Instead of phase coupling

[snydley100]

I have 3 X10 units,(2 switches and 1 remote light bulb socket). I want to add another light bulb socket but the outlet that will be powering the lamp is on the other phase than my TM751 transceiver is plugged into. Instead of going though the expense of getting a phase coupler can I get another TM751 and plug that into the other phase and control the light that way? My 1st 751 is set to code "A". Can I also set this 2nd TM751 to code "A" or does it have to be "B" or higher? Can I "get around" having to get a phase coupler this way?
Thanks
Snyde

[Brian H]

TM751s are not polite and will step on each other.

Will one on each phase work. Maybe but could be a problem. Depends on if any of the modules are in a location where both TM751 signals where present.
Each on a different House Code would help stop interference between them but make remotes harder to use.

Also only RF commands are processed by a TM751 so any table top or AC type controller would not reach all the modules.

So using two TM751s may work for you or may not. Guess you could try it and see what happens.

[STI2NR]

Expense of a phase coupler??  That's pure nonsense! See here http://cgi.ebay.com/X-10-PHASE-COUPLER-STOP-INTERMITTENT-X10-PROBLEMS_W0QQitemZ160119208413QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2547d939dd

The beauty of this is that it works!! 

;-)

[Bill59]

I had one of those blow up on me.  I found a more robust one that has a higher voltage rating. It is made for rf power supplies you can find them on the internet.

[JeffVolp]

A .1uF capacitor has a capacitive reactance of 13 ohms at 120KHz.  While certainly better than nothing, it does not provide "optimum" coupling.  The downside with a simple capacitor is that the coupling actually gets better as the frequency increases.  So higher frequency noise is actually coupled better than the X10 signal itself.

If you are going to go through the trouble of adding a coupler, the XPCP is available inexpensively on eBay.  That unit is a very good coupler with twin tuned-circuit networks.  The SignaLinc 4816H adds a 18uH inductor in series with the .1uF capacitor to cancel out the inductive reactance, and it also works well.  More information on couplers is available here:

http://jvde.us/x10/x10_couplers.htm

Jeff

[Brian H]

That capacitor does not look like it was made for Across AC Power Line use.

I used one that was made for across power line use and was UL; CSA and a few other agencies approved for that use. I believe the X2 rating was what it was marked with. Most electronic distributors like Mouser and DigiKey carry X2 across the power line rated capacitors. I got mine from Mouser.

As Bill59 found out. A 630 volt DC rating does not indicate it can be safely used across an AC power line.

[Charles Sullivan]

That capacitor does not look like it was made for Across AC Power Line use.

I used one that was made for across power line use and was UL; CSA and a few other agencies approved for that use. I believe the X2 rating was what it was marked with. Most electronic distributors like Mouser and DigiKey carry X2 across the power line rated capacitors. I got mine from Mouser.

As Bill59 found out. A 630 volt DC rating does not indicate it can be safely used across an AC power line.

The Class X2 rating indicates that if it fails, it's supposed to fail as an open circuit.

[Brian H]

Thanks for the confirmation on X2 failure mode Charles.
I thought I had seen that somewhere.

[Bill59]

It did!

[dave w]

It did!

It did what? Blow-up?

[Brian H]

An X2 capacitor is made to SAFELY fail open.
My guess your shorted from the constant AC current through it and blew apart.

[Bill59]

blowed up real good!