Re: bizarre x-10 dead zone

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

It may just be that the RR501 has better sensitivity to low level signals.

Mark Chambers <machambers@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Thanks for the feedback.
>I don't believe any new devices have been added to that circuit, but I
>guess it's time to start unplugging things and see what happens.
>
>I just thought it was odd that only the AM466 modules were affected
>and hoped that the unique failure mode might point to something more
>definite.
>
>Mark
>
>On Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:15:22 GMT, nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)
>wrote:
>
>>J Miller <reply@here> wrote:
>>
>>>David White wrote:
>>>> Mark Chambers wrote:
>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>
>>>>> Here's one that really has me scratching my head.
>>>>>
>>>>> Recently I lost the ability to control two incandescent lamps
>>>>> connected to an LM465 lamp module.  I replaced the module but the
>>>>> problem remained.  I tested both modules at my bench and found that
>>>>> they worked fine.  I tried an AM466 appliance module but it too would
>>>>> not respond.  I got frustrated an installed an RR501 module which
>>>>> works because it receives the RF control signal via its antenna, not
>>>>> the AC line.  I figured my passive coupler had failed and that it was
>>>>> time to replace it.
>>>>> I replaced the passive coupler with an XPCR active coupler and sure
>>>>> enough I can control the RR501 from mini-controllers or my CP290.  I
>>>>> replaced the RR501 with an AM466 but found that I lost the ability to
>>>>> control it.  Replaced the appliance module with a lamp module and
>>>>> control is back.  So a lamp module works, the RR501 quasi-appliance
>>>>> module works, but appliance modules won't work.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now it gets bizarre.  The problem only occurs in the last two outlets
>>>>> on the circuit.  In any other outlet on the circuit, any of the
>>>>> modules can receive X-10 signals and work as they should.  I don't
>>>>> actually know where the affected outlets are on the circuit and don't
>>>>> have access to the wiring to confirm their location.  Any ideas as to
>>>>> why only AM466 appliance modules are affected and only in these two
>>>>> outlets?  Note, there are no CFL bulbs involved.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks, Mark
>>>>
>>>> Mark,
>>>>
>>>> I had something similar recently. Let me ask, have you plugged-in
>>>> anything new on that circuit? In my case, it was my new LCD TV. I
>>>> purchased a filter unit that sits between the TV and the wall plug and
>>>> all was well once again. Your mileage may vary but it was great for me.
>>>>
>>>> David
>>>
>>>I was going to say that this sounds like a "signal sucker".  Something
>>>(probably something new) is clobbering the signal.  Could be a
>>>combination though, so start unplugging stuff and see if it starts working.
>>
>>It might be a new signal sink or it might be a new noise source. A lot of
>>switch mode power supplies (e.g. those in CFLs) put high frequency noise on
>>the powerline while those that filter this out tend to also attenuate X-10.
>>Anything between 75-220kHz can cause problems for most X-10 receivers,
>>making them see a constant stream of 1-bits for each half-cycle,  although
>>the exact frequency range varies from model to model. A filter will usually
>>solve both problems once the culprit is identified.