Subject: From: Date:

Re: RE: RE: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting Scott Danks Wed, 02 Feb 2000 16:57:54 -0600

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 Wed, 02 Feb 2000 16:57:54 -0600
I decided to see what the manufacturer suggested. . . . 
http://www.x10.com/support/support q1.htm


>>> "Lanter, Steven SB SNORC" <SL144457@MSXSOPC.SHELL.COM> 02/02 2:02 PM >>>
I think you the nail on the head, as far as the reason $40+ phase couplers
exist.  I would imagine that most would feel uncomfortable about the safety
aspect (myself included).  To those who aren't all that familiar or
knowledgeable about electricity (again, myself included) it definitely
sounds like a "rigged" setup.  I'm ALMOST 100% convinced this is why they
can sell these things -- people will buy them.

When I realized about few years ago that I had a phase problem in my house I
searched for solutions.  I would've bought one of these things too, but I
described the capacitor setup to more than a couple electrical engineers,
more than a couple electrical inspectors, etc.  All saw no problem,
safetywise or otherwise, with installing a capacitor.

All that said -- it's a whole 'nother matter installing it safely (capacitor
rated, wired, breakered, fused, and mounted properly)!!!

I installed one in my house back then and haven't had any problems or any
other issues.  By the way, I'd have to look, since I installed it so long
ago, but isn't it supposed to be a .1 microfarad capacitor rather than a
.01?

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Danks [mailto:sdanks@ci.tulsa.ok.us] 
Sent: February 02, 2000 12:11 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com 
Subject: Re: RE: RE: [ECS] Need help troubleshooting


I have really not seen what is inside a coupler.  Does anyone have a
schematic?

>>> "Bill Walters" <wtwalters@home.com> 02/02 10:39 AM >>>
My 2-cents worth here.......

If a .01 mfd capacitor was "safe", everyone would be using them, there would
be no X-10 coupler and that would be the end of it....

Are you really ready to trust your home to this method, just to save $40 or
so dollars?

I think the capacitor is well worth the time/expense to TEST, and VERIFY
that phase isolation is the problem you're having.... However, having
confirmed that as your problem, I think to continue to use the capacitor to
couple the AC phases, is seriously misguided and potentially dangerous.....

Bill Walters

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