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[uwireme]

This is my first time posting but have done several installation of X10 products and I am an electrical contractor

Have chatted with X10 but that was no help. I hope someone can help

I am trying to control 2-XPFM2 (220 volt receivers)
using 3-SS13A (wireless wall switches)
with 2-PAT01 (transceivers)
 
 My problem is the wireless switches have to be within 1 foot of the
 transceivers to work even after changing the battries
 
 so I tried using a PHR03 (hand held remote) and works ok but only when
 the two 60 amp circuit breakers for the A/C units are in the off position.

 I installed a XPCR-T (120/208 smart coupler/repeater) thinking
 that will push the signal a little farther but no luck.

All items above are new factory fresh
 
 Any advice will be appreciated

[dhouston]

This will probably help with the SS13A switches.

• http://davehouston.org/X10_feng_shui.htm

But it's likely the motors are generating noise on the powerline which is interfering with the X10 signals. I'm not sure what noise filters you can use with 220V. Others will likely make suggestions.

[bkenobi]

Jeff suggested I use multiple XPF filters in series and parallel to get a 220VAC filter setup.  I filtered everything else in the house and that was sufficient, but I believe his suggestion was to use a total of 4 filters to get me to 40A on 220.  Basically, on each hot leg install 2 filters where the first feeds the second.  I did not try this and I don't know if Jeff did either so I can't say how well it would work.  I actually had a XPF that I was going to wire into my HVAC controller instead of the whole furnace at the breaker since the logic board ran on 120VAC at a lower current.

[JeffVolp]

Jeff suggested I use multiple XPF filters in series and parallel to get a 220VAC filter setup.  I filtered everything else in the house and that was sufficient, but I believe his suggestion was to use a total of 4 filters to get me to 40A on 220.  Basically, on each hot leg install 2 filters where the first feeds the second.

Actually, I recommended connecting them in parallel on each leg so they would share the current.  Placing them in series would improve filtering slightly, but the current rating would still be only 20A.

Jeff

[uwireme]

Cant be the motors they were not on when testing, I think it may be the logic boards inside,but don't want to void the warranty of the A/C units

Not sure who Jeff is and not sure what your problem was,but you say you filtered everything else in the house, how did you do that? Filters in every 20 amp circuit?

[dhouston]

Cant be the motors they were not on when testing, I think it may be the logic boards inside,...

Could be. Logic boards with noisy switching power supplies are relatively new so they're not my first suspect. Us old timers are used to relays and other such electromechanical stuff for HVAC.

This is the type of situation where an oscilloscope could demystify things.

[dave w]

 My problem is the wireless switches have to be within 1 foot of the
 transceivers to work even after changing the battries
 
 so I tried using a PHR03 (hand held remote) and works ok but only when
 the two 60 amp circuit breakers for the A/C units are in the off position.

 

So the XPFM's are before the breakers? Or did you try them in another 220V line (perhaps less noisy for the PAT01)

Also, the XPCR should take care of this, but do you have a PAT01 on each phase of the 220V line?

You are describing two seperate problems. A PLC problem and a poor RF problem from the SS13A's.

The SS13A are notorious for short range. I have used a "passive repeater" (search this forum, it is a simple 18 inch wire or rod placed next to the SS13A to act as a better antenna) with some improvement.

Also the CR2032s that come with the SS13A from old X10 were themselves very old or low quality. If "new X10" is once again making SS13As, the batteries may be fresh, but I always replace with new 2032's (I know you said you changed batteries but are you sure of the replacements you used?). 

[bkenobi]

Jeff suggested I use multiple XPF filters in series and parallel to get a 220VAC filter setup.  I filtered everything else in the house and that was sufficient, but I believe his suggestion was to use a total of 4 filters to get me to 40A on 220.  Basically, on each hot leg install 2 filters where the first feeds the second.

Actually, I recommended connecting them in parallel on each leg so they would share the current.  Placing them in series would improve filtering slightly, but the current rating would still be only 20A.

Jeff

Yup, that sounds right.  I knew it was serial or parallel but I couldn't remember which or why.  Thanks for chiming in.

Before filtering anything, I obtained a signal meter (XBTM) and checked basically every electronic device and outlet in the house to see what was an issue and what was not.  I found that the UPS's I use for my computers and entertainment center were pretty bad as were several power strips.  The cloths washer was bad and the dryer was somewhat of an issue.  The Logic board on my furnace was in the top 5, too.  What I did was to take care of all of the top 10 items that were easily fixed.  That meant purchasing a slew of 10A filters (5A would work for most, but I sourced 10A for the same price).  The ones I chose were available on ebay for really cheap averaging around $10/each Smarthome FilterLinc.

http://www.smarthome.com/filterlinc-10-amp-plug-in-noise-filter.html

The only location this wouldn't work as well was in my office where I calculated a peak load above 10A.  I probably could have used the same filter, but I decided to make a custom one with a XPF, a plastic electronics enclosure, and an outlet.  Once these were filtered, the furnace was still noticeable on the XTBM, but did not cause any significant issues with my signal reliability.

[bcwmachine]

What I did to control a 220vac 3hp. irrigation pump was to use a 120 volt appliance module to control a 10 hp. motor controller with a 120vac coil.
Took a bit of wiring to put 110 out to the pump house (didn't have a neutral  so had to run new wires. The x10 220vac appliance module was a bit to close to the ratings edge and would not last a season.
Bruce

[Brian H]

An X10 appliance module has also been used with an ELK 9200.
It has a heavy duty relay in it. Rated at sixty amps.
http://www.elkproducts.com/product-catalog/elk-9200-heavy-duty-relay-contactor

[bkenobi]

If you can't find exactly what you want, couldn't you obtain a 220VAC relay with high enough current rating for your purpose and drive it with either a universal module or an appliance module (depending on the relay switching needs)?  The Elk product is pretty clean and easy, but last I saw it was discontinued so sourcing it might be tricky.

[Brian H]

The ELK9100 30 amp unit with a built in X10 receiver, signal bridge repeater is discontinued.
Some vendors are telling buyers the ELK9200 is the replacement.
I have not seen the ELK9200 being flagged as discontinued but it may have been discontinued.