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[Caribouriver]

About 5 years ago, I installed XPFM modules etc to turn on yard lights from a convenient location without tearing up walls to hardwire. It worked well. However, for the past 6 months the lights come on by themselves day and night. I'll turn them off with the sender and they'll sometimes turn back on in an hour. Sometimes they turn on and stay on for days at a time if I am out of town. My power bill has noticeably increased. Not very "green"! I spoke to a tech at X-10 who said some appliance is sending a signal down the line that activates the XPFM module. He said to install XPNR filters which I had an electrician do. Because I could not identify the "offending appliance" (nothing has changed in five years), I followed the instructions and installed the XPNR noise reducing filter on the supply side of the XPFM module (not the load side). Well, that did not work. The lights still come on and stay on willy nilly, day and night. I'm not young and get a tad flummoxed by this stuff. Tube TV's used to last 30 years or more. Now it seems they just wear out in 5. Anyway, what should I do now? All I can think to do is replace the XPFM modules. Or maybe the receivers (those square gizmos that have an antenna and plug into a wall receptacle)? This system worked fine for years. What happened and what can I do to fix it? Thank you for your help. This is my first post.

[Noam]

I can see several things that could cause this:
1. There is a *VALID* X10 PLC signal from somewhere in your home (or a neighbor's home) that is turning on these lights.
2. There is powerline noise coming from somewhere in your home (or a neighbor's home) that is close enough to a valid PLC signal to trick the modules into turning on.
3. The XPFM modules could have failed, and stray noise (option #2 above) could be triggering them to come on.

Do you have AHP (or even the older ActiveHome) installed on a PC, with either a CM15A or a CM11A? Using the software, you might be able to find a clue in the Activity Monitor, and try to figure out what might be causing the lights to come on at the wrong times.
If it is either #1 or #2 above, changing the HouseCode / Unit Code might make a difference for you.

I don't see how an XPNR would help you. The XPNR is not designed to block valid X10 signals, otherwise your installation of them on the "line" side of the switch would block their operation entirely.
The way I understand it, the XPNR is designed to reduce noise from controlled loads (although I suppose it could be used for non-controlled loads, too) that create enough noise to interfere with the proper operation of the system. The most common application for this is to block noise from a controlled Florescent (or CFL) fixture. The fixture can be turned on, but once it is on, the noise it created drowns out the X10 signal, so it can't be turned off.
I don't think that's what's happening in your case.

[dave w]

Noam beat me to the answer but it took me twenty minutes to bang this out (old geezer) so I am posting it anyway. 

Replace the all the XPFMs? That does not make sense, they wouldn't all fail crazy, at the same time. Look for something else,\.

Could you have a close by neighbor that now uses X10?

I have lamp modules and appliance modules that will turn on if the power flickers, do you see your lights flicker?

Noise can morph into X10 codes but IMHO it is pretty rare. Noise usually just impairs the PLC X10 commands so nothing works. Did you try changing the House Code / Unit Codes?

Unplug all your RF to PLC  transceivers (TM751, RR501, etc), do things still turn on?

Do you have AHP and CM15A automation interface? If so try resetting it reloading the macros. (Use AHP and clear interface memory, unplug from wall and USB, remove batteries, do a little dance, then put everything back.

You need to investigate to make sure you don't have external X10 commands coming in on your power lines or by RF.

[Caribouriver]

Thanks Noam and Dave. And thanks Noam for moving this to the correct place. The tech guy at X-10 said that the noise reduction filters would narrow the range of signals getting to the XPFM module and that only a valid signal would get through. Well, that hasn't worked so far. I will unplug the wall receptacle transceivers and see if that stops the lights from turning on. To my knowledge, the power is steady with no "flickering". It sounds like it would be a waste of money to replace the XPFM modules. With your help, I'll do my best to Sherlock Holmes the source of the problem. Much obliged gentlemen.

[Caribouriver]

Oh, by the way, there is no home automation here besides these iodide yard lights. Lots are 50'x150' so I suppose someone else's house with a recently installed system could be setting these off and may explain why my system worked for years and now has gone haywire.

[Brian H]

That would be a good reason to try new X10 addresses on your modules.

[Noam]

... The tech guy at X-10 said that the noise reduction filters would narrow the range of signals getting to the XPFM module and that only a valid signal would get through...

From my experience, X10's tech support doesn't always give the right answer, but instead tries to give the best answer based on their understanding of the problem.

[Caribouriver]

Aha! This is certainly exciting. Thanks for the info and advice. My transceiver modules are currently set to "House A". I presume the XPFM modules are also set to "House A". So, if I understand correctly, you are suggesting I change the transceivers to say "House E" and do the same with the XPFM's? The XPFM's also have a "Unit" number dial. I think they are set to number 1. If I change the "House" settings on the Transceiver and I change the XPFM to the same "House" setting, do I leave the "Unit" setting on the XPFM alone (at "1")? Thanks

[dave w]

Aha! This is certainly exciting. Thanks for the info and advice. My transceiver modules are currently set to "House A". I presume the XPFM modules are also set to "House A". So, if I understand correctly, you are suggesting I change the transceivers to say "House E" and do the same with the XPFM's? The XPFM's also have a "Unit" number dial. I think they are set to number 1. If I change the "House" settings on the Transceiver and I change the XPFM to the same "House" setting, do I leave the "Unit" setting on the XPFM alone (at "1")? Thanks

Doesn't really matter. The idea is to change the digital address in some way to eliminate the possibility of a neighbor using the same address. Changing only the house code should be enough to at least eliminate a neighbor. However you might try unplugging your transceivers first. If lights do not come on, that would at least tell you the signal is coming in via RF. If the lights still come on with transceivers unplugged, then plug them back in and change the House Code on everything. Then if they do not come on unexpectedly it would indicate  signal coming in over your powerlines.

And this "outside control" may not be your problem at all,  but noise *usually* will not make things turn on and off. BTW the X10 rep was "sort of" correct about the XPNR filter. The X10 powerline signal is composed of 120KHz pulses riding on the powerline. The XPNR is a notch filter which trys to attenuate frequencies above and below 120KHZ thus allowing the 120KHz X10 signal to pass through. This is one reason Noam and I was wondering about a neighbor that has "discovered" X10. The XPNR would allow a legitimate X10 command pass through.

If it ends up being an unusual noise problem, I think a blocking filter like the XPPF and XPF might be a more likely choice, but these work by plugging the offending noise source in to the XPPF. So you have to locate the source.

[Noam]

If I were betting, I'd put my money on it being a neighbor with X10.
HouseCode "A" is the default that all modules come on from the factory, and many people don't bother to change it. That is the whole reason why they developed it with a separate "House" code, the idea being that each house on the pole transformer would be set to its own code, thereby eliminating interference from one house to another.

You never changed your HouseCode from "A" to something else, and you probably have a neighbor who never did, either.
since changing the Housecode takes almost no effort (you may have to open up the electrical boxes to get to the dials on the XPFM modules, though), that is probably the fastest route.

As for the reason your lights would sometimes go right back on after being turned off, if your neighbor's signals are entering your house, chances are the same is happening in reverse. When you turn off your A1 light, his goes off, too. He doesn't like sitting in the dark, so he turns it back on.

If you have either a CM15A or CM11A computer interface with the software, you can monitor what's going on more easily.

[Caribouriver]

Thanks Dave and Noam. Dang that makes sense. If a neighbor is on the the same X10 setting, then HE should change HIS. I was here first. Heh heh. I have the transceivers unplugged now and will leave then unplugged for a week and see what happens. If the lights stay off, I'll change the house settings. Thanks.

[dave w]

Thanks Dave and Noam. Dang that makes sense. If a neighbor is on the the same X10 setting, then HE should change HIS. I was here first. Heh heh. I have the transceivers unplugged now and will leave then unplugged for a week and see what happens. If the lights stay off, I'll change the house settings. Thanks.

You will want to change House Codes regardless.  Changing the House Code and having everything work normal would indicate you do have external control creeping into your system. Unplugging the tranceiver only acts as an indicator that external control is coming in via a radio signal rather than over the powerlines. Which after thinking about it probably isn't a needed fact to know, although it would help to tell you which neighbor was making your lights act silly. The powerline controlling neighbor will be on the same "pole" transformer as you.

 

[Knightrider]

... there is no home automation here besides these iodide yard lights. ...

Tell me more about the iodide lights.  Do they run on a transformer/ballast?  Could it be that there is local sensing turning these on?  I'm not familiar with iodide yard lights, but sometimes a ballast type system will turn on lights.  The solution is to shunt a small amount of current through an incandescent filament.

[beelocks]

If you have neighbour using the same addresses as you, it's always fun to send a barrage of ons and offs and see who has lights going wild

I recommend this at around 3am so that you can clearly see who has lights that respond 

[Caribouriver]

Thanks for all your help. Knightrider, I think the iodide lights do have transformers or ballasts. They only draw about 150 watts but put out enormous light. They start dim and slowly get brighter. Takes about 3-5 minutes. Have about the same color as commercial parking lot lights. As I mentioned, they have been working with X10 controls for years until relatively recently. Yesterday I unplugged the tranceivers. I didn't have to wait a week. The lights were on in the middle of the day within a few hours. So I guess the signal to turn on is not RF generated and is due to "noise" coming down the power line or from some "offending" appliance or light. I don't know what I can do about that.