Re: Leviton or X10 switched outlet problem

["Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the quick response.

No, it didn't exhibit the chattering sound in response to any of the
multiple OFF commands.  It ignored the OFF commands as though it had already
switched off. I did have the chattering on another switched outlet in the
past, and it had that broken plastic piece underneith the solenoid coil.
But it worked 100% until that piece broke.  This one is strange, and I
wondered if anyone else had run across it before.

I've been using X10 for about 30 years - since the brown BSR module days.
Except for this quirky one and the other broken switched outlet, the only
real failures have been some blown triacs over the years.  Oh, and I had to
repair the codewheel switches on the old brown BSR modules.  We upgraded to
the Leviton "Red Line" when we built this house, and there have be
absolutely no problems with them so far.  We also use X10 for irrigation
through Rain8, and that works perfectly too.  But, I do agree that it does
take some effort to keep the house "X10" friendly.

Jeff

"Marc F Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:qokvd11ejglb7a0ifaunvhp1l0lhidr1c1@xxxxxxxxxx
> Does it make a chattering sound ?
>
> I have had both newer X-10 brand SR227 and Leviton 6227W "split wall
> receptacles" outlets fail. The symptom is that although they respond to
the
> powerline signal, they make a mechanical chattering sound and sometimes do
> not actually switch. The problem will come and go on a particular device.
It
> has happened on two different current-mode Leviton devices. An autopsy
shows
> no obviously broken part inside.
>
> Smarthome as assured me that the X-10 brand SR227 and Leviton 6227W  are
the
> same but that somehow it is worth my money to pay more for the Leviton
> device.
>
> Buying a new Leviton will solve the problem for a while. But the costs of
> X10 become high when you add up the cost of researching, futzing, time in
> replacing, new parts and so on. An open-close relay in the garage is a
task
> that a HA controller and hardwired relay is well suited for. (I use an Elk
> MM443 to do something similar with my attic fan based on inside and
outside
> temperature and so is based on the actual physics of the situation.)
>
> In short, the 227-type devices are unreliable in my experience. Choose
> something else, preferably not X10.
>
> ... Marc
> Marc_F_Hult
>
>
> On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 16:27:23 GMT, "Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx> wrote in
> message  <L1QDe.19737$5N3.13101@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> >I wonder if anyone else has seen the following problem with the
Leviton/X10
> >switched outlet:
> >
> >I installed one of these switched outlets a couple of months ago to turn
on
> >a garage exhaust fan when it cools down at night, and turn it off again
as
> >it warms up in the morning.  It had been working fine for weeks, but
twice
> >in the last several days it did not respond to the OFF signal in the
> >morning.
> >
> >Now, here is the interesting problem:  It would not even respond to
> multiple
> >OFFs sent from a maxi controller plugged directly into the switched
outlet.
> >However, after sending a single ON, followed by an OFF, the outlet did
> >switch off.  It is not the typical broken plastic piece problem because
> >after it finally turned off, it properly responds to additional ON and
OFF
> >signals.
> >
> >The ESM signal strength meter shows a fairly strong 1V signal from my
> >automation controller at the switched outlet.  There are no signal
suckers,
> >and no noise source.  All other X10 switches are virtually 100% reliable.
> I
> >don't think there was a power glitch because dimmed X10 modules are still
> >dimmed off, and our most glitch sensitive digital clock still has the
> >correct time.
> >
> >Does anyone know if these switched outlets become confused as to what
state
> >they are in?  If so, a simple fix may be to preface every OFF command
with
> >an ON.  Otherwise, I guess the answer is to install one of the Leviton
16293
> >relay switches I use elsewhere for compact fluorescents.