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Author Topic: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?  (Read 5128 times)

lviper

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Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« on: March 07, 2011, 12:48:33 PM »

I don't know if this is possible but I have to ask anyway.

My daughter is hearing a high pitched noise from her tv. She is the only one who hears it. What she describes is that whine you get from a bad crt. We have tried 2 different tv's but all 3 are the old crt type. One of the tv's we tried was from another room where she does not hear the noise. Only when we plug the tv in to her room does she hear it. Right now my wife is unplugging every electronic device in her room to see if it stops. But this got me thinking. Right about the same time she started hearing this noise is when 2 things occurred. One was her room remodel with a new laminate floor replacing the carpet. The other was installing x10 and a xcpr phase coupler.

Is it possible for any of the x10 stuff to cause any interference to make this noise?
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lviper

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2011, 01:34:57 PM »

While waiting for a reply, I had my wife plug the tv in to a xppf. She said it made the noise worse.

Also, she unplugged everything in my daughter's room and moved on to the adjoining room that shares a circuit and unplugged everything in there as well. Even unplugged all surge strips. My daughter stills hears the noise.
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dave w

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2011, 01:50:49 PM »

Not likely at all.

X10 only puts signals on the powerline when a command is sent. If your daughter hears the whine all the time it is not likely X10. Although you should turn off the breakers to the XPCR (which is a repeater, not a passive coupler) just to confirm it isn't haywire and putting something on the line, although the power supplies in the TV should filter all that out. 

I did not quite understand your post: is it just one TV that makes the noise, or multiple TVs that make the same whine when located in one room?

If it is a CRT TV it sounds to me like fly-back noise. If it *just* started,  check line voltage in that room compared to other circuits in the home.

Although a *WAG*, if me I would try flipping the breaker for that room a couple of times.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2011, 01:52:57 PM by dave w »
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lviper

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2011, 02:07:02 PM »

Thanks dave w. Yes, we have tried 2 other tv's in that room and she can hear the noise from all 3. All 3 tv's are crt style and I doubt the flyback is bad in all 3 tv's. Possible, but against the odds.

As for turning off the xpcr, it will have to wait till I get home. My wife is not comfortable touching the breaker panel.

What concerns me is putting a xppf inline with the tv causes the noise to worsen makes me wonder if the xpcr is the cause. Since it only allows the x10 frequencies to pass through. Just don't understand how it could effect the electronics. But I'm a far cry from any type of electronic specialist. Just thought it up and figured I would ask here since it was something I've added about the time the noise started.
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JeffVolp

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2011, 02:12:03 PM »

Right about the same time she started hearing this noise is when 2 things occurred. One was her room remodel with a new laminate floor replacing the carpet.

That may be why she is hearing the flyback noise.  The carpet was a sound deadener.

The XPPF does have some resistance (which is why it heats up under a heavy load).  So it will reduce the voltage to the TV very slightly.  That could be a factor.

High frequencies can be directional.  So, standing in a different spot when checking whether removing the filter had any impact could have also effected how loud it seemed.

As others have said, X10 only injects a signal on the powerline when it is actually transmitting.  The fundamental is 120KHz, which is way above the range of hearing - even for youngsters.

Jeff
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lviper

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2011, 02:37:45 PM »

Thanks Jeff. I figured if anyone could answer this, it would be you.

Just for the record, I never had the xppf on the tv until I just tried it today. And it actually made the noise worse.

I guess it is just the flyback and removing the carpet removed the  sound deadener. This kid is really driving me crazy. Either she has really good hearing or she is smarter then I think and she is imagining this noise so she can get a new tv.  :'

Since this noise is usually just the flyback causing vibrations inside the tv cabinet, I didn't really think it was anything to do with x10. Just thought I would ask.
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dave w

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2011, 06:53:53 PM »

Tell your daughter to listen to 15KHz while she can, because that ablity goes away.  rofl

Jeff's a genius seeing the floor laminate as a problem. Maybe some throw rugs would dampen the noise.
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bitman

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2011, 10:21:58 PM »

Tell your daughter to listen to 15KHz while she can, because that ablity goes away.  rofl

Jeff's a genius seeing the floor laminate as a problem. Maybe some throw rugs would dampen the noise.

Your not kiddin!

I took an internet hearing test and couldn't hear above 15k.
And I run a recording studio too.

 :'
Shhh.
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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2011, 01:04:58 AM »

Yeah.  The hard floor vs carpet was my first thought too.  Good call Jeff!

CRT's can indeed change pitch with voltage variations, as well as with changes in the picture displayed on them.

Personally my DLP set has been a godsend, because I have heard the high frequency noise from CRT's all my life!

Now, if they could only make a silent fan and color wheel for the DLP.   B:(
 >!
« Last Edit: March 08, 2011, 01:09:12 AM by -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) »
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lviper

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Re: Possible interfearence from x10 on other electronics?
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2011, 09:29:36 AM »

Got home last night, turned off the xpcr. As expected, no change.

We are going to try some area rugs and maybe some heavy curtains. The room does have a noticeable echo since the remodel, so hopefully the rugs will help and still leave the room looking like she wants it. Otherwise I guess we will get a new lcd tv for her. Problem with that, I have 2 other kids. So the jealousy will start.
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