Phantom on

[JimC]

Just wondering if any one else is seeing
this. I have an appliance module set to
house code L1. It is the only thing I have
on house code L. I do not have any of my
remotes nor wired keypads set to house code
L. I do not have house code L used in any of
my macros. Having said all of that, on
occasion I still find the device I have
plugged into the appliance module set to L1
turned on.

I do not leave my computer turned on all of
the time so I can’t check the activity
monitor to see when it is happening. .......
STRANGE

Jim

[Charles Sullivan]

It's possible for X10 modules to be turned on
by random noise or spikes on the power line.
In this situation the AHP Activity Monitor
will probably show no activity, and if you
change to a different address for that module
it will probably continue to behave the same.

On the other hand, it's possible you have a
neighbor using X10 who is on the same power
company transformer and his signal is
reaching your module. In this case, the AHP
Activity Monitor should report the signal.

[dave w]

Jim,
It is also possible the "local sense" feature of the module is turning the module ON. If the device being controlled is not being turned OFF and then back ON locally, then perhaps the device something in the device is changing state which is fooling the module into thinking the device should be turned ON. Coffee makers, televisions, standard and CFL flourescent lights, motors with centrifical starting circuits, electric blankets and heating pads, etc.  are all good at turning themselves on. This site has good explaination and description of defeating the feature.
http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm

[JimC]

Charles,

Thanks for the information.

I have 30+ modules in use and this is the
only one that turns itself on. I don’t think
that random noise would be that selective. I
am going to change the house code just in
case it is a neighbor using the same one.

Jim

[JimC]

Dave,

Thanks for the information and link. I will
have to check it out.
What I have plugged into the module is a
wall wart for my scanner. Don’t know if this
is the type of device that would be inclined
to turn its self on.

Jim

[roger1818]

Jim, it all depends if the wall wart has a
transformer or switching power supply.  A
transformer will be seen as a constant
load, and shouldn't cause any problems, but
a switching PSU could build up a charge
from the leakage current for local control
and appear to switch on.  The technique for
disabling local control found on Ido’s
webpage should solve this problem.

A transformer would be fairly large and
heavy where as a switching PSU would be
small and light.

[JimC]

Roger,

Thanks for the information. I have checked
out the link you supplied and will be
giving that modification a try this weekend.

Jim

[donald mcmow]

You might also have a problem with the
transformer/wall wart not presenting enough
of a resistance to the switch and the local
sense leakage current is triggering the
circuitry to turn on. Some switches have a
minimum wattage that they will reliably
control.

[me too]

I had this problem with an appliance module
with a flourescent light plugged into it. It
would bounce back on or just turn itself on
a few minuites after turning off. I fixed it
by putting a adapter that split the module
to three plugs then put a night light on one
of the plugs with the flourescent light.