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[Glassdome]

I have an issue with x10 devices and what appears to be interference from led / smd lights.  I have a set of gates with gate motors on the same circuit as some outdoor halogen (2 x 50 w) and led / smd floodlights (2 x 10 watt Smd floodlight lights)

I wanted to set the gates up such that if someone stands within a foot of the gates they would automatically open and so I bought the following:

1. Ms13 pir - I have put some tape on the inside of the lens to restrict the motion area, this is used to pick up a narrow area of movement such that if someone is very close it the gates the pir picks up their movement and sends a command to (2). The ms13 is just a test set up as it is an internal pir. If it all works (with the lighting issue sorted out) I would replace with an outdoor x19 pir such as the ds13 (i think this is the one?)
2. X10 power flash contact (set to momentary on receipt of an x10 command). This unit has a voltage free contact which is then made - this contact completes a circuit and the gates open.

I set this all up during the day and the system worked fine.  I would get within a couple of feet from the gate, the signal would trigger the power flash contact unit (I left the sounder on the contact unit so that I could verify this) and the gates would open. 

However, when it came to night time, the lights on the gates and garden turned on (using a dusk til dawn sensor) and as soon as these came on, the pir x10 signal no longer was picked up by the power flash.  I reprogrammed the x10 pir to go to lights on other circuits and it worked fine. 

I also tried to send the on command to the power flash unit using my ir723 - this also was not picked up. 

Overall, this led me to deduce that this issue is with the led / smd lights as when these come on, the problems occur.  The power flash unit is wired into the same power as the gates control panel  (hard wired not plugged in).

Any thoughts on whether I would be able to find a way to remove the led / smd noise / interference?  Or, any thoughts on a workaround to this?

Sorry, I am new to this Forum and this is my first post, hopefully I have posted in the right area and provided enough information regarding my problem?

Sincere thanks in advance.

[Brian H]

I believe you are calling a UM506 Universal Module with a low voltage dry contact switched output and sounder. A PF284 Powerflash interface that has no output just an input to send X10 signal to other devices.
You are using a UM506 and not a PF284?

What transceiver [RR501, TM751] are you using to receive the MS13A RF command and put it on the power lines. A UM506 can not receive the RF commands directly. Also depending on the location of the transceiver and the UM506. If they are on a different branch circuit. There could be phase coupling issues or power line noise.

Power line noise or signal sucking from the power supply for the lights. When On the noise kills the X10 power line signals. Could be the problem.
A X10 type filter may be a help. Wired in type from what you have described.
Do you know how much current the power supply for the lights draws?
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-remote.com/PCC/uncle.htm
http://www.davehouston.net/

[Glassdome]

Thanks - you are absolutely right - I am using the universal module, not a powerflash.

I am using the updated tm13u or NEW! X102 RF Transceiver Module. It is the newer transceiver with the touch button on the front.

The lamps draw little current - just 2 x 50 watt halogen bulbs and 2 x 10 watt smd bubs, at 240 volts this wold give an amperage of 2 amps (unless my knowledge of current calcultion is incorrect)

Thanks for any additional help you can provide (I should have stated above - I am based in the UK with our 240 volt mains).

Cheers

I believe you are calling a UM506 Universal Module with a low voltage dry contact switched output and sounder. A PF284 Powerflash interface that has no output just an input to send X10 signal to other devices.
You are using a UM506 and not a PF284?

What transceiver [RR501, TM751] are you using to receive the MS13A RF command and put it on the power lines. A UM506 can not receive the RF commands directly. Also depending on the location of the transceiver and the UM506. If they are on a different branch circuit. There could be phase coupling issues or power line noise.

Power line noise or signal sucking from the power supply for the lights. When On the noise kills the X10 power line signals. Could be the problem.
A X10 type filter may be a help. Wired in type from what you have described.
Do you know how much current the power supply for the lights draws?
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-remote.com/PCC/uncle.htm
http://www.davehouston.net/

[Brian H]

OK. Then the modules I referenced to are not correct for the UK but the general theory is the same. Except maybe phase coupling may not apply.

May have to snoop around some UK sites and see what I can find out.

[Glassdome]

Sincere thanks. I found the following on eBay....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-X10-Home-Automation-5A-Noise-Filter-Micro-Module-/310294520480

Should this do the trick I.e. filter out the noise of the led lights and sort out the problem? 

Thanks in advance

[Brian H]

I read the information on the web page and the downloaded users installation sheet.

It looks like it would work. As long as the current the load is using is less than 5 amps and the noise isn't around 120 KHz X10 power line signal frequency.