| | - MORE X10 TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
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| MORE X10 TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
MORE ON PHASE COUPLING
If you tried the simple test outlined in my PHASE COUPLER listing and in the sheet packed with the couplers (see if the offending modules work when a 220 appliance like an electric stove, air conditioner is running), and the modules do work, coupling the phases should solve your problem. PHASE COUPLING should solve the vast majority of non-responding module problems. If they still don’t work when you try the test above, you may have a noise problem. Read the section below about noise and how to determine if you have it.
WHERE SHOULD I INSTALL THE COUPLER?
I would recommend coupling across your 220 breaker instead of from one adjacent 110VAC breaker to another. This is how I have coupled for years with 100% success. The wire to a 220 breaker is usually stranded 10 or 8 gauge and makes for better contact with the coupler capacitor than wrapping it around a solid 12 or 14 gauge wire as used on most lighting and 110 VAC appliance circuits. Additionally, in some older construction, adjacent breakers are not necessarily on different phases (every second breaker could be on a different phase) and therefore can't be coupled that way. There should be a schematic diagram somewhere on or in your breaker box which would show how the phases are connected to the breakers. Some buyers have opened a 220V outlet cover (dryer, range, air conditioner, etc) and installed the coupler right in the outlet box. This can work too, depending on the wire distance from the outlet to the main breakers.
IF THE PHASE COUPLER HELPS INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL YOU MAY HAVE NOISE ON YOUR POWER LINES
Electrical devices such as TV, VCR, stereo, low voltage power supplies, computers, monitors and power/surge protection power strips all have a tendency to “dump” electrical noise on the power lines.
Because line carrier products such as X10 use the power lines as a communications path they are susceptible to interference. When noise is placed on the power lines it can attenuate, corrupt and/or block the signals being transmitted or received throughout the entire house.
Typically, line noise will cause intermittent operation of the receivers. An example would be if you can turn on a light from a transmitter but cannot turn it off or dim it from the transmitter or you can turn off a receiver but cannot turn it on. The noisy device does not even have to be turned on, because a TV or computer still have their power supplies on the power line when they are turned off.
Another problem could be a TV or other device putting a load on the line and absorbing the x10 signals. This can occur even when the TV or appliance is turned off but still plugged in. This is because of the "instant on" and/or degaussing circuitry in the TVs. I have had this problem with two different TVs in my home, one of which would only cause a problem when a microwave oven which had a digital clock was plugged in. I went NUTS tracking that one down. Recently some of my modules stopped responding for no apparent reason. I racked my brain trying to determine if I had plugged in any new appliances, etc., or if I had moved something to a different outlet or circuit. Sure enough, it was the power supply for my notebook computer. I was using it in a different room than usual which put it on the same phase as the modules that quit responding. I unplugged it and PROBLEM SOLVED!
HOW DO I DETERMINE IF I HAVE A LINE NOISE PROBLEM?
These problems can be hard to locate sometimes as the interfering device doesn't have to be on the same circuit as the intermittent module but just on the same phase. The easiest way to pinpoint the noise source is to shut off each circuit breaker one at a time (except, of course the breakers that the controller and the non-responsive module are plugged into) and try the controller after each shutoff. When the module begins to work, you have isolated which breaker circuit the interference is coming from. Reset the breakers and systematically unplug each device on that last breaker circuit (TV, VCR, computer or low voltage lighting power supply) trying the controller after unplugging each one. When the problem module starts working upon unplugging a device, then you have detected an offending device.
SOLVING LINE NOISE PROBLEMS
Noise on the power line can be solved with the XPPF LINE FILTER MADE BY X10 ($9.99 in my store CLICK HERE TO SEE). The 120 VAC 5 AMP filter has a tuned circuit designed to block line noise at frequencies which can interfere with X10 signal transmissions. The XPPF is plugged into the wall were the offending device was plugged in and the device is plugged into the XPPF. The X10 signal will now pass freely through the electrical system without the noise, blocked by the XPPF, passing onto the power line. If you find more than one appliance causing line noise, you will need a line filter for each one.
It’s not unlikely that you may have both a phase problem AND a problem with noise on your line. It’s worth the $1.00 additional investment to install both a phase coupler and the necessary line filter(s).
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