ms14a product life?

[x10a]

I tried setting the house/unit codes on some old ms14a sensors but they are not responding as expected. Maybe they are just too old or maybe the instructions are not accurate enough. When I try to set the house code on some of these units they return a longer set of blinks than I put in as the code. I am trying to put in "H" as eight depressions of button (3 seconds on eighth press) but I get back like 9 or 14 blinks. Is there a best time interval between presses? Are these units dead? Thanks.

[toasterking]

It sounds like the contacts on the pushbutton switches may be making an intermittent connection and registering more keypresses than you made.  I recommend disassembling the module and cleaning the switch contacts as there may be some oxidation on them.

[x10a]

I removed the circuit board but the switch contacts do not appear to be accessible. They are inside a switch box that has a metal top held on by melted plastic tabs. I'm not sure how I would reassemble it if I mangled the plastic tabs. Superglue? Blow torch?

[toasterking]

If you find out, please let us know!

[x10a]

What's it worth?

[Brian H]

From the photos in this web link.
http://www.edcheung.com/automa/ms14a.htm
It does not look like the switches would be easily disassembled and cleaned.

[x10a]

any thoughts on deoxit vs. crc qd contact cleaners?

[toasterking]

From the photos in this web link.
http://www.edcheung.com/automa/ms14a.htm
It does not look like the switches would be easily disassembled and cleaned.

Wow, I agree.  I was thinking that the motion detectors used the metal snap dome contacts present in most X10 modules.  With these, I would either try contact cleaner spray or just remove them and solder new ones in.

I still think that dirty contacts is the most likely problem here.

[Brian H]

Dirty contacts does sound like a good culprit.

[dave w]

I have multiple X10 motion sensors with switch problems. As everyone has speculated the push button contacts oxidize with age and you start getting switch bounce or noisy switch. I have just sprayed contact cleaner on the switch and between the switch and the PC board which has helped, at least temporarily. I just use a cheap contact cleaner from Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, etc.

About the only place I was willing to shell out bigger bucks for a contact cleaner,  is many moons ago I got some stuff from Craig (I think) that claimed to become more conductive under mechanical pressure. It was a brush-on liquid. I removed every breaker in the breaker box and "painted" this on the breaker busses. To my surprise X10 communications/signal reliability did improve. Unfortunately that was back in '93 and I don't remember the name of the magic elixir.

[Brian H]

Probably Cramolin Red or Cramolin Blue.
Both where discontinued as they had some carcinogenic chemicals in them. If my aged memory is working. 
Reformulated and now have the Deoxit brand name.

[dave w]

Probably Cramolin Red or Cramolin Blue.

Right again, my friend. It was Cramolin, although I don't remember a color. The liquid itself was clear.