Subject: From: Date:

RE: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting Martin Terry Wed, 2 Feb 2000 07:41:29 -0800

---

Not to be nitpicky, the 170V is peak to peak, not peak; and x2 isn't
accurate since they are only 120 degrees out of phase not 180.

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Danks [mailto:sdanks@ci.tulsa.ok.us]
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 7:35 AM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
Subject: Re: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


I have also heard of houses where when the clothes dryer is running (three
phase) that it couples the signal from one leg to the other.  When the dryer
is not working, x10 stops working.  I used a 0.1 mfd capacitor.  I blewup
the first one, since I only used one rated for about 200 volts.  I went to a
local parts store, and got one that was rated for 600 vac.  (non polarized).
It cost me about $4-5 dollars, but it was worth it.  I called the "Shack" (I
have questions, they didnt have answers).  I found on their website, the fix
for this, but they don't carry the capacitor needed.  I used the one bought
at the electronics store, and put it across the breaker outputs for the
clothes dryer.  This way I turned off the breaker, wired it in, and turned
the breaker back on.  Remember, 170v peak x 2 (for out of phase), I would
recommend at least 350 volt cap.  I went to 600 for a little extra.

>>> "A.J. Griglak" <aj@griglak.com> 02/01 7:34 PM >>>
Well, as mysteriously as it stopped working, it mysteriously started
working...

Hmmmm  Musta been a gremlin or something!

-----Original Message-----
From: David Kindred [mailto:david_kindred@iname.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 2:07 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


I hate to ask the obvious, but have you added anything new to your house
that could be eating the signal? We have a breadmaker which, when plugged in
but not running, prevents signals from getting to one part of our house.

--David

-----Original Message-----
From: A.J. Griglak [mailto:aj@griglak.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 1:36 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


Yea, actually the Ocelot and the PSC05 are in a power strip...  but since it
worked fine until two days ago, could that be the problem?  I just tried
swapping the cheapo out with a $75.00 APC power strip...  Same thing...
hmmm

-----Original Message-----
From: David Kindred [mailto:david_kindred@iname.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 12:53 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


You have two phases of 110V electricity coming into your house, each on its
own leg in your circuit breaker box. In general, items plugged into outlets
on one leg of the box cannot communicate with items on the other leg, unless
a 220V appliance is on (stove, hot water heater, dryer), making a temporary,
poor pathway for the signal to use. Small houses need signal bridges just as
much as large ones.

But, since you had both the Ocelot and the receiver next to each other, a
signal bridge wouldn't do anything for you. Neither one of the devices
happens to be plugged into a power bar, do they? Some power bars really eat
up the signals. I have two plain ol' ordinary ones which really suck the
signal.

--David

-----Original Message-----
From: A.J. Griglak [mailto:ajgriglak@iname.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 10:09 AM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


No, to the best of my knowledge the C-Max is akin to the Home Director
software.  The strange thing is, that it was fine for two weeks, and all of
a sudden stopped working correctly.  I just noticed that the light on the
PSC05 (Two way powerline interface) blinks when receiving housecode "A", but
not "B"...  I guess that's my culprit - but I was wondering if anyone had a
similar experience?

What would a signal bridge do?  I even tried plugging the receiver right
next to the Ocelot.  I thought the signal bridges were for remote areas of
the house to 'contact' each other...

-=A.J.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Kindred [mailto:david_kindred@iname.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 12:55 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


A.J.

Does the C-Max software allow you monitor what the Ocelot is receiving?
You'll probably want to run something like that so you can cross ECS off
your culprit list. Finding the real problem could take some doing. Have you
installed a signal bridge in your home? (Cheapies are about $30.)

--David

-----Original Message-----
From: A.J. Griglak [mailto:aj@griglak.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2000 12:33 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


I'm having problems with ECS "seeing" PCL commands on housecode B.
Housecode A is working fine - no problems at all.  With housecode B, the
receiver is working fine - any modules not integrated with ECS are working
fine.  I'm using a new Ocelot (formerly CPU-XA).

I've got an event that speaks the weather when B5/Off is pressed.  It
doesn't work.  There is also a motion detector set to B10 which doesn't
work.  I also have some light scenes set to B1 On/Off that don't work.
However, a lamp attached to a module set at B2 works fine (no interaction
with ECS).

I've moved the receiver around, I've changed the housecode to C (of course,
changing the event).  I've unplugged the Ocelot and two-way interface and
let them sit for an hour, then rebooted the computer - still nothing.

This all started to happen around the same time that I had those problems
with the TTS and wave engine.  (RE:TTS Error 1/25/00)

Do I need to install the C-Max Control software that came with the Ocelot?
(I didn't).

Thanks in advance

-=A.J.

---