OT: X10 wall switch module turns itself on

[Joerg]

Has anyone had that happen? An X10 wall switch module(WS467, with the
dimmer in there) turns itself on several times an hour. Very annoying.
AFAIR they have no local-on wiggler scheme in there but not sure. I
turned all potential noise sources in the lab and the office off, still
the same.

Any hints? Which X10 codes are the most noise-proof?

Sorry to post here but thanks to the #%&@!! paranoia with alt.* groups
the alt.home.automation group which my ISP still carries is now dead in
the water.

 

[Rich Webb]

Has anyone had that happen? An X10 wall switch module(WS467, with the
dimmer in there) turns itself on several times an hour. Very annoying.
AFAIR they have no local-on wiggler scheme in there but not sure. I
turned all potential noise sources in the lab and the office off, still
the same.

I'd almost bet that the local "on-off-on" cue is in all of the lighting
modules. If the light that the module controls doesn't also turn *off*
by itself, I would suspect that it's not stray or spurious X10 codes.

Here are a couple of links with pointers to how to disable the local
control sensing:
http://www.aquadyne.com/ftp/X10LocalSenseDisable.pdf
http://x10ideas.com/articles/displayx10article.asp?articleid=26

Sorry to post here but thanks to the #%&@!! paranoia with alt.* groups
the alt.home.automation group which my ISP still carries is now dead in
the water.

Of course, the reduction in bandwidth and storage requirements had
*nothing* to do with it. Nope, no sir, not a thing.

 

[Joerg]

I'd almost bet that the local "on-off-on" cue is in all of the lighting
modules. If the light that the module controls doesn't also turn *off*
by itself, I would suspect that it's not stray or spurious X10 codes.

Hmm, weird. Maybe it does have it although it makes no sense in a wall
switch module. There are two 60W bulbs attached so I wonder why it would
think something had been wiggled.

Here are a couple of links with pointers to how to disable the local
control sensing:
http://www.aquadyne.com/ftp/X10LocalSenseDisable.pdf
http://x10ideas.com/articles/displayx10article.asp?articleid=26

These modules are different but I'll give it a shot over the weekend.
I'll see if local-on is in there and then disable it. Thanks.

Of course, the reduction in bandwidth and storage requirements had
*nothing* to do with it. Nope, no sir, not a thing.

It's a non-binary group with rather miniscule data volume. One movie on
YouTube is probably more volume than a whole year of posts.

 

[Joerg]

I'd almost bet that the local "on-off-on" cue is in all of the lighting
modules. If the light that the module controls doesn't also turn *off*
by itself, I would suspect that it's not stray or spurious X10 codes.

Just looked at the schematic:
http://www.laureanno.com/ws467.gif

It doesn't have local on. Dang! Would have been too easy. I couldn't
imagine they put it in for nothing. And now the switch won't turn it off
anyone. Guess it died :-(

 

[Rich Webb]

Just looked at the schematic:
http://www.laureanno.com/ws467.gif

It doesn't have local on. Dang! Would have been too easy. I couldn't
imagine they put it in for nothing. And now the switch won't turn it off
anyone. Guess it died :-(

On the plus side, that looks like a very interesting web site!

 

[Rich Webb]

It's a non-binary group with rather miniscule data volume. One movie on
YouTube is probably more volume than a whole year of posts.

Truth. Still, it's probably easier just to dump all of alt.* (and its
associated load) than to cherry pick. Selective filtering of the
hierarchy could also open them up to legal problems (IANAL) if they move
from "common carrier" status to "publisher."

 

[Joerg]

Truth. Still, it's probably easier just to dump all of alt.* (and its
associated load) than to cherry pick. Selective filtering of the
hierarchy could also open them up to legal problems (IANAL) if they move
from "common carrier" status to "publisher."

Strange thing is my ISP (AT&T) dumped a.b.s.e. but kept alt.lasers (I'd
really miss that) and alt.home.automation plus lots of others. However,
I understand that other ISPs did a blanket dump :-(

 

[Joerg]

On the plus side, that looks like a very interesting web site!

On the minus side the X10 protocol is the pits and there are no common
wall switch modules that are able to switch CFL. All the old dimmer
style. Maybe I can repair it tomorrow unless the pool capsizes again.
Another wildfire seems to be smoking up the air now and that'll be algae
time again.

But whether I want to invest anymore into this X10 I don't know. If I
were retired I'd take a bag full of PSoCs and build some real powerline
comm stuff.

 

[James Arthur]

Just looked at the schematic:
http://www.laureanno.com/ws467.gif

It doesn't have local on. Dang! Would have been too easy. I couldn't
imagine they put it in for nothing. And now the switch won't turn it off
anyone. Guess it died :-(

Power line glitches kill those X-10s super easily. A buddy
had that problem.

Installing a surge suppressor makes 'em last forever. Not
sure what type he used, varistors or TVS.

Cheers,
James Arthur

 

[ehsjr]

Has anyone had that happen? An X10 wall switch module(WS467, with the
dimmer in there) turns itself on several times an hour. Very annoying.
AFAIR they have no local-on wiggler scheme in there but not sure. I
turned all potential noise sources in the lab and the office off, still
the same.

Any hints? Which X10 codes are the most noise-proof?

Sorry to post here but thanks to the #%&@!! paranoia with alt.* groups
the alt.home.automation group which my ISP still carries is now dead in
the water.

Been there. I "fixed" mine by adding a cap across h-n on a
receptacle on the same branch circuit. Bought one of those
small cheap surge supressors and replaced the MOV with a .22
uf, as I recall. Mine was triggering on noise from one of
those outdoor motion sensor lights.

Ed

 

[Joerg]

Been there. I "fixed" mine by adding a cap across h-n on a
receptacle on the same branch circuit. Bought one of those
small cheap surge supressors and replaced the MOV with a .22
uf, as I recall. Mine was triggering on noise from one of
those outdoor motion sensor lights.

However, that seriously attenuates the X10 signal itself. I just removed
and opened this wall switch module. Says WS467 on there but it has a lot
more stuff in there than on the usual schematics. Huge choke, two RF
filters instead of one. Very puzzling.