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[icanrule]

I've been troubleshooting X10 issues.  I was unable to get the X10 to reach over half my house.  I had even gone as far as to purchase a coupler.  While installing the coupler and looking at the elctrical box I realized something.  I have 2 electric box's. 

Back in the 80's my house was a duplex.  I guess they asked the electric company to have one box for the main floor and the second box for the second/third floor.  Each box has it's own electric meter for charges.  How do I get the X10 signal to jump between the 2 box's and is it safe to do because we are no longer dealing with a potential 220volts of power but now 440volts. 

I think that my electric company will charge thousands of dollars to convert my service into one power meter and then I will have to bring in a electrician to convert my 2 power box's into one.  It's a lot of money.  Does anyone have a cheaper solution for me?  Maybe even a product I can buy that will do what I need?

[Brian H]

Unless the electrical boxes are each being feed by a separate transformer on the pole. You would only be seeing 220 volts if both are feed from the same transformer.

I am sure others may have additional thoughts.
One that came to my mind. Is a pair of ACT CR234 X10 repeater couplers. One on each breaker box and running a pair of signal wires between the optional SCC signal terminals in each CR234. That would get the X10 data from one breaker box to the other. They would also send the X10 signals to both phases in the individual box. I believe the SCC signal is not at a high voltage you would have to be extra careful of.

[JeffVolp]

Many of my customers have two or three panels.  If the length of the run from the panels to the utility transformer is not excessively long, and both phases on one panel receive strong signals, then there is usually enough signal that makes the round trip to the second panel.

For those that want a more direct route, I recommend a XPCP between the panels.  A single XPCP can be placed between the panels, and a second XPCP between phases at the second panel.  The other option uses a 3-wire cable to link two XPCPs between the same phases on both panels.

Jeff