Holding on to X10 - Marmitek ?
Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 10:13 am
Hi,
Not sure if I am opening up a can of worms because this board is most likely populated with X10 enthusiasts.
I have made a significant investment in X-10 modules over the last 12 years, in multiple phases, basically equipping more rooms with X10 material. 9 LD11 Din rail dimmers, 2 motion sensors, 3 FD10 Phase coupler/filters, a TM13 and later a CM15 Pro computer interface.
I have 2 main problems.
1. Is a known issue; signal not travelling accross different circuits on different phases. Which should be solved by installing phase couplers
2. Flickering effect on dimmed lamps. This is caused by data signals sent over the grid by the power company (to control transformer stations etc ) which seem to interfere with the LD11 dimmers. These signals are sent a couple of times per hour, always lasting about 5 minutes. Very annoying as the whole house's light intensity goes up/down/up/down. This only happens when lights are dimmed low, and disappears if turned up high. According to Intellihome.be support this would also be solved whit the FD10's.
After installing the phase coupler, none of these were solved.
I managed to get a reply from Marmitek support regarding the filtering/flickering issue. Their answer was that I should check with the power company what the frequency range of their signals is. They gave me the range that gets filtered out by the FD10. The solution would then be to possibly install another filter, fit for whatever frequency the power company sends.
The issue of the signal not travelling across different circuits is not "static". So for some modules, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. So it makes the entire system unpredictable and unreliable.
In short, the only use I get of my LD11's is controlling them with with the hardware pulse switches I have connected to them. And what works 90% of the time is the wireless sensor that switches on the lights in the hallway.
I have a new project coming up as we are re-doing our garden, which includes lighting and switching it from different locations. But I am really hesitant to installing more X10 material.
Do any of you have a hybrid setup with zWawe or another wireless controlled system? What are your experiences with those?
I am so disappointing with the X10 material I have now that I would be ready to toss it all out and replace it with something else if I would have a clear indication that it works better.
If anyone would have the magical recipe to make my X10 system work acceptably, I would be very grateful, as it has costed quite a bit. And replacing it would mean writing off the entrire investment.
Thanks,
Pol
Not sure if I am opening up a can of worms because this board is most likely populated with X10 enthusiasts.
I have made a significant investment in X-10 modules over the last 12 years, in multiple phases, basically equipping more rooms with X10 material. 9 LD11 Din rail dimmers, 2 motion sensors, 3 FD10 Phase coupler/filters, a TM13 and later a CM15 Pro computer interface.
I have 2 main problems.
1. Is a known issue; signal not travelling accross different circuits on different phases. Which should be solved by installing phase couplers
2. Flickering effect on dimmed lamps. This is caused by data signals sent over the grid by the power company (to control transformer stations etc ) which seem to interfere with the LD11 dimmers. These signals are sent a couple of times per hour, always lasting about 5 minutes. Very annoying as the whole house's light intensity goes up/down/up/down. This only happens when lights are dimmed low, and disappears if turned up high. According to Intellihome.be support this would also be solved whit the FD10's.
After installing the phase coupler, none of these were solved.
I managed to get a reply from Marmitek support regarding the filtering/flickering issue. Their answer was that I should check with the power company what the frequency range of their signals is. They gave me the range that gets filtered out by the FD10. The solution would then be to possibly install another filter, fit for whatever frequency the power company sends.
The issue of the signal not travelling across different circuits is not "static". So for some modules, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. So it makes the entire system unpredictable and unreliable.
In short, the only use I get of my LD11's is controlling them with with the hardware pulse switches I have connected to them. And what works 90% of the time is the wireless sensor that switches on the lights in the hallway.
I have a new project coming up as we are re-doing our garden, which includes lighting and switching it from different locations. But I am really hesitant to installing more X10 material.
Do any of you have a hybrid setup with zWawe or another wireless controlled system? What are your experiences with those?
I am so disappointing with the X10 material I have now that I would be ready to toss it all out and replace it with something else if I would have a clear indication that it works better.
If anyone would have the magical recipe to make my X10 system work acceptably, I would be very grateful, as it has costed quite a bit. And replacing it would mean writing off the entrire investment.
Thanks,
Pol