into the filter also has a SC546A chime and it still works, but only about 75% of the time.

Craving more X10 knowledge
BaBaLou

[Brian H]

20 Amp filter may not physically fit a 15 amp outlet. 20 Amp outlets have one horizontal and one vertical blade. 20 Amps is its safe current rating so in a 15 amp circuit it would be no problem electrically. As the circuit can provied 15 amps and the filter could handle 20 amps.

Filter current capacity has no bearing on how well it filters. The components used and how connected may make a difference. So a poorly designed 20 amp filter could work worse than a 5 or 10 amp one with a better design.

Putting an X10 filter in the Line feed to an X10 switch would kill most of the signals to it and make it worse. First light after the switch but remember many X10 switches are two wire so you would need a neutral also for the filter.

[BaBaLou.]

Thanks Brian H.
Lets say space to fit a filter is not relevant right now.

• Is using the leviton 6287 with x10 possible?
• Also just to clarify about the neutral. Is it not that in any light fixture the return is going to the neutral side (white) while the load side (black) is coming form the switch itself, so if I was able to use an XPF or 6287on the first light there should be a neutral there for me to use, am I correct or am I still lost?
• Then at the switch box with 2 sets of outlets next to it in the same triple box all on the same circuit, I would have a neutral there also. Since I would like to use a WS13A for the lights with CFL would connecting the white to any neutral be OK or would the filter effect the operation of the WS13A.

On the same note, Ebay stores with x10 product, looking at the odds and ends like XPCR, XPPF, XPF and so on but not so much the modules. Any recommends on those stores for units being new and dependable. Cant beat the price so just to make sure my wallet doesn't get beat in the long run. Have no problem with doing business at Ebay, it just seem such a great deal on the price of those types of products compared to X10 site. Deals a Deal and X10 has many great ones and so do the little guy I'm hoping.
Also, any ELK-ESM1 out there someone is willing to part with, seems discontinued and very hard to find in Canada or trusted USA site whom will deliver to Canada. Any suggestions out there?
Many Thanks to all.
BaBaLou.