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[axgupta1]

I have had nothing but trouble since I replaced the CM11A with CM15A. It fails to dim lamps through macro. If I use the wireless remote, I can dim the same lamp. The lamp module is type LM465 and it was purchased in 2004-2005 time-frame so the dimming problem with newer LM465 does not apply. The CM11A was able to dim the lamp connected to this module. Now it turns on and never dims. I have tried running the dimming step more than once in the macro but no luck. If I check in the activity log, the command is shown correctly. I have phase coupler/repeater installed so signal strength is not the issue. I tried changing the location of CM15A but still the same behavior. If I try to run the macro from the wireless remote, it still doesn't dim the lamp.

It looks like modules are responding to direct commands but if I put the same commands in macro, it doesn't work. What else can I check?

Thanks...
Arun

[Boiler]

Arun,

I'm sorry to hear of your problems with the new CM15a. It's never a happy day when you drop your hard earned cash on something new only to have problems.

You mentioned that you had an active repeater.  It is possible that your repeater does not understand the "concatenated dims" that the CM15a is transmitting and is interpreting these as "micro dims".  If this is the case, only part of the dim transmission is making it to your module and it is dimming only a very small amount (takes ~ 150 micro dims to equal ~ 12 standard dims).

For the above to have any effect, your lamp module would need to be on the opposite phase from the CM15a.  If this is the case, you can check for proper operation by moving the lamp module to the same phase as the CM15a.

My problem with the above is, I don't understand how things worked with the CM11a.  Did something move?

Boiler

[axgupta1]

Boiler,
Thanks for your reply. I did some more testing and found the following problems:
a) CM15A fails to dim lamps from macro which runs from a timer.
b) CM15A fails to execute macro (whether it is lamp on + dim or lamp off) when the macro is trigerred from remote. I have a lamp module (LM465) at G4. I have created a maco G2 which turns on the lamp at 30% brightness. When I press G2 on remote, nothing happens. When I press G4, the lamp turns on at 100%. I have G4 OFF macro which turns off G2. Even this macro doesn't work from remote.

I cannot suspect remote because it can turn on every module which is not controlled by a macro. CM11A worked fine for several years. I just replaced CM11A because of ease of programming. Could it be a bad CM15A?

Thanks...
Arun

[Boiler]

b) CM15A fails to execute macro (whether it is lamp on + dim or lamp off) when the macro is trigerred from remote. I have a lamp module (LM465) at G4. I have created a maco G2 which turns on the lamp at 30% brightness. When I press G2 on remote, nothing happens. When I press G4, the lamp turns on at 100%. I have G4 OFF macro which turns off G2. Even this macro doesn't work from remote.

I cannot suspect remote because it can turn on every module which is not controlled by a macro. CM11A worked fine for several years. I just replaced CM11A because of ease of programming. Could it be a bad CM15A?

Arun,

You stated "I have G4 OFF macro which turns off G2. Even this macro doesn't work from remote.".  I believe you meant - I have a G2 OFF macro with turns off G4... Correct?

Past that, I have some questions/things to try

• How are you transceiving the RF - with the CM15a or a separate transceiver?
• If you are using a separate transceiver, do you have the CM15a set to NOT transceive that housecode? (don't want two transceivers on the same code)
• Do you see your macro execute in the activity monitor?
• Does the macro function if you click it?
• Are you running commands from the CM15a or the PC?
• What type (brand/model) repeater are you using

Sorry for all the questions,
Boiler

[axgupta1]

Boiler,
You are right, I mistyped. Here is what I did. Cleared the interface memory, removed the battery and reloaded all timers and macros. Now the macros for dimming works but the macro is executing twice... !!

To answer your questions:
a) I am using 2xRR501 for house codes A and G and 2xTM751 for house codes C and D.
b) CM15A is set to not transceive on these housecodes.
c) I see the macros execute in the activity monitor, the log is pasted below. You can see that macro is somehow running twice.
d) The macro now functions when I click it.
e) I am running commands from CM15A.
f) The repeater is smarthome.com 4826A, 4-pin plug in coupler/repeater. It is plugged into the 220v dryer outlet. The dryer is also plugged into the output of 4826A.

This is the activity generated by a single press of G2 which should turn on G4 and dim it to 30%.

0   11/7/2008 7:14:50 PM   Receive RF   G2 On
1   11/7/2008 7:14:54 PM   Receive   G Bright 100(Bedside Lamp)
2   11/7/2008 7:14:54 PM   Macro   G4 (Bedside Lamp)
3   11/7/2008 7:14:54 PM   Macro   G Bright 100(Bedside Lamp)
4   11/7/2008 7:14:54 PM   Macro   G Dim 67(Bedside Lamp)
5   11/7/2008 7:14:57 PM   Receive   G Dim 63(Bedside Lamp)
6   11/7/2008 7:14:58 PM   Receive   G2 (Bedside Lamp Dim On)
7   11/7/2008 7:14:58 PM   Receive   G On (Bedside Lamp Dim On)
8   11/7/2008 7:15:03 PM   Receive   G Bright 100
9   11/7/2008 7:15:03 PM   Macro   G4 (Bedside Lamp)
10   11/7/2008 7:15:03 PM   Macro   G Bright 100(Bedside Lamp)
11   11/7/2008 7:15:03 PM   Macro   G Dim 67(Bedside Lamp)
12   11/7/2008 7:15:05 PM   Receive   G Dim 63(Bedside Lamp)

Even on off button press, the macro is transmitted twice. I cannot explain why there is ON command in the OFF macro:

33 11/7/2008 9:22:15 PM Receive RF G2 Off
34 11/7/2008 9:22:16 PM Macro G4 (Bedside Lamp)
35 11/7/2008 9:22:16 PM Macro G Off (Bedside Lamp)
36 11/7/2008 9:22:17 PM Receive G2 (Bedside Lamp Dim On)
37 11/7/2008 9:22:17 PM Receive G Off
38 11/7/2008 9:22:18 PM Macro G4 (Bedside Lamp)
39 11/7/2008 9:22:18 PM Macro G Off (Bedside Lamp)

So I am not sure what is happening here. I thank you again for taking the time to troubleshoot this issue.

Regards
Arun

[Boiler]

Arun,

My apologies - pulling the batteries to reset the CM15a should have been my first suggestion.  I jumped to a conclusion.

What you are seeing now is the following -

• CM15a is receiving the RF from your remote and starting the macro execution.  Disabling the "transceive function" on the CM14a prevents it from converting the RF and putting it on the powerline.  It still receives the RF and will execute macros - there is no way of preventing this short of physically disabling the receiver.
• Your other transceiver (RR501 or TM751) powerline communication is received by the CM15a and starts a second instance of the macro.  The communications from the TM751's may be problematic.  These are not "polite" devices and may attempt to talk over the CM15a transmission if it has already started.  Both the CM15a and RR501 are polite and will wait until the powerline is clear prior to transmitting.

You can eliminate a double instance of the macro if you have the "smart macros" package -

Macro G2 (on)
Trigger on G2 on and Flag1 not set
Set Flag1 on
Delay 1 second
Set G4 to 67% absolute

Macro G2 (off)
Trigger on G2 off and Flag1 set
Set Flag 1 Off
Delay 1 sec
Set G4 Off

The flag in the above should prevent multiple macros from being started.  The 1 sec delay (may need 2) is to allow your tm751 to clear the line prior to starting the transmission to G4.

If you do not have the Smart macro package, the following simple delay may also work -

Macro G2 (on)
Trigger on G2 on
Delay 2 second
Set G4 to 67% absolute

With the 2 second delay at the beginning, the above macro re-starts in the "middle" of the delay period (essentially extending the delay).  This (of course) requires tuning, but it can work.

Other options include removing your "other" transceivers and relying on the CM15a for RF.  As you've probably read, the CM15a doesn't have great range - there are however, modifications that can be performed.

Boiler

[axgupta1]

Boiler,
Many thanks for the great explanation. This resolves the mystery of dual execution of macro. I still have one doubt. As you can see in the activity log, when I pressed the G2 OFF, there is a G2 ON command received. Where is this coming from?

I also see that you are writing macros in a kind of programming language. Is this part of smart macros?

Regards
Arun

[Boiler]

36 11/7/2008 9:22:17 PM Receive G2 (Bedside Lamp Dim On)
37 11/7/2008 9:22:17 PM Receive G Off
38 11/7/2008 9:22:18 PM Macro G4 (Bedside Lamp)
39 11/7/2008 9:22:18 PM Macro G Off (Bedside Lamp)

Arun,

What you are seeing is a Macro label that AHP is applying to the receive (or misapplying in this case).

What you are actually receiving is the following:

Receive G2  (address the G2 device)
Receive G Off (command addressed device off)
Macro G4 (Proper macro called - G2 off trigger)
Macro G4 Off

In short, the label being applied is a misnomer - the actual received commands and the triggered macro are correct.
Boiler

[Rambeaudoin]

I had the same dimming problem as you described, after days of searching ,I finally got it right by doing one of the 2 following things:

- Either it was clearing the CM15A memory, taking out the batteries and unplugging it then reloaded the AHP file

OR

- Placing a check mark in the "send on instead of brighten 100%

Anyway, now it seems to be working fine

[axgupta1]

It does not work. The particular macro (G4) stops working everytime I make a change and reload the settings. I have tried removing the battery and send on instead of brighten 100%. I keep reloading 100 times and finally it starts working automagically. Totally unacceptable. Making a small change to anything and reloading the settings should take minutes, instead it takes me hours because the macro just refuses to work.

Anyway, why should I have to do this process? It is just poor quality junk from x10.

[Rambeaudoin]

Well I guess I was lucky after those few days tryng to get my dimming control back, I've downloaded to the CM15A a few more times for minor updates on timers and macros, and lights DON'T dim anymore.

Anyone have ideas???

 

[axgupta1]

The only way I use to get is back is delete the macro and create it again, clear memory, upload and test. Keep doing it till it works. This is all I do. Hopefully something like this works for you too.