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Author Topic: Communications Problem?  (Read 1988 times)

ronr

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Communications Problem?
« on: July 17, 2013, 09:54:38 AM »

When I purchased my home it had a sprinkler control system with some x10 hardware used as an extension cord.  It is set up like this:

Sprinkler control -> low volt to 110 relay -> X10 transmitter -> X10 receptacle -> 110 to 220 relay -> pump

The "X10 transmitter" has Catalog No. 6315 on the back and the "X10 receptacle" has CAT. No. 6227 (Leviton) on the back.

The reason they did this is that the distance between the sprinkler control is ~500' and it's another 250' to the sprinkler pump.  I don't think the low voltage from the sprinkler control could reach all the way to the sub panel with the sprinkler pump relay.

When it is working it works great.  The sprinkler control sends power to the relay and it connects the blue and red wires from the X10 transmitter which turns on the X10 receptacle and that brings in the motor starter and the pump runs.

However, every time we have a power outage it takes me weeks of experimentation to get things working again and I'm never sure what ultimately made it work.  The problem is that after losing power, the pump runs constantly (deadheading and getting really hot since the sprinkler control is not trying to water the lawn and has all the solenoids off.) 

Here is what seems to help (sometimes):
- running the sprinkler control through a cycle with the pump unplugged
- unpluging the transmitter 110v supply for a while and then plugging it in again
- turning off the 110v power to the X10 receptacle for a while and then turning it on again

or some combination of the above.

Question:  Is there a specific sequence, pause time, rest procedure or similar I should follow to get these things playing nice together?
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Brian H

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Re: Communications Problem?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2013, 10:32:18 AM »

The 6277 Receptacle has a ratchet switch in it and stays On when power is lost and that is probably the start of the problem.
The 6315 sends an On when red is connected to blue with the relay contacts and an Off when red to blue is opened.
Having the sprinkler control close the 110 volt relay to the 6315 control wires should again send an On even though the 6277 is On already. Then it should send an Off when the sprinkler control drops the 110 volt relay out. If the 2677 is not going back Off. It is not receiving the Off command or is locked up.

You maybe able to put a NO push button on the red and blue wires in parallel with the 110 volt relay contacts. To manually send the On Off sequence when it is out of sync. Push the button with the sprinkler system not closing the 110 volt relay.

Also you could get a X10 controller to send the Off command on the 6277s X10 address.
http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/2240wi.pdf
http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/MAN-4220.pdf
« Last Edit: July 17, 2013, 10:37:43 AM by Brian H »
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ronr

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Re: Communications Problem?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2013, 11:10:48 AM »

No need for the push button since it's pretty easy to cycle the relay using the sprinkler control.  

I cut and restored power to both the 6227 and the 6315, gave it a few minutes, cycled the relay and bingo, all is well again  :)%

Thanks for the help >!
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