Lights Quit Responding to IR

[BillB]

My thanks to you both!

[BillB]

I took the cover off my main breaker box and found that the coupler I have installed there is a leviton 6201 which claims to be a repeater as well.

Even so I have ordered the repeater from JV Digital with the hope that it is a superior product.  While I was at it, I ordered the diagnostic device as well.

Thanks again for all the excellent advice.

[Brian H]

Yes the Leviton 6201 is a coupler repeater. Split single phase or three phase.

[BillB]

After finding a PDF document about the Leviton 6201 (let's hear it for the internet!), I discovered that the LED which should be lit to show power going to the unit is DARK...so maybe my problem stemmed from this unit failing after nearly ten years.  I'll know more when I have installed the new repeater.

[dave w]

After finding a PDF document about the Leviton 6201 (let's hear it for the internet!), I discovered that the LED which should be lit to show power going to the unit is DARK...so maybe my problem stemmed from this unit failing after nearly ten years.  I'll know more when I have installed the new repeater.

I had a 6201 and the X10 equivalent (XPCR). Both of them were poo-poo, pee-pee, caa-caa ( a highly technical description you might not be familier with). The Leviton would continually lock up and have to be reset monthly. The XPCR just up and quit like yours. My prediction is you will be greatly satisfied with improvement from the XTBIIR.
Glad you have things working again.

[Brian H]

The 6201 failing would definitely cause problems.

[BillB]

Just to provide the final solution to tidy up this thread:

Yesterday I received the repeater/bridge and troubleshooting meter from JV Digital.

Once the faulty 6201 was replaced with the new unit, I still had the same problems.  The meter showed there was horrific noise present throughout most of my house, so I started unplugging items in the HT.  It didn't take long to find the cause was the wall wart for my wife's Sling Box, for which I had a replacement from an idle piece of gear (6VDC 3A).

Now all the crazy behaviors of X10-controlled lights and appliance modules are gone and all is well.

So Dave W was correct from the very beginning: it was a failing switching PS!

With the XBRII I now have signal voltages of 7-8 volts in the places I've checked.

Dave: thanks for helping me out, and for recommending the JVDE equipment.

Bill

[Brian H]

Glad to read it is working.
We have seen some of those switching type wall warts cause all kinds of problems.

Jeff had a cell phone charger that was a terible noise maker.
http://jvde.us/x10/x10_cellet_noise.htm

[Dan Lawrence]

Brian, does anybody have a listing of what 'Wall Warts" (for cell phones) cause noise and which ones don't?   We got cell phones (from Verizon) long after X10 came into our lives and never a noise problem.

[Brian H]

I have never seen a list Dan.
Maybe an occasional I found a bad brand message.