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Author Topic: Bridging Phase with RF?  (Read 6510 times)

mulvaney

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Bridging Phase with RF?
« on: December 05, 2008, 05:27:12 PM »

Hi,

New to the forum.  I've done some reading of earlier posts, but I still can't get what I want to work!  I think I have a Phase issue, although it is literally just ONE circuit out of my whole house that won't respond.  I do have a complex electrical as I have two panels separated by a throw switch to isolate some circuits if I use my generator.  Circuits on both sides of this DO work, just not this one.

I looked into noise also, but could not find anything that made it work.  If I put all the components of my X10 on this one circuit, it works.

Here is what I tried first:
- Everything that works is on House Code A, my CM15A, lots of outlets, etc.  In AHP it is set to transcieve A/B. 
- I tried putting a lamp module on House Code B on what I know to be a "good" circuit.
- In this scenario, I can turn on/off the B lamp module from either AHP/computer or via RF remote control.
- This tells me the CM15A is taking in AHP/computer B commands as well as B-RF commands and transmitting over wire to my B device (on good circuits).

Now I tried this:
- I put an RR501 (transceiver module) on House Code B along with the B lamp module on the "bad" circuit.
- I pulled out the AHP for the test
- I used the RF remote to turn on/off the lamp module.
- This tells me that the RR501 is taking B-RF commands and transmitting over wire to my B device (at least within that one "bad" circuit").

Finally I tried this:
- I put the AHP back in the wall, and tried turning the B lamp module (on the bad circuit) on/off with just AHP/computer commands.
- Didn't work.  I had hoped that the AHP would transmit the signals not just over wire (which I know isn't reaching that "bad" circuit), but that it would also transmit out via RF for the RR501 to pick up.

That's my long story -- is there a way to use the AHP to send OUT RF to another receiver?  It seemed from other posts that this could work.  That other receiver is in my AHP inventory and is listed as an RF Transmitter.

Any help appreciated.  I have also variously tried using a coupler plugged into my dryer outlet -- results of all the above are the same either way.  Because of my split electric it is possible that this coupler isn't helping -- but I'm no electrician!

Thanks.
John
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Tuicemen

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2008, 10:09:52 PM »

mulvaney You don't state what additional plug-ins you have!
AHP will send out RF only commands but I thing you need the smart macro plug-in!
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mulvaney

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2008, 11:44:19 PM »

Thanks for the quick reply. 

At present, I have no plug-ins to AHP at all.  At the moment, the main thing I have done is automate my electric candles in the windows at Christmas time.  Most of these are outlets that I replaced, a couple are lamp modules.  Basically, they are all on the same code (A16), and a single timer turns them all on/off (except the ones on the "bad" circuit of course)!

I tried writing two macro that would trigger on A16-on and A16-off to set B-2 on/off (hoping the RF would fire and do the bridge for me).  I'm not sure I set that up right, so I dropped back to the very manual method I posted before to test the functionality first.

** Would the smart macro plug in enhance the ability of the AHP to send _out_ RF?

Thanks.
John
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Tuicemen

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2008, 01:45:08 AM »

I'm sure it comes with that! ::) I have all the plug-ins so I'm not 100% sure which it came with!
The option is on the right hand side where you select the rooms  from the drop down!
Smart macros adds much more as well!
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Boiler

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2008, 11:33:49 AM »

John,

As Tuiceman has indicated, there is an RF output command that is part of the Smart Macro package.  I use it extensively for communication between my two CM15a's.

Since you already have a RR501, there may be a word around. 

The CM15a will automatically communicate with a TM751 transceiver using RF.  The problem here is that it will only communicate with one address code.  Since your problem module is on the "B" houscode, you would need to make it's address B1.


Here's the steps:
  • Re-identify your RR501 as a TM751 on the B Housecode
  • Move your "Problem unit" to code B1
  • Plug your RR501 into the problem circuit, with housecode B and unit slider switch set to "1".
After performing the above, you should be able to activate the TM751 in AHP which will send an RF on to the RR501 and in turn activate your switch at address B1.  Note that you will also be activating the RR501 Relay.  Sorry but I don't know a way around that without the Smartmacro package.

Boiler
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mulvaney

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2008, 12:50:06 PM »

Boiler, Tuiceman,

Success!  Thanks guys!

Here is what I was able to do...
- I put my RR501 on the "bad" circuit, set as B9, and identified it as a 2-way transciever / appliance in AHP
- I put my "bad" circuit modules as B16
- I wrote 2 macros using the RF command option, one for ON one for OFF and triggered them off A16/ON and A16/OFF.
- Now, when my A16 timer fires, so does the B-side.

Interestingly, I did not need to use only the "B1" codes -- any and all codes work.  Also, I did not need to buy the super-macro add-in -- I was able to use the standard macros.  And finally, just as I started to get this all working thanks to you guys, I came across this wiki entry that pretty much covers what i was doing: http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Setting_the_CM15A_to_Send_RF_Commands.

Thanks again, guys.
John
« Last Edit: December 06, 2008, 01:05:18 PM by mulvaney »
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Tuicemen

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2008, 01:24:03 PM »

mulvaney thanks for the update! Many here have had the smart macros from the begining so we assumed that option was part of that plug-in!
>!
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Boiler

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2008, 10:57:02 AM »

Interestingly, I did not need to use only the "B1" codes -- any and all codes work.  Also, I did not need to buy the super-macro add-in -- I was able to use the standard macros.  And finally, just as I started to get this all working thanks to you guys, I came across this wiki entry that pretty much covers what i was doing: http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Setting_the_CM15A_to_Send_RF_Commands.

John,

Thank you for correcting my mistake.  I have been incorrectly steering people toward the SmartMacro's package to get access to the "Advanced Commands".  I learned something new from your post (I guess that makes it a good day).

You are correct that the "Advanced RF command" gives access to all unit codes.  It is only the TM751 interface that will only communicate with the "1" unit code.

Since you've been kind enough to correct us on the RF commands, could you check on the following as well under "Advanced Functions":
  • Extended Code
  • Module Control
  • Appliance Control

Thank you,
Boiler
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mulvaney

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2008, 11:19:27 AM »

Boiler,

Under "Advanced Functions" I have the following options (using AHP v3.236  with no plug-ins):
  • X10 Address Command
  • Windows Command
  • Extended Code
  • Module Control
  • Appliance Control

I don't necessarily know what all these do, but those are my available choices!
John
« Last Edit: December 07, 2008, 11:21:10 AM by mulvaney »
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Boiler

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2008, 11:31:13 AM »

John,

Those were functions that I had previously thought were only available with the Smart Macros package. 

Thank you again,
Boiler
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Dan Lawrence

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2008, 01:45:39 PM »

John is not in the US or Canada.   AHP v3.236 with no plug-ins  is not the current version here, 3.228 is the current version of AHP.
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mulvaney

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2008, 02:50:24 PM »

Dan,

I am in the US (Connecticut).  I bought AHP when it first came out (12/2004) and then just updated it through the "check for updates" feature, but I did re-download it when I moved to Vista in October of this year.

Help About shows last update as 9/3/2008 and v3.236 as the version.

Are you saying I have a non-US version of the software?  If so, what are the implications for me?

John
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Puck

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2008, 03:51:33 PM »

mulvaney: I don't know why, but version 3.236 does get loaded on some North American customer's PCs. I am one (there are many others too).

When Dan Lawrence sees version 3.236 in someones post, he automatically assumes you are from Europe. He is aware of this version happening here but refuses to believe it since it didn't happen for him.
« Last Edit: December 08, 2008, 08:51:54 AM by Puck »
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Dan Lawrence

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2008, 06:43:03 PM »

Ok, what gives a version AHP v3.236?   That's a big jump from 3.228.  A plug-in? mulvaney says he has no plug-ins.  I just clicked on the upgrade in AHP 3.228, it tells me it's the latest version and no upgrade is needed.
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Tuicemen

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Re: Bridging Phase with RF?
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2008, 06:59:05 PM »

Ok, what gives a version AHP v3.236?   That's a big jump from 3.228.  A plug-in? mulvaney says he has no plug-ins.  I just clicked on the upgrade in AHP 3.228, it tells me it's the latest version and no upgrade is needed.
Don't feel bad Dan I have all plug-ins and I'm still at version 3.228  ::) ??? ??? ???
I also get the message no update is needed! :'( :'(
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