Thanks guys for your input!
I was going to wait until next week to respond as I asked my "amatuer electrician" cousin to come over inspect by fusebox and answer Boiler's questions:
"Give us a bit more info on your install (home size, panel access, access to 220V dryer outlets, devices installed) and we can do a better job of recommending a solution."
However, I read Jeff Volp's website and at a minimum I think I will get his fully assembled XTB-IIR amplifier. For a non-electrician like me, is it very hard to install the passive coupler? i.e, is there splicing of wires or is it plug and play? I did install my x-10 wall receptacles but I was nervous the whole time and had to call my cousin frequently just to double check stuff. The thought of playing with 220 volt stuff is daunting!
To answer some of Boiler's questions though, my house is 3600 sq ft of which a part of it is a guest house using the same electrical lines. The guest house must be on the same "phase" as my controller as the x-10 modules back there have no problem getting signals. I have the Active Home Pro, Security system and about 16 x-10 modules. I have access to the 220 volt dryer outlet which is next to the "panel"... I hope panel and fuse box are synonymous.
Hope this is descriptive enough.
Ken
Hello again Ken,
The terms FUSE Panel, Breaker Panel, Load Panel are roughly synonymous. They are the point of electrical distribution for the home.
One point though - does your panel actually have "FUSES" or does it contain circuit breakers? If it contains FUSES, it may be difficult for you to add circuits (additional fuses) to the panel. If your panel contains circuit breakers, are there open "slots" for additional breakers?
From your description, you have a moderate sized home that probably contains 1 or 2 load panels in the house itself. The guest house should contain it's own panel that is most likely in parallel with the main panel in the house. Depending on the distance between the main and guest houses, this will probably pose the biggest communication challenge. The line length between the two buildings combined with the loads installed in the guest house will attenuate the X10 signals.
You mentioned that you had a 220V dryer receptacle near the load panel but didn't state whether it was in use. If the receptacle is unused you have a number of options.
1) XTB-IIR plugged into the 220V dryer receptacle/CM15a installed at XTB-IIR front panel. With the CM15a installed in the XTB-IIR digital input socket (110V) the XTB will boost signals on both phase A and B directly. No additional coupler is required. This is probably the best install, however it requires that your computer be located near the load panel.
2) XTB-IIR plugged into the 220V dryer receptacle/CM15a installed elsewhere. If you can't locate the CM15a at the load panel (plugged into the XTB-IIR), you can try locating elsewhere on a branch circuit. The XTB-IIR will receive powerline transmissions from the CM15a (call this phase A) and will repeat them on phase B. The only problem with this install is that the XTB-IIR has to be able to hear transmissions from the CM15a. This is a standard 5V X10 level. If there are noise makers/signal absorbers between the CM15a and the XTB-IIR it's possible to corrupt this communication (that's why option 1 is superior). Given the fact that you are currently operating without any signal coupling or amplification, the concern here is probably minimal. It is something to keep in mind.
3) Signalinc 4816 phase coupler installed at the dryer 220V outlet, XTB and CM15a installed on a branch circuit. The XTB will install in a standard 110V outlet and has a input port that will allow you to plug in the CM15a directly. This will boost signals on that phase (call this phase A). The passive phase coupler will couple the boosted output from phase A to phase B. There will be signal loss in going through the coupler. The amount of loss depends on the load that your wiring presents to the coupler (Jeff may be able to give you an idea here). Since phase B is passively coupled (lower signal level) you are more likely to have problems communicating with devices on phase B in your guest house. If you have transmitters on phase B (mini timer, TM751 transceiver, etc) these devices will transmit at 5v and will be coupled to phase A prior to being boosted by the XTB. While not an optimal install (like option 1) this will be a marked improvement from your current configuration and is also the most flexible configuration.
Have a look and get back with us,
Boiler
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