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[cdbma]

I've had a PR511 flood work perfectly for what I think is at least 8-10 years.  Now, its behavior is driving me crazy.

I have it turn on my exterior lights at dusk and I turn off those lights a few hours later via a mini-controller.  Lately, it's been "missing" dusk.  However, when I fully cover the sensor, the exterior lights turn on.  Remove the cover, lights turn off ("dawn").  The motion detector also works fine too.

Last night, the unit missed dusk again. So, I want out and used a flashlight to simulate dawn, then turned off the flashlight.  Yep - the exterior lights turned on!

This seems to suggest that the unit is sensing dusk and the modules waiting for the signal to turn on are somehow not receiving the "on" signal.  Other than that, I'm stuck.

I do have a phase coupler and, like I mentioned above, flawless operation for many, many years.  I can't for the life of me figure out what has changed.

Thanks for any insight or troubleshooting tips.

Chris

[JeffVolp]

Problems like this are usually the result of low signal level or noise on the powerline.  The troubleshooting series I wrote should help:  http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm

Jeff

[HA Dave]

Problems like this are usually the result of low signal level or noise on the powerline. 

 

That would explain a lot of users problems. Any system that been in use for a long time is now seeing those noisy little wallwart power supplies like cell phones use... as well as large screen TVs, additional computers (my laptop is awful noisy), and so on.

..... like I mentioned above, flawless operation for many, many years.  I can't for the life of me figure out what has changed.

I think there are also "seasonal items" that can cause problems with a setup. I really dislike fans blowing on me for any long period of time. So as a rule I don't use fans. But when we have the Midwest hot spells a good fan can allow me to raise the thermostat or avoid the AC altogether.

A good IR remote controlled (squirrel cage) tower fan... is the best I can find for my living room. But it's [always running] IR remote control.. does add noise on my powerline. I need to filter it... but meanwhile I have to remember which receptacle is best to use it in.

I should just breakdown and wire in an XTB.

[cdbma]

The challenge with my situation is that things do appear to work.  In other words, if I place a cover over the sensor, all the appropriate lights turn on. If I take off the cover, the lights turn off. I've done it 5-6 times in succession and it works every time.  So, when I simulate dusk/dawn, everything works fine.  If I could not get anything to work, I think I'd have some of the problems you are discussing.

I'm changing the dusk setting to move more towards the "light" setting.  I'll see if that makes a difference tonight.

[HA Dave]

I'm changing the dusk setting to move more towards the "light" setting.  I'll see if that makes a difference tonight.

It could be a neighbor has added lighting... or maybe even a storm downed a tree that blocked a streetlight. Moving the setting away from total darkness may help.

[dave w]

The challenge with my situation is that things do appear to work.  In other words, if I place a cover over the sensor, all the appropriate lights turn on. If I take off the cover, the lights turn off. I've done it 5-6 times in succession and it works every time.  So, when I simulate dusk/dawn, everything works fine.  If I could not get anything to work, I think I'd have some of the problems you are discussing.

FWIW
One other item to consider: when you simulate dawn/dusk with a shield or flashlight, the cadmium sulfide photo cell is seeing a rapid transition from light to dark. However actual sunset is much longer. It could be component aging has caused the dusk sensing circuitry to be less sensitive to the gradual change of real life. Without a schematic it would be hard to guess, but cheap electrolytic capacitors tend to dry out inside, especially after 10 years in the sun.

[HA Dave]

.... electrolytic capacitors tend to dry out inside, especially after 10 years in the sun.

Ten years is a long time for an outdoor appliance. I wouldn't expect any longer from any brand of motion sensor.

[torino]

This does nor address cdbma's problem but it falls in a similar category. I just replaced a PR511 sensor that stopped working after several years with a new one. I am not using the floodlights but sending a signal to a wall switch to activate on motion. The PR511 insists on turning the lights on at dusk, although it is set to sensor. X10 could not offer any suggestions, so I'm in the process of returning it.

I put the old one back (had not worked for about a year) to avoid having loose wires, and -surprise!- it started working again but, you guessed it, it turns on at dusk, although the settings, which were set to "sensor", and worked fine for many years, were untouched.

I tried turning the lights off from the X10 wall switch, and they again went on after 30 min or so, w/o sensing any motion. (No trees or anything to trigger it). The new PR511 did the same exact thing. After turning it off for a second time, it stayed off and triggered on motion. Ditto for the old PR511.

I checked my mini-controller, and confirmed that it is not set to send any signals (at least none that are visibly set). I understand electrical noise and interference, but cannot fathom how noise could send an "on" signal every day, at dusk(different times, depending on whether it's cloudy or clear), and activate a sensor which is set to motion. Electrical engineers will have to forgive the skepticism, and frustration, of this ME.