[Shop-talk] X-10 help

[John Innis]

Anopther thing to check is if the transmitter and reciever are on
opposite legs of your 220 service.  X-10 can ususally bridge across a
220V appliance like a furnace or airconditioner.  But you might get
spotty operation if no such appliance is powered.  I had this issue in
our previuous home, when the furnace blower was running, X-10 worked
fine.  WHen the blower was off, one particualr receiver never worked.
In that case I moved the receiver, because it in a location where
another outlet on the opposite leg was readily available.  If that is
not an option for you, there are signal bridges that will couple the
X-10 signal.  I have seen these that plug into a dryer outlet and some
that can be hard wired.

Smarthome does sell X-10 test equipment, but I have never used any of
it.  Pretty pricy for a tool that doesn't do much.  If you are handy
with an oscilliscope, you should be able to get more info in a more
versitle tool.

On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 8:46 AM, Battmain<battmain at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Temporarily move the switch closer to the unit and
> test. I know this defeats
> the purpose of where it is
> located, but distance can occasionally cause some
> wierd issues.  If it works for a while, then you could
> look into x10
> repeaters. Some are made for wireless
> while others work with the wired units.
> I've also had the receiver unit hang at the light. Mine
> is a plug in unit.
> Occcasionally I have to unplug it
> to get it to cycle. It fails in both modes.
> Either doesn't
> turn off, or doesn't turn on. Usual length of working
> time is
> about two to three months of cycling daily.
>
> Brian
> battmain at yahoo.com
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "eric at megageek.com" <eric at megageek.com>
> To:
> shop-talk at Autox.Team.Net
> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 9:26:48 PM
> Subject:
> [Shop-talk] X-10 help
>
> OK, I remember a long time ago there were some people
> that had X-10
> knowledge, and since some of these devices are in my shop, it's
> shop
> related.  8>)
>
> Here is the problem...
>
> I have a few locations that don't
> seem to work all the time.  One is a
> light switch (I changed out the X-10
> switch to ensure it wasn't a faulty
> unit.)  No matter how I address that
> unit, it doesn't work.  Even pressing
> on the button ON THE SWITCH, it doesn't
> turn on or off about 80% of the
> time.
>
> then some times it works fine.
>
> When
> it doesn't work, I have used remotes, "all unit off" devices, and the
> button
> on the switch.  This leads me to believe that it has to do with the
> bulbs.
> But I don't know how to troubleshoot this issue any further.
> Again, it works
> correctly about 20% of the time, so it's not a complete
> failure.
> (snip)
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