Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Re: X-10 chaos Mark Gilmore Mon, 08 Feb 1999 10:06:56 -0800

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Clay, I seem to recall someone saying that
flourescents could cause line noise ?
Can anyone verify ?

Clay Jackson wrote:
> 
> Mark - (et al).  I'm having some strange things happening as well.  Here are
> my details.
> 
> I've got a fairly large (2600 SF) house on three levels with one Service
> Panel.  We have a coupler in the panel; on it's own breaker.  We also have a
> "whole house" surge suppressor (the same ones that a company I used to work
> for used to protect cell sites).
> 
> I have an ES1400 and a CM11A.  The 1400 nominally runs it's own code; and
> the CM11 is what I'm using to set up ECS - the goal is for ECS/CM11/PC to
> replace my ES1400.  So - here's whats happening:
> 
> The ES1400 occasionally "misses" signals and I have to send stuff multiple
> times (from a mini-box to the 1400, which will turn on/off lights, etc).
> This has been an annnoyance until now.  I'm just starting off with the CM11
> and ECS.  So, when I tell ECS to turn ON the light outside the room the
> computer is in, it comes on.  But, when I tell it to turn said light OFF,
> nothing happens (the "light" is a pair of flourescents on a Leviton "relay"
> rocker switch).  Also, I've got another flourescent light on an appliance
> module that I cannot control at all with ECS/CM11.  When I tried using the
> ES1400 as the ECS interface, I could control the "other" flourescent light;
> but do NOTHING to the hall light.
> 
> Any ideas anyone has would be appreciated!
> 
> Clay Jackson
> clayj@nwlink.com
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mark Gilmore [mailto:   ]
> > Sent: Sunday, February 07, 1999 8:12 AM
> > To: misterz@ix.netcom.com; ecs-list@netbloc.com
> > Subject: [ECS] Re: X-10 chaos
> >
> >
> > Goodmorning Walter,
> > I am not an expert on such problems, but it sure sounds
> > like line noise, either from a neighbors's appliance/device
> > or possibly that construction project, though I wouldn't
> > expect this to be a problem, given that they would be on
> > a different transformer. Did this project start up AFTER
> > the problems began ? If so, we can eliminate that as the
> > cause. I am forwarding your question to our ECS user's list,
> > as many of my customers are more knowledgable in this area
> > (and they are very helpful).
> >
> > Regarding call-forwarding, I can only say that ECS can
> > respond in any way that a person could: "Push" flash-hook,
> > dial another number, etc. I THINK this would do the trick,
> > but am not sure.
> >
> > Further responses from ECS user's will be forthcoming...
> >
> > WALTER SANDS wrote:
> > >
> > > Mark,
> > > I saw your response to someone regarding doing it himself (home
> > > automation). I thought I'd try asking you for help. I had my whole
> > > apartment's lights and  coffee maker X-10'd for years. Then over a
> > > period of a few months things went blooie. I was used to wall switches
> > > that were used frequently needing to be replaced yearly. But I found
> > > that modules were not responding to commands from some control boxes and
> > > were from others. Then sometimes they would. I tried switching modules,
> > > control boxes, channels and replacing items with new ones. There was no
> > > (in my mind) discernible pattern that would allow me to narrow it down
> > > to any one or several parts. Finally, I removed the entire system. This
> > > was quite sad as I really appreciated the convenience. I presumed that
> > > the problem lays in the lines or signals coming through the ether,
> > > etc... I live in an apartment building in Manhattan. Two buildings down
> > > there is a major construction project.
> > > I am writing you because I want to know if you can advise me on solving
> > > a problem like this? I know there is testing equipment. But I haven't a
> > > clue on how to use it. Can you recommend a way to learn? Are there good
> > > simple books? Or are there qualified pros? How do you find them? How
> > > much do they charge?
> > > I hope you can help. I really would like to replace the system. I am
> > > interested in expanding on what I had (ie., combined X-10 and A/V remote
> > > control, telephone interface, etc...).
> > > While I am at it... my phone company does not offer remote call
> > > forwarding. That is call forwarding with the ability to switch it on and
> > > program it away from home. Got any ideas?
> >
> > --
> > Mark Gilmore
> > Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
> > omnip@usit.net
> > http://www.usit.com/omnip
> >

-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
omnip@usit.net
http://www.usit.com/omnip

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