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[klwilbur]

I've had X-10 light switches in my home for quite a while.  I have six "groups" of lights, but for simplicity's sake I'll just talk about one group that contains two sets of flood lights...one on the front of the house and one on the back (seperate circuits).  Both sets are set to the same house code and the same unit code.

Both lights work fine when I manually turn them on.  However, only one set is responsive to X-10 signals (when I activate them through my security system panel).

To further investigate this, I took a x-10 powerhouse universal module, set it to a different unit code and plug it into various power plugs across my house.  To my chagrin, I could only signal the module via X-10 (once again from the security system panel) when it was plugged into some power plugs but not others.

I haven't made any changes to the wiring in my house (a relatively new house built in 2003) and I haven't installed any new X-10 devices (the only devices I have are my security system and the six groups of lights).

It seems I've read before about issues like this...something to do with interference in the wiring.


Could any of you shed any light on how I might resolve this problem (along with why it might have popped up out of nowhere)?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Kelly

[Brian H]

Do you have any coupler or repeater between the two phase of the homes wiring?
The some places work and others don't. Maytimes indicates a signal issue to the other phase of the house.

If nothing has been added or moved in the house. Someting maybe deteriorating. Like if you have CFLs some as they age start making power line noise. You may have had a marginal signal and the extra noise was enough to stop communications.
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-remote.com/PCC/uncle.htm
http://www.davehouston.net/coupling.htm

[klwilbur]

Brian, thanks for your reply.  To answer your question: no I do not have any couplers or repeaters. 

I read the troubleshooting link you posted.  In order to evaluate whether a coupler might be useful, I tried performing x-10 commands with the dryer on.  At first it seemed like it made a difference (x-10 commands were received) and then it didn't...almost seemed intermittent.  Sometimes it appears that only x-10 on messages are being received while x-10 off messages are being ignored.  And then they are sometimes both ignored.

Indeed this sounds like there is some type of power line noise that causing issues.  I can't think of anything that has changed electronically (new appliances, electronics, etc.) and I don't have any CFLs.  But obviously something is causing a problem...could it be a neighbor's house?

Anyhow, back to possible solutions...

If having the drying on doesn't solve the problem, is a coupler then NOT the answer?  Is a repeater the way to go then?  I need to find a relatively inexpensive solution (not involving an electrician). 

Some more background...I have a two story 2800 square foot house, no basement.  My x-10 items are limited to 8 lights and a universal module that I am only using for its built in audio alert.

Thanks,

Kelly

[kenrad]

I think that adding a good coupler and a repeater like Jess Vlops XTBR II would help the situation  I had this issue previously and added jeff's repeater coupler and that solved the issue

  ken

[klwilbur]

Kenrad and Brian, thanks to both of you for your replies.

I have solved this issue!

I realized I had recently plugged a television and a remote extender plugged into the same extension cord as my main x-10 module that controls everything.  I feel really stupid, but really glad I found this out as now everything works again.

Thanks again!

Kelly

[Noam]

Kenrad and Brian, thanks to both of you for your replies.

I have solved this issue!

I realized I had recently plugged a television and a remote extender plugged into the same extension cord as my main x-10 module that controls everything.  I feel really stupid, but really glad I found this out as now everything works again.

Thanks again!

Kelly

You might want to get a filter for the devices that are causing the interference. Or, you might just be able to move them to a different outlet, and not have the same problem.

[kenrad]

Kenrad and Brian, thanks to both of you for your replies.

I have solved this issue!

I realized I had recently plugged a television and a remote extender plugged into the same extension cord as my main x-10 module that controls everything.  I feel really stupid, but really glad I found this out as now everything works again.

Thanks again!

Kelly

I would definitely filter the device