Re: Water heater eating X-10 signal

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Mr. Land" <graftonfot@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

<stuff snipped>

> > > My front yard lights are controlled by a WS467 wall switch.  Were you
> > > suggesting connecting the ESM1 at the site of the wall switch?
> >
> > Do you know if there are any outlets on that run?  I would try to get
the
> > meter as close to the actual problem load (as opposed to the problem
source)
> > as possible.  My guess is that somehow, the water heater wiring is
shunting
> > the X-10 signal to ground somewhere.  It sounds like whenever that
circuit
> > is active, whether drawing large amounts of power or not, it reliably
> > "steps" on your porch light signal.
> >
> > What brand/model of water heater is this?  Maybe the documentation can
shed
> > some light on what's happening.
> >
> > --
> > Bobby G.
>
> It's a GE 50 gallon, sold at Home Depot.
>
> I like your idea - connecting the ESM1 at the WS467 - that's my next
> step.

It's a little late in the game to ask this, but what sort of bulb is in your
porchlight?  Incandescent?  Compact fluorescent?

I recall your saying that the only connections from the water heater to the
circuit panel are both "hot" and no neutral.  Is there any other connection
to the panel from the water heater?  Some of the electric water heaters I've
seen connect the heating elements to high amperage and high voltage
(200+VAC) breakers and the control circuitry to a lower voltage, lower
amperage breaker.  I assume there's a ground connection to the water heater,
too.  Is it in good shape?