🚀 go-pugleaf

 MSG:FROM: SPGDCM  --UCBCMSA  TO: NETWORK --NETWORK           02/22/89 19:56:08
 To: NETWORK --NETWORK  Network Address

 From: Doug Mosher
 Subject: bizarre X10 problem

 To: sci-electronics@ucbvax

 I've had a houseful of X10 devices in my house for many years. I am familiar
 with most of their quirks by now. For example, sometimes a signal does not
 reach all the way between a desired control location and a desired device. And
 the units do fail and need replacement. And it is helpful to put a .1
 microfarad 600 v capacitor across the 220 to help signals bridge between the
 two "halves".

 Another reason that sometimes controls will not work, only discovered
 recently: if any of your sending devices breaks and starts sending a
 continuous signal, that will make other control actions less reliable, but
 will not kill them all! For example, I had a computer controller fail and send
 continuous signals, and lost the ability to turn off half my lights, but not
 all of them, until I reset the errant controller.

 But now I have an apparently insolvable problem that bugs me a lot. I have
 used a wall switch module to control my overhead living room lights (400 W
 incandescent track lites, 8-50W units, wall switch module rated 500W).

 I control the lights from the module itself and from 3 other controllers plus
 a homeminder. Everything has worked for years.

 Recently I lost the ability to remotely control this circuit. The wall button
 still works, but I can't turn the lights on or off or dim them from any of the
 3 manual controllers nor the homeminder. (All functions are lost: on, off,
 dim, bright, and all-on all-off).

 I replaced the bridge capacitor, no help. I have tried 3 different wall
 modules, of different vintages, and they all fail exactly the same way. Note
 that the failure occurs even with all-different components, sender and
 receiver.

 About the only thing I can think of is that recently I got TV cable service
 installed, and at the same time redid all the wiring in my hi-fi area
 (rebundled all the power cords etc. to make them look nice). I am aware that
 the X10 stuff is somewhat sensitive to what you do with your cords; perhaps
 this is a problem with coiled cords being capacitive leaks or standing waves
 or whatever, caused by the new cable or the rearranged power wires.

 I'm sure curious what to do to fix this. Having controlled my living room
 lights for a decade, and now all of a sudden not being able to no matter how
 many devices I replace, is very inconvenient and very weird.

 Obviously it would be nice to be able to see the signals at this and that
 location. Years ago I bought a scope and found that the tiny little
 line modulation signal, on top of the giant 60 cycle signal, is like
 trying to study a flea on an elephant. Tiny, wiggly, and one looks like
 another; can't see the real code being sent.

 Any ideas?

 (                                                            )
 (          Doug Mosher <SPGDCM@CMSA.Berkeley.edu>            )
 (                      ...!ucbvax!cmsa!spgdcm                )
 ( 257 Evans, Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA, 415/642-5823 )
      bizarre X10 problem