I have a intermittent problem with some X10 devices not receiving an on/off signal - at first I thought it was a problem with one of my Leviton 4210 switches but I replaced it and the 4216 Key pad (HAS part numbers) with known good units and no joy.

My power panel is about 150 feet from the transformer so when I first started using X10 I had a signal bridge installed to try to avoid this type of problem.

I thought the bridge might be defective and thought that my electric oven and range might be 220 volt (still not sure about that), but turning them on did not cure the problem.

I do have a maxi controller that I use to program Smartlinc switches and have found that on some outlets it will control some loads and when plugged into a different outlet it will send a signal to other receivers, so it seems I do have a bridging problem, but I am not sure what to do next to trouble shoot this problem.

Suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks, Jim.

Jim:

I would suggest switching to an amplified signal bridge. It takes a 100mV X-10 signal and amplifies it to 5 to 7 volts across the other phases. This extra strength is normally enough to overcome moderate line noise.

Robert
RCI Automation
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]

Thanks Robert -- once again you are right - I (rather my electrecian) installed one today and it seems to have fixed the problem..

Btw, don't forget to tell us when you have the new JDS touch screens available.

Cheers, Jim

I know it's after the fact, but possible others can benefit from this...I also had an intermittent on problem and solved it by setting the device to execute multiple transmissions. It works fine although in a macro you don't always getsimaltaneous on/off/dim, you can get a random on/off/dim if there multiple devices in the macro.

Mike

Jim:

I'm glad to hear that the amplified signal bridge worked for you. It is a very powerful product and does increase the reliability of an X-10 system substantially, especially in large homes.

For other people reading this post, if you have a home with more than one electrical panel (i.e subpanels) as may be found in very large homes, you need to use more than 1 amplified signal bridges, and there is a specific type that is needed. These special signal bridges are interconnected (low voltage interconnect)and communicate with each other so that an X-10 signal isn't indefinitely "echoed" back and forth between the two bridges.

Robert
RCI Automation
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]