Re: 2 100amp panel coupler help needed

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

Carl,

The 4851 will only block signals from the neighbor sharing your transformer.
Anything else should not get through the transformer.

However, the description of the 4851 says it also acts as a passive coupler
so it might help with signal strength as well.

The best setup would probably be one properly installed 4851 and then a
coupler/repeater in each main panel. If you still have problems with
sub-panel B, maybe a BoosterLinc from SmartHome will address that. I believe
Bruce Robin has used them successfully to address similar issues.

Given that many people have had problems with the HCA02-10E and that this is
a vacation home I think I would go with the ACT coupler/repeater to avoid
arriving to an HCA02-10E that has gone berserk. You are probably going there
to relax not to troubleshoot your X-10 system.

"carlford" <carlford@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>Dave,
>I do understandand that they are probably installed incorrectly (the
>4851's).  There is only one other house on my transformer and there
>will never be any more than the two of us on it.  Since that is the
>case won't the transformer stop any other outside signals coming from
>say down the street ???  I can and will for go them for now and then if
>need be later can rerout the incoming lines as you depicted in your
>drawing.  Now on to the choice of HCA02-10E's or 6201's or ACT's.
>Remember that each 100amp panel has a sub panel attached.  Like this
>
>                           6201              Bridging Capacitor
>                             |                        |
>incoming-----+------Panel A----- Sub Panel A   (Within 6 feet of panel
>A)
>                   |      (breakers)      (breakers)
>                   |
>                   |
>                   +-----Panel B-------- Sub Panel B   (3 stories up)
>                          (breakers)         (breakers)
>                              |                        |
>                           Capacitor          Capacitor
>
>This current setup gives me the best coverage with a few circuits on
>sub panel B getting only a weak signal. This is the latest
>configuration. Most X10 controllers reside on this panel. One Cm15a and
>a Tw523 that communicates from a Comfort Security System.
>
>If the 6201 is placed in Panel B then I get some weak signals on Sub
>panel A. This configuration was the worst one.
>
>I even split the 6201 leads (observing the correct "polarity") and
>attached one lead to each Panel A and B.  This worked fairly well
>signal strenght wise but very unreliable in that I had to repeat
>commands a lot.  Any macro's for cm11'a or cm15's had to have the units
>placed into them in a certain order else those units would not respond.
>Here I also had the 4851's both on as I used this setup for over a
>year. There is little or no difference strength wise with the 4851's in
>or out of circuit here.
>
>The capacitors were only put in after moving the 6201 to Panel A and
>don't do much at this point either.
>
>As I read back over this post it seems that amplification is needed as
>no matter where I place the 6201 there is always a weak end out there
>somewhere.  Again this is without any electronics, chargers, computers,
>cordless phones plugged in.  The Air handlers are the only appliances
>on so the normal noise makers or "suckers" are off line in the above
>instances.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Carl Ford