Re: Strange X10 Lamp module problem

[Art Todesco <actodesco@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/1/2012 2:44 PM, dlh wrote:
> On Feb 1, 9:08 am, Art Todesco<actode...@xxxxxxxxx>  wrote:
>> On 1/31/2012 4:22 PM, dlh wrote:
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>>> On Jan 31, 8:55 am, Art Todesco<actode...@xxxxxxxxx>    wrote:
>>>> On 1/30/2012 1:04 PM, dlh wrote:
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>>>>> On Jan 30, 9:16 am, Art Todesco<actode...@xxxxxxxxx>      wrote:
>>>>>> Here a new one on me.  I have used X10 in my house since it came out and
>>>>>> have never seen this.  I have 2 lamp modules plugged into the same
>>>>>> outlet strip.  One is a stock lamp module, the other is a lamp module,
>>>>>> but with the solid state relay modification found on a few on-line
>>>>>> sites.  It has worked perfectly for some time.  So this modification
>>>>>> actually makes it a silent appliance module.  But, it's still a lamp
>>>>>> module at heart, only the output is a little different.  The are both
>>>>>> set to B1.  The SSR modified module has 2 lamps (w/CFLs) connected to
>>>>>> it, hence the SSR.   The other one has a heated warming blanket.  Last
>>>>>> night, both were on and all of a sudden, both just shut down by
>>>>>> themselves ... this is not the strange part.  After, neither would
>>>>>> respond to any X10 commands.  I only used a wireless remote with
>>>>>> transceiver for testing.  I probably should have tried a direct X10
>>>>>> command from a manual controller, but I don't think that would have made
>>>>>> a difference.  And I never touched the transceiver, only the wireless
>>>>>> remote.  At first I blamed the modification, as I hadn't noticed that
>>>>>> the unmodified module was also off,  But then I discovered it too was
>>>>>> off and wouldn't respond either.  After powering down bother modules and
>>>>>> re-powering, they now both work perfectly!   I haven't a clue as to what
>>>>>> could have caused this problem.  It had to be some "command" or pseudo
>>>>>> command (noise?).  There are only 2 houses on the outside transformer.
>>>>>> And, we are pretty far from any neighbors making it difficult to get
>>>>>> rogue RF transmissions, i.e. lots in the subdivision are 3 - 4 acres.
>>>>>> And the one neighbor on the same transformer doesn't have or even know
>>>>>> what X10 is.  Any ideas??
>>
>>>> We have an RF reading electric meter in this house.  The guy from the
>>>> power company parks up at the top of the mountain and can access
>>>> everyone below.  But this problem occurred at night and the modules both
>>>> appeared to lock up in the off condition, until they were power cycled.
>>>>     If it were only one, ok, but 2, side by side, on the same house and
>>>> unit code?  And, there were not other lockups in the entire house.  Weird
>
> Duke and other utilities are using an Echelon Data Concentrator (or
> similar devices made by others but still using LonTalk). I think there
> is one per transformer and they act as a router with the ability to
> query the meters, shed loads, etc. and send usage data to the central
> office over the powerlines. They may not have implemented all of the
> features initially. In the Cincinnati area numerous X10 users have
> seen random turn-ons which appear to be caused by very high amplitude
> 86kHz signals from the data concentrators. Duke has told one person
> that Echelon is working on a filter that they will try at his
> residence when received.
>
>       http://www.echelon.com/metering/nes_dc.htm
>
> Jeff Volp has found a combination of clamp-on ferrites plus a filter
> across the two hot legs that also seems to filter the signals.
>
> I suspect it's the amplitude (which rises in response to "noise")  of
> the signals that is causing the problem, acting like spikes which X10
> has acknowledged causes similar issues. In two cases, people
> experiencing the problem found that Smarthome made X-10 modules set to
> the same address appeared to be immune. This was, however, a very
> small sample size so YMMV.
>
> This may or may not be the cause of your issue but I think it's
> worthwhile for all X10 users to be aware of it with the nationwide
> rollout of smart meters.
>
> I live across the river from Cincinnati and my area was an early test
> area for Duke about 5 years ago. I saw no X-10 issues (most of my gear
> is not X10-made) but did have some inexpensive appliances with
> electronic controls go berserk.
Well, this was a random turn off, but once it was off, it was locked and
could not be turned back on, until I power cycled the modules.  And, in
my area, Duke uses an RF system to read the meters.  I talked to the
Duke guy, whose son lives in my subdivision, and he said that he goes to
the highest point and reads all the meters below, from his truck.  He
actually changed out my meter because it was not the proper type that
could be read from his RF reader.  Also, this happened at night, maybe
10PM, when I seriously doubt that he was doing any meter reads.