X10 interference

[bing]

I have tree AM12's. When i used one with my philips TV (3 years old) and i switch with the am12 the tv off you hear a click twice and the tv go on again. With a bulb it works fine.

Another am12 i used for two weeks with a normal bulb. I replaced the bulb with a energy-efficient bulb and after i switch off the bulb go's after 5-10 minutes on again.

Why???

[Carlo]

Hi Bing,
The only three reasons I can come up with are:
1. Some program is (still) running in your X10 controller unit (like the CM15).
2. Some electronic devices generate disturbance on your power lines.
3. You have a neighbour with X10 devices.
My advice is to check these kind of influences, the first two are easy: turn everything else off.

[bing]

Hi Bing,
I will answer in English, because we would like to keep this forum international...
You say you have 3x AM12 modules and always worked normal with conventional light bulbs.
After connecting electronic devices like an LCD TV and energy efficient light bulbs they switch on after 10 minutes???

The only three reasons I can come up with are:
1. Some program is (still) running in your X10 controller unit (like the CM15).
2. Some electronic devices generate disturbance on your power lines.
3. You have a neighbour with X10 devices.

My advice is to check these kind of influences, the first two are easy: turn everything else off.

The TV diconnect directly. ( i switch by hand with the Sd10) i remove the CM15.
The lamps after a minut or 10, when i replace the spaarlamp to a normal bulb it works fine.

[Bwired]

Thanks Bing

Are you using any sofware together with the X10 modules?

[bing]

Only the software that came with the Cm15, but i disconnect that.
it looks like that the energy-efficient lamp some problems give.
I read about S10 with a filter. Do you now what the different is between X10 and S10??

[Carlo]

The S10 products are fully compatible with the X10 protocol. ElekHomica sells these products under their own label.
The only difference, as far as I know, are some extensions on top of the X10 protocol like assigning a module's address over power-line.
Xanura also has some small differences, like response messages for more reliable control.
They call their protocol A10, but is also like S10 fully compatible with X10.

About your LCD TV, the load is probably to much at switching on/off, maybe a high capacitive or inductive load?
You could try the following and see what happens:
Switching on: first turn off/unplug the TV, switch on the AM12 and then plug in/turn on your TV.
Switching off: turn off/unplug your TV, then switch off the AM12 and again plug in/turn on the TV.
Same result?

Energy-efficient light bulbs have switching electronic parts to control the bulb.
These circuits can disturb your power-lines in a way that X10 devices could be affected.
Filtering will do the trick, but that's where the manufacturer should have taken care off.
Is there a way that you can place filters between the AM12's and the light-bulbs?
(always be careful with mains power!)

[bing]

I replace he Energy-efficient light bulbs with normal bulbs and the problems are gone.

Now another TV

[Carlo]

Bing, if I may ask, why do you want to switch your TV by a X10 module?
Most (modern) TV's will be in stand-by modus when plugged-in to the mains power.
So really switching on a TV will most of the times not work this way, and a infra-red transmitter device could be a solution.
Or is it just to make sure your TV is disconnected on certain times?

What types of energy-efficient light bulbs did you use?
This information could be interesting for the forum readers, because these bulbs disturb X10 communication.

[bing]

Bing, if I may ask, why do you want to switch your TV by a X10 module?
Most (modern) TV's will be in stand-by modus when plugged-in to the mains power.
So really switching on a TV will most of the times not work this way, and a infra-red transmitter device could be a solution.
Or is it just to make sure your TV is disconnected on certain times?
This is the tv on the bedroom, i used for 20m a day.....with kaku of a timerswitch 't works perfect

What types of energy-efficient light bulbs did you use?
This information could be interesting for the forum readers, because these bulbs disturb X10 communication.

Philips softone 5w e14 Energy saver T, made in poland
the Jumbo (supermarket) 7w 55mA works fine.

[Carlo]

Thanks Bing.

The AM12 manual says that a capacitive or inductive load may not exceed 230 Watts.
This could explain the problem you experience...