Help with a complex (maybe) X10 issue - Long messa

Post by **Asmodeo** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:01 pm

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum and also to the home automation and I would like to ask you help/advise about an issue I have with X10.

Some background:
I'm restructuring my apartment and adding some X10 automation. In particular up to now I have 7 AD10 modules to control lights. 6 of them are connected to momentary switches (from 2 to 5 for each AD10), 1 to a normal switch. 5 of those modules/circuits are working well (A1 - A5), but with 2 of them I have problems (A6 and A7). The problems are not apparently linked to the physical modules but to the circuit/position. If I change the module the problem persist on the same position.
The problems are not linked to X10 command but occurs also simply pushing the switch.
Nothing other then the lights are connected during the tests

Now an examples of the problems I have:
- When the two modules A6 and A7 are set to auto (all the other are set to 0) and I push the momentary switch connected to A6 also A7 goes on, if I push again A6 turn off and A7 stay on, if I push again A6 turn on and A7 off and finally if I push again both turn off. During this test if I try to control A7 when is on with one of the mom-switches attached to it it doesn't work, cannot be turned off.

- Another, simpler, issue I have is that is I keep only A7 on (all the other AD10 set to 0) the module work fine from the 2 mom-switches attached to it but it turns on (ad off) also every time I turn on another light that is not at all controlled by an X10 modules. It's simply a light controlled by one single standard switch.

I have other examples of strange behaviors, but maybe is better to start with these.
My electrician is telling me that the connections are OK but he's not an X10 expert at all.

Now it sounds to me that those are wiring issues and not issues with the AD10 modules.

What do you think? Should I insist with the electrician? Any of you have ever had similar problems?

Thanks a lot in advance for any help or suggestion and ... sorry for the long long message

Kind regards
Asmodeo

Post by **Snelvuur** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:07 pm

Some strange behavior is also with this post http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=397 sometimes there are more common things that meet the eyes, which you normally would not think off. There are more posts like this where people sometimes found the solution (or not)

Post by **Han** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:35 pm

Must be a wiring problem!

Han Alink

Post by **Asmodeo** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:09 pm

Thank you snelvuur,
I look to that post but I do not have really anything attached other than the lights

Thanks Han,
this was my thought too, but I'm not an expert and it's nice to have some supportive opinion. I will insist with my electrician

Thanks again
Asmodeo

Post by **Bwired** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:16 pm

Hi Asmodeo,

Check this topic, I agree it has probably to to with the devices you use on your powerline, like halogen lights or a dishwasher.
I have simular problems, If you want to be sure about your powerline to work good with all the Xanura modules you have to check your wiring on strenght of X10 signal.
Check this topic to
http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=56
regards Pieter (still in Italie)

Post by **Asmodeo** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:59 pm

Hi Bwired,
Thank you for the suggestion, I will make some further verification and test but currently I do not have anything on my power line other then standard incandescence bulb light.

Thanks
Asmodeo (I live in Italy)

Post by **Snelvuur** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:04 pm

Maybe pieter will visit you asmodeo, nothing better to work with computers and switches on a holiday

Post by **Han** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:21 pm

The behaviour you describe has nothing to do with X10.
Is your house using 1 phase?

Han Alink

Post by **Asmodeo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:48 am

Yes, the electrician told me that is using 1 phase

Asmodeo

Post by **Han** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:10 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">- Another, simpler, issue I have is that is I keep only A7 on (all the other AD10 set to 0) the module work fine from the 2 mom-switches attached to it but it turns on (ad off) also every time I turn on another light that is not at all controlled by an X10 modules. It's simply a light controlled by one single standard switch.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Take a volt meter and measure between neutral and the momentary switch inputs. Make sure nothing happens when you turn on another light. Also check that the "normal" switch input is not changing.

Han Alink

Post by **Niknik** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:26 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snelvuur
 Maybe pieter will visit you asmodeo, nothing better to work with computers and switches on a holiday

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Well, we can all go there if we have a place to stay! Eheheh

Post by **Snelvuur** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:23 pm

Portugal sounds nice too..

Post by **Bwired** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:45 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Asmodeo
Posted - Yesterday : 14:59:09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Bwired,
Thank you for the suggestion, I will make some further verification and test but currently I do not have anything on my power line other then standard incandescence bulb light.
Thanks, Asmodeo (I live in Italy)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[:D][:D] I'm at lago di garda right now, so if it is within range [8D] And yes I'm reading a 1000 page ASP.net 2.0 book. Here at lake garda the internet facilities are really bad [:(] Not found one wireless access point. Here at the hotel they have a old Internet PC running on Windows migrenium, so no usb support. The only way to access my server at home is with my cell phone connected to my laptop, but is very expensive.
Regards Pieter

Post by **Niknik** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:55 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snelvuur
 Portugal sounds nice too..
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Well, if you ever come to the North of Portugal, just let me know!

btw, anyone having problems with the forum "subscriptions" email? I didn't get any email from any of the threads I'm watching that had updates today. :/

Post by **Snelvuur** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:03 am

No problems here (about the emails), but this would have been a new topic .. since we are discussing now i think 4 different things in here..