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[jhnidy]

I am in the process of converting from a cm11a to a cm15a.  A process that is going SO badly that I am probably going to buy another computer with a com port, carry the cm15a out onto the drive and run over it repeatedly.  But the question that I have first is:

Does the cm15a have a much much larger memory?  On the cm11a, I was right up against the memory limit and did not have the sunrise sunset time table set to a good resolution because of memory constraits.

Now the same file that ran the 11 so well takes up less than 10% of the 15.  Does this mean that I am not really getting a good download or has the capability increased that much?

Thanks

[dhouston]

The CM15A  has an 8KB EEPROM while the CM11A has only 1KB.

You do not need a serial port in the PC to run the CM11A. You can use an inexpensive USB<->Serial adapter to add a serial port.

• http://www.byterunner.com/byterunner/product_name=Y-105/user-id=/password=/exchange=/exact_match=exact

[Noam]

If you decide to give up the CM15A, don't run it over.
Give it away, or sell it off on eBay instead.

[jhnidy]

The adapter is a great idea.  This could keep the cm11a in service while I decide what to do with the cm15a.  I have loaded the same files into the 15 and used the same house outlet but it does not control anything.  So I moved the 15 around the house and still nothing.  Very disapointing but I have not given up yet.

[Dan Lawrence]

Did you get AHP (Active Home Pro) with the CM15A?.   You can't use the CM15A without it.  The file structure is different for AHP, but it will import the files from Active Home.

[Brian H]

If you are using AHP 3.316 and your Lamp Modules are the older before soft start.
You may have to redefine them from the Old lamp (Before Soft Start) list or they may not act correctly.

[jhnidy]

Yes the active home pro came with the cm15a and I have redefined my lamp modules.
The redefining should have made a difference with the lamps but still NOTHING works.  It is like the thing is not even plugged into the wall.

[Brian H]

Gee that don't sound good.
Can you put a lamp module in the same outlet and still not control it?
You don't have the CM15A on a filtered surge strip or in the same outlet as the computer or an UPS?

[jhnidy]

Here is the situation:

I have a cm11a that is running timers and macros.  It is right against the limit for memory usage but it runs everything that I ask.
But I am running out of computers with a com port.  So I buy the cm15a.  I install the pro software and remove the cm11a from the house wiring.  Then I put the 15 in the wall outlet vacated by the 11.  Using my laptop I call up the files from active home that ran the 11 and make active pro look just like the old program.  I download all timers and micros into the 15 and all appears to be in order.

But at the appointed hours nothing happens. I have since moved the 15 all over the house with the same result.

As far as testing the 15 by attempting to control a module plugged into the same outlet I have to hand it to X10.  In the past you could run 110 through the 11a.  Not so easy now.  Once I plug the 15 into the house outlet, there is no room for any modules.  I can tell you that when the laptop is connected to the 15, I cannot turn anything on or off from the computer screen.

The answer to the first problem should have been to buy the adapter that would put a com port on this laptop and save myself a lot of money and grief.  But I did not do my homework so now I am stuck with this "upgrade" from X10.  I have decided not to run it over in the driveway as with my luck I would get a flat tire.  But I am looking for a large hammer.

[dave w]

Maybe I missed something in this thread, but if it never worked, my two cents is; the CM15A is bad..

[Brian H]

dave w; Good point. Maybe a DOA CM15A.

[Noam]

As far as testing the 15 by attempting to control a module plugged into the same outlet I have to hand it to X10.  In the past you could run 110 through the 11a.  Not so easy now.  Once I plug the 15 into the house outlet, there is no room for any modules. 

If you have an extension cord with multiple sockets at the end (NOT a surge protector), you could plug the CM15A into that, and have at least one free outlet to test with.

I can tell you that when the laptop is connected to the 15, I cannot turn anything on or off from the computer screen.

Since it is a laptop, does it have a good enough battery to run without being plugged into the wall for a few minutes?
Try unplugging the power adapter from the wall, and see if that makes any difference. Some laptop power supplies generate a lot of powerline noise, which can drown out the CM15A's signals.

[jhnidy]

When I started with X10 I was told not to use extension cords for x10 connections.  But your idea has resulted in a small amount of progress.
I have plugged the cm15a and an appliance module named P14 into the end of an extension cord.

Now when the laptop is connected to the cm15a, I can turn the appliance module on and off.

With the computer disconnected and timers set up for P14, the cm15a will turn P14 off.  But not on.  And including P14 in macros did not allow the cm15a to control P14.

My laptop is only connected to 110 volts at night.  I am lucky enough to keep the thing alive all day without a wall connection.

I started this thread to ask if I had really loaded timers and macros into the cm15a since it showed an almost empty status when the same program in the cm11a totally filled up the interface.  So now I know that the timers and macros are loaded.

I can now start looking at the FAQ sections of this site and see if I can improve the function of the cm15a.  Thanks for the help.

[dave w]

When I started with X10 I was told not to use extension cords for x10 connections. 

Don't know who or why you were told that, but X10 commands should travel through an extension cord as easily as it travels through the Romex behind your walls.

[jhnidy]

You are correct.  The cm15a won't control anything no matter where you plug it in.