Re: Current mid-range technology?

[Neil Cherry <ncherry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:21:33 GMT, Dave Houston wrote:
> Russ in San Diego <russgoog@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>On Jul 4, 12:47Â pm, nob...@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote:
>>> Russ in San Diego <russg...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> >The reason I'm reserving judgment on XTB is that, while it ought to
>>> >ensure devices turn on or off when commanded, I don't see how it would
>>> >help with one of the worst X10 problems, that of devices switching on
>>> >or off when NOT commanded, i.e., after having recognized a code within
>>> >line noise.
>>>
>>> Noise, per se, is seldom the reason for random switch ons. Collisions
>>> between two valid codes, spikes on the powerline (e.g. UPB data, fluorescent
>>> ballasts, motors) and brownouts (e.g. sags from motors starting) causing the
>>> microcontroller to reset are the most likely causes. The probability that
>>> random noise can create a valid Manchester code is near zero.
>>
>>I sure wish I could figure out what's causing my problem, then. I've
>>got a pair of sconce lights (CFLs) switched by an appliance module
>>(not a dimmer module) that, just this morning, were turning on by
>>themselves.  Nothing else in the house should be generating any codes,
>>and there are no code collisions.  No other fluorescents were turned
>>on in the house.
>>
>>There's no brownout or spikes -- I've got a photovoltaic system that
>>produces a very clean, very precise power waveform (necessary for a
>>grid-interactive inverter).
>>
>>There are no motors in our house that would be starting when the
>>lights go on -- the only motors in the house are the vacuum cleaner
>>(not in use) and refrigerator compressor, which is nearby, but the
>>activity of which is NOT correlated with this behavior.
>>
>>This is kind of frustrating.
>
> The trickle current in X10 switches and modules (including appliance
> modules) can cause some CFLs to turn on. Have you tried incandescents in the
> same fixtures? This will tell you whether it's CFL related.

I agree with Dave, I'm also having trouble with a CF (I thought I cut
the diode but I'll have to check).

--
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry       ncherry@xxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.linuxha.com/                         Main site
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/                    My HA Blog
Author of:    	Linux Smart Homes For Dummies