Re: CBus / X10 Opinions please

[Gerry Duprey <gerry@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Howdy,

>     I just wonder if it would be possible for the electricity company
to
> move you onto a different phase that might not have quite so much
> interference ?

We have two phase power here and the noise is, for the most part, limited
to
one leg.  When the noise level gets high enough, it coupled onto the second
leg to a much smaller extent.  I seriously considered re-wiring my panel to
put all my X10 loads in the "clean" leg, but after a thorough
survey, I
could only identify 4 breakers (out of 38) that didn't have an X10 device
on
them (A/C, furnace, sump, 0etc).

>     Also I believe some (most) houses in the US have two phases
supplied
> in which case I wonder if the problem would still persist if you could
> get those swapped around too ? If you do have dual phase supply are
> there incoming filters on both ??

The filter actually can handle up to three phase power.  You pass the
incoming service lines neutral through the device (there is an air-inductor
around the hole) and then hook up a wire from each phase.  Any signals
detected on the line create a "compensating" signal on the
neutral.  It has
significantly attenuated the noise, but not entirely.  I thought of adding
a
second filter in series with it, but there is no space so I'd have to have
a
new circuit breaker box or a new service line put in (both expensive
options
and no guarantee it'll work).

>     Like another user posted here I have found that a single device
> plugged into my mains can disrupt the X10 totally - in my case also a
> laptop charger (Samsung) or the Dell/Rio DDAR audio receivers.

I do have some devices like that, though each is plugged into a X10 noise
blocker which appears to be about 100% effective (my oscope and X10 meter
see no noise at all (well, they used to see no noise at all) once a noisy
device had it's own blocker.

>     How did you ascertain it was noise from outside and that it had
> actually changed ?? If there is such noise on the incoming power I
would

In the course of testing, I turned every breaker in the house off, except
the sump-pump breaker (because that is a breaker with only one wire going
to
one outlet I can easily trace -- nothing but the pump).  Then I put my
meters on it and saw the noise.  So I'm confident the noise is not coming
from inside the house and nothing in the house, but the meter, was
connected.  I've had my X10 and oscope on the lines before (with everything
in the house ON) and never saw any significant noise (baring X10
xmissions),
so I know the house was quiet before,

> have thought the utility company should have some responsibility
surely
> to fix it or at least track down the source. Otherwise their product
is
> at fault.   Noise is something you take no notice of until it causes a

Well, trying to get them to even understand the problem took three weeks.
Everyone seemed to think there was no problem when they asked if my lights
works and appliances worked.  I explained they light, but I can't control
them because of the noise.  Then I had to explain what noise is (they
though
maybe my neighbors TV was too loud (!)).  I kept pressing and finally go to
a department called power quality (sounds right) and it took two weeks to
get a response.  Then I found someone who vaguely understood my problem and
said they'd send a truck out to test it.  But because I had power, it might
be a few months and unless something of theirs was failing, even if they
found the noise, they probably would not repair it.  I'm on week 4 of
waiting to hear back on this truck deployment :-(

I believe what is likely happening is the local pole-transformer for my
area
is probably dying and in the (slow) process, something is kicking up power
(I'm in a residential neighborhood, so it's unlikely a neighbor as the
noise
is quite strong and there 24/7).

Anyway, looks like I was a little low on my UPB refit estimate -- it's more
$6,700 (USD).  I don't think I'll survive bringing that figure to the table
(but maybe -- people are pretty frustrated around here right now).

G
--
Gerry Duprey
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
http://www.cdp1802.org