SmartHomeUSA.com Home Automation

[dannydont]

I installed an XPDF in-line module and it was working just fine. Then for no APPARENT reason it stopped working. I removed it from the circuit and the light fixture functions correctly. I reinstalled it and set it's address to the same as another XPDF module controlling a separate light. The reinstalled module does NOT turn on it's light but the one whos house code I duplicated does. How can I determine in the module in question is good or faulty??? What else could be going on? I can' turn this module on from my Active Home software via the computer interface either.

NOTE: I have three of these modules controlling three different lights and they all have the same history of working and then not. ????? Yet I have other XDPF modules working just fine. I am really confused. Please help!!

Dan

[Ryan]

Hello Dan,

The intermittent nature of your problem makes me want to say it may be a noise issue within your house. You can use active home to "debug" your signals. Here's how:

IF you have a laptop, start up active home on it. Walk to and plug in the CM11A into the same circuit that you're having problems on. Send the X10 signal (the one your device isnt responding to), and see if you receive it on activehome (go to Tools > Communications Log). If you do, move the laptop to another circuit and test the same thing. You can continue this to make sure the signal is able to be read on the powerline from various locations.

If it ISN'T, you may have a noise problem. For futher testing, you would need an x10 noise meter (heres an economical one), and then noise filters. you could also try using active home, and shutting off/unpluging various appliances/lights within your house, until active home receives and send signals without problems (but you wont know if you indeed do have noise or not).

All our x10 pro devices have a two year warranty. You can call us for an RMA and our tech will ensure the device is infact dead before we ask you to send it back.

If you need more assistance, feel free to call us, email, or reply here. :)

[dannydont]

SHUSA Employee,

Thank you for your response. I understand most of what you said. However, the one exception that I would make is that it is not really intermittent. It worked for several days --- a week and more. Then it just stopped and has not worked since. I also have a Phase Coupler so that ALL of my wires are able to communicate with the Active Home Computer Interface Module.

I will try the debugging techniques that you describe. I don't want to bash X10 but it is not what I believed to be advertised. I have had to buy a Phase Couple. I have also had to buy several receivers as the signal doesn't seem to go very far. And you advertise being able to control 256 devices but you can't do that unless you have 16 transceivers, one for each house code (or the CM11A Computer Interface). Now if I do have noise, I will need to buy additional equipment.

But I digress from the issue at hand. I am also going to exchange one of the currently not working XPDF modules for one that is working to see if the module is functioning.

Again, I do appreciate your reply,
Dan

[Ryan]

You are right about some of the limitations of X10. But there are pros and cons to every technology out there.

Did you know x10 was developed in 1975 and for sale in 78? That was back when there were a lot fewer devices to create noise in a normal household. In addition, modern day electronic devices frequently use switching power supplies to provide clean consistent low voltage. Unfortunately many of these power supplies emit noise back out onto the powerline. It isn't apparent until you install X10. We guesstimate that roughly 15% of x10 users have noise problems.

Common sources are florescent ballasts, air conditioners, refrigerators, and even some ceiling fans. X10s signals are just not strong enough to "talk over" a medium to high amount of noise.

Here are some other tips to get your x10 working flawlessly. If problems are intermittent; start shutting off devices and appliances in your house one by one. It is even better just to unplug it. Some people turn off each breaker on their panel until the noise stops, then unplugging devices on that breaker until you find the culprit. You can patch up the noisemakers with a little patience and the filters. At least x10 stuff is very affordable!

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For your benefit and others that read our forum; know that the problem has been solved in other new technologies... like Universal Powerline Bus. It is very similar to x10 but made MUCH more reliable from the start. It was designed to pick up where x10 left off.. cutting right through 98% of the noise with a signal 10 times as strong as X10's (40volts vs. 4-7).

Yes it may cost more initially, but I personally think "you get what you pay for". You dont need filters (in fact, we haven't found any being manufactured!), there are some 65,000 different addresses, and you have much more advanced features available to fine tune your perfect setup. The UPB Software makes programming very easy, and even includes a noise meter and signal strength read out right on your computer (you could download it for free if yuo want to check it out, but you need the pc interface to actually use it.)

Some people understandably dont want to or cant afford to change their whole system over. For that, we suggest installing a Foard X10 -> UPB bridge and building off that. Now you can add tiny UPB sections onto your system where ever you may have given up on x10 because of noise.

If your interested in trying UPB, I can PM you a 10% off coupon and direct you to some bundles.
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Keep in mind there are many x10 setups living happily in the world. A little perseverance now will pay off for years. And rest easy knowing we cover your switches against failure for two years. So give us a ring if you need to exchange one you bought from us 888-843-9103.

[dannydont]

THANK you for your very kind reply. I appreciate your patience with me. AND yes I do have ceiling fans and florescent lights as well. You provided much interesting information. In fact I was going to ask about other technologies in my previous reply but thought I should stay on the X-10 discussion.

I have several hundreds of dollars in X-10 modules, switches, receivers, etc., I am interested in the other technologies that you mentioned. I will go back and check out the links that you provided. AND I am interested in any additional information that you might provide on UPB. I am also going to look into the noise filter so that I can get cleaner signals on what I am using.

Again, I really appreciate your patience with me. I remodeled my log home and wanted the electricians to install these modules when installing the wiring so I would not have any hard wired switches (That is why I have so much invested in X-10) but they couldn't quite grasp the concept. So now I am going back and doing all of that after the fact. So I have an existing level of frustration to start with as I have holes in my logs where I did not want them.

I look forward to learning about the newer technologies, even if I don't totally swap things out. You make it sound as though I could keep some of what I have (with the aid of filters) and go to using UPB with the Foard-X10 --> UPB bridge. I will check that out as well.

If I need additional "guidance" should I use this method or call the number you provided?

THANKS ONE LAST TIME (for this message),
Dan - a more hopeful X-10 user with thoughts of an improved technology in UPB.
311 W Long Lake Dr
Harrison, MI 48625
517-862-8271 Cell
775.822-7606 FAX
989-539-7956 Land Line

[Ryan]

You can post here, call, or email.. whichever you choose.

I usually reply to posts on the forum, but our tech Ian answers the technical support phone calls and email. He knows much more than I do about these technologies. Hes available for free 9a-5p EST M-F to talk with you about anything we sell, the email is tech [at] smarthomeusa.com, and the number is above.

Glad I could help :wink: