Re: Water heater eating X-10 signal

["Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx>]

<graftonfot@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1177470203.376066.127500@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> I find my measurement results a bit confusing.
>
> In my breaker panel I have a Leviton HCA02-10E coupler/repeater.  It's
> wired via an existing 2-pole 30A breaker feeding a dryer, and was part
> of my working configuration before this problem started.
>
> To do some measurements, I wrote a small HomeSeer script consisting of
> a loop which sends "B1" "ON", waits 3 seconds, sends "B1" "OFF", waits
> another 3 seconds, then repeats.
>
> With this script running I measured signal levels in the breaker panel
> using an ESM-1 connected via alligator clip leads.
>
> Here are my (somewhat puzzling) results.  I've arbitrarily labeled the
> phases "A" and "B", and expressed the observed signal strengths in
> terms of number of bars lit on the ESM-1:
>
> Condition: HCA02 breaker OFF, water heater breaker OFF
>    Phase A: approx 1.5 bars
>    Phase B: 0 bars
>
> Condition HCA02 breaker OFF, water heater breaker ON
>    Phase A: approx 1.5 bars
>    Phase B: 0 bars
>
> Condition HCA02 breaker ON, water heater breaker OFF
>    Phase A: 5 bars
>    Phase B: 4 bars
>
> Condition HCA02 breaker ON, water heater breaker ON
>    Phase A: 5 bars
>    Phase B: 4 bars
>
> Apparently the HCA02 is performing its repeater function quite well.
> But what's puzzling is that with the coupler in-circuit, closing the
> breaker for the water heater apparently has no visible effect on the
> signal coupling as shown by the ESM-1 at the breaker panel, even
> though I've repeatedly confirmed that it debilitates my control of my
> front yard lighting.
>
> Shouldn't I expect to see a big drop in Phase B signal with the water
> heater circuit connected?

What about the thermostat?  Unless the heater element switches on, turning
on the circuit breaker would have little or no effect.

Jeff