Re: PowerLinc Controller and X-10 switches

[Charles Sullivan <cwsulliv@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave,
Are you sending the microdims as just dim_level 1 with a CM11A?
I can reproduce that with Heyu software under Linux running in
a loop.

I have only barebones Windows 98SE and XP Pro installations with
no development tools.  If your demo app will work on either of
these, I'd appreciate seeing it.  My email address is good but
as a public address it collects an enormous amount of spam.
Substitute cwsulliv01 for cwsulliv and your email will go into an
alternate 10 MB mailbox.

Regards,
Charles Sullivan

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 00:46:31 +0000, Dave Houston wrote:

> Charles,
>
> For the number of microsteps that the receivers respond to (which differs
> from the 210 steps reported by the CM11A) I used a small clamp on lamp and
> sent n microdims, looking at the filament at the end of the series of
> microdims. I reset to max and increased n until I found the number that
> would take it just to the point where I could see not even the dimmest glow
> from the filament. For the LM465 this was around 150. It was different for
> the LM14A but here I had to use the Kill-A-Watt since it doesn't dim below
> about 5%.
>
> I shut down my web page as I don't have the energy to try to maintain it any
> more so you cannot download my CM11A demo app. It makes these types of tests
> fairly easy. I can email a copy if your email address is good and will
> accept ~2MB attachments.
>
> Charles Sullivan <cwsulliv@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>Dave,
>>Regarding my data:
>>I don't have an o'scope so have to rely on the CM11A's report
>>of the PLC dims/brights.  I use one CM11A to transmit and a
>>second CM11A as a receiver.  I distinguish between the dim_level
>>(1-22) which is the programmed value for the sending CM11A and
>>the dims reported by the receiving CM11A which range from 2 to 210.
>>
>>If I program the sending CM11A to send dim_level 1,
>>the receiving CM11A reports either 2 or 3 dims.  In general, the
>>receiving CM11A reports according the the formula:
>>  Received dims = 11 * ( dim_level - 1 ) + X
>>X is usually 2 or 3, rarely 4.  The variability is apparently
>>determined by the sending CM11A or by some power line condition.
>>The receiving CM11A reports a maximum of 210 for dim_level 19
>>or greater.
>>
>>The 2000STW goes from PresetDim level 32 to 2 (or vice-versa) when
>>dim_level (or brighten) is 14, corresponding to received
>>dims/brights of 145 or 146.  For a standard X10 dimmer, it takes
>>a dim_level of at least 19 to go from fully on to fully
>>dimmed.
>>
>>I recall watching a voltmeter as I repeatedly sent dim_level 1
>>in a slow loop to a standard X10 lamp module, but can't find my
>>notes on that exercise. (This is where a recording voltmeter
>>would come in handy).
>>
>>How are you measuring the PLC dims?
>>
>>Regards,
>>Charles Sullivan
>>
>>On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:28:11 +0000, Dave Houston wrote:
>>
>>> I have three 2000STWs all of which date to about the time they were first
>>> released. I ordered one before they were shipping. When I had problems they
>>> replaced it and gave me two more. Two have no stickers (possibly the
>>> freebies) and the third has 0179 & 4802 so I'm not sure the stickers are
>>> meaningful.
>>>
>>> All three work OK on one "phase" here. None work on the other "phase"
>>> although one seems to work OK (in limited testing) when a Dell printer is
>>> unplugged or filtered. I can see nothing beyond a 20mVpp ripple at about
>>> 650kHz on the phase that gives them difficulty. The LEDs flash randomly and
>>> they do not respond to commands on the problem "phase". LM14As work fine in
>>> the circuits where the LampLincs fail.
>>>
>>> I've recently installed a ToggleLinc PLC (non-dimming, one-way) to control a
>>> bathroom fluorescent fixture. So far, so good.
>>>
>>> I'm confused by your data.
>>>
>>> I've never found an X-10 module that took more than ~150 microsteps from
>>> full bright to full dim (LM14A excepted as it never dims to 0%). My 2000STW
>>> goes from full bright to full dim with 32 microsteps.
>>>
>>> My 2000STW goes from full bright to full dim in 14 "standard" dims. I think
>>> it's probable that the 2000SC reacts the same way. Still, I'd like to hear
>>> from someone who has sent microsteps to a 2000SC.
>>>
>>> "Charles Sullivan" <cwsulliv@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Dave,
>>>>Here's some data I took to characterize  a 2000STW purchased about 2
>>>>years ago .
>>>>It has two stickers: "0786" and "2403".  (The latter looks about right
>>>>for a date code
>>>>but this is the only Smarthome lamp module I own so I can't be sure.)
>>>>
>>>>The Preset Dim commands provide 32 distinct steps (verified with a
>>>>voltmeter).
>>>>
>>>>It takes only about 150 ordinary dims/brights to cover the range from
>>>>fully Off to
>>>>fully On, as opposed to the 210 or so required for a standard X10
>>>>dimmer.
>>>>Sending ordinary dim/bright level 1 or 2 from a CM11A changes the
>>>>Preset
>>>>Dim step by 1.   Sending single ordinary dim/bright level 1 through 14
>>>>commands
>>>>from a CM11A  to a 2000STW initially fully On or fully Off provides
>>>>about 13  distinct
>>>>steps in the 2000STW.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>Charles Sullivan
>>>>
>>>>Dave Houston wrote:
>>>>> There are some anomalies in the documentation. The 2000SC manual says it has
>>>>> 32 dim levels although it also includes the comparison chart you cited
>>>>> showing that it does not respond to preset dims. The manual's
>>>>> troubleshooting guide refers to disabling local control but the page
>>>>> referenced has nothing on that. I suspect SmartHome just needs to do a
>>>>> better job of proof reading.
>>>>>
>>>>> The troubleshooting guide does acknowledge the lock-up problem I documented
>>>>> when the 2000STW first shipped. If they would just fix that the 2000SC would
>>>>> be a bargain at $10 for a lamp module with resume dim.
>>>>>
>>>>> I just did a quick check to make sure my memory was accurate. The 2000STW
>>>>> appears to have 16 dim levels. Interestingly, the 2000STW responds to a
>>>>> microdim/microbright with a 1/32 step. I wonder how a 2000SC might respond
>>>>> to microsteps.
>>>>>
>>>>> Charles Sullivan <cwsulliv@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> >According to the table at:
>>>>> ><http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/SHD-Matrix-plug-ins.pdf>
>>>>> >the LampLinc Essential 2000SC is dimmable but doesn't receive
>>>>> >the X10 Preset Dim.  So if supported by your software it ought
>>>>> >to emulate the X10 dimmer modules.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >However Smarthome also sells X10 dimmers, albeit under their own
>>>>> >part numbers, and I'm surprised they wouldn't have software support
>>>>> >for them.  Try looking for wall switch 2032.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >Regards,
>>>>> >Charles Sullivan
>>>>> >
>>>>> >On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 21:58:44 -0200, Flavio Silva wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>> >> Hi, guys,
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> I gave up on CM15a and bought a Smarthome PowerLinc Controller and I'm about
>>>>> >> to start writing macros on it.
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> However, for the switches, the software allows dimming only on the Smarthome
>>>>> >> ones.
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> Question is: May I tell the software I'm using a dimmable Smarthome switch
>>>>> >> and actually use one of my X10 ones? Does it work? If so, which one should I
>>>>> >> specify?
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> Thanks a bunch!
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> Flavio