RE: Troubleshooting X10 interference

["Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks all that have replied so far.

I don't have any other controllers (RF, IR etc) - only the XM10 connected
to HV. I do have a newly bought XM10 that I was going to fit in the
workshop, so I could swap that out with the old one to see it it's a dodgy
unit (although I don't know how likely that would be?).

I don't have any data on when the problems happen exactly, maybe I need to
log them.

What's the best way of checking for stray signals? Looking at the logs in
HV reveals nothing.

Thanks,

Paul.



-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Hawkins [mailto:lists@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 27 January 2005 13:08
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Troubleshooting X10 interference


Monitoring the actual X10 data as transmitted on the mains must be the
first step.... to see if you are actually getting rogue X10 messages.
This will establish if there si a problem with programming. Also do you
have any of the computer interfaces CM11 CM12U etc ??  They are
notorious for throwing tantrums.

Noting that the problems seem to be happening in the evening are all
your LD11's mounted with lots of space inbetween each (a spare modules
space)  and well ventilated - they also are sensitive to heat which
would tie in with problems at night when they are being used.  This
would happen particularly if you have lights set to a dim level ie not
100% ON or OFF as they get hotter in these settings

Other thoughts.... any RF to X10 linkages, or even IR ??    Do you
perhaps own a Dell DDAR or Rio audio player - they are real horrors for
X10.  Do you have any other appliance anywhere in your home that might
be switching ON or OFF at the same time you see problems, that might be
generating interference or X10 attenuation on the mains.   Otherwise it
might be a case of successive isolations (using the MCB's) to see if you
can find that removing something causes it all to work again.  Last
thought - do the times that something erroneously comes on at (or goes
off) tie in with another expected X10 event that could in some way be
being corrupted, or suffering collisions.  I have a dimmer module that
is set to to D9 but turns ON with D8, is not dimmable and can only be
turned off via D9 - very strange.  If I move it elsewhere in the house
it works OK.

Kevin


Paul Gale wrote:

>Anyone?
>
>Help!  ;)
>
>Paul.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Gale [mailto:groups@xxxxxxx]
>Sent: 27 January 2005 08:12
>To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>Subject: [ukha_d] Troubleshooting X10 interference
>
>
>I've been suffering from various lights turning on/off but mainly
>dimming over the last couple of months. All lights in the house are
>controlled by approx 40 LD11's. They've been running with few problems
>for over 2 years now. It's only recently that the problem has started
>(so I think I can rule out cable run problems?
>
>I fitted a 250A filter on the incoming supply last week so would hope
>this is filtering any stray signals from the neighbours (not that I've
>found any yet using X10). The problem still occurs :(
>
>I have an XM10 connected to HomeVision Pro via a length of Cat5 (approx
>15m) which runs from Node0 to the enclosures which house the LD11's.
>
>I've not totally ruled out rogue programming in HV yet although some of
>the lights that come on have never been automated. A check here will be
>the next step.
>
>Oddly, most of the unwanted on/off/dim's seem to occur in the evening.
>It's rare that they happen in the middle of the night or in the day
>(although this may be down just to not noticing).
>
>Any recommendations as to a troubleshooting procedure?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Paul.
>
>
>
>
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