Re: [misterhouse-users] X10 Wall Switch Failure Modes - solved!

[Matt C. <cl...@bi...>]

Thanks to Kevin, Steve and Pete - my problem has been solved.

It turns out that I've got a ATX PC that is causing havoc on the power 
line.  It's built into an insanely cheap case + PS ($18, new from 
www.compgeeks.com) and I guess the power supply has little or no EMI 
filtering built in.  Any time that PC is powered on and running, I 
experience all the symptoms listed below, on various different X10 wall 
switches.  When the PC is turned off, or unplugged everything works like a 
charm.

I guess I'll have to break down and buy a good power supply for the case, 
or a new case & PS.

Once again, misterhouse-users comes to the rescue.  Only in X10-land do you 
find such strange 2nd and 3rd order problems that are such a bear to diagnose.

Thanks again!



At 11:32 PM 10/5/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>So far every time I've had wacked out modules the problem has been some 
>recently plugged in gadget.  Laptop power supplies got me twice.  I alays 
>wanted to get one of those ESM tools, never did though.
>
>Kevin
> > I asked this question a while back, but didn't receive any replies -- so,
> > I'll try again with a slightly different spin.
> >
> > I have several aging "traditional" X10 light switch modules (little square
> > push buttons)  which are acting strangely all of a sudden.  I'm wondering
> > if anyone has experienced these modules failing such that they behave as
> > follows:
> >
> > Failure mode 1) - Can be remotely turned off, but not on
> >
> > Failure mode 2) - randomly turn on to full brightness
> >
> > Failure mode 3) - When turned off, requires 2 presses to turn on
> >
> > I have several modules which I suspect are bad, and they are each behaving
> > in one of the above modes.  I suppose there may have been some electrical
> > "event" (lightning, etc) which could have affected these modules, but I
> > can't recall anything specific.
> >
> > The only other cause I can come up with is possibly a wacked-out CM-11
> > which is babbling on the line occasionally.  MH doesn't ever record any of
> > the spurious light-on events, so I don't think MH is causing them.
> >
> > Any input would be appreciated.  Thanks!
> >
> >
> > Matt Cleland                    cl...@bi...
> >
> >
> >
> >
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Matt Cleland                    cl...@bi...