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Topic:
Has anyone phase coupled their system by themselves?
This thread has 14 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Monday August 30, 1999 at 16:33
Scott T.
Historic Forum Post
Have any of you X10 afficionados installed a phase coupler in the breaker box by yourself?

If so, please give a brief description of how you did it.

Regards,
Scott T.
OP | Post 2 made on Monday August 30, 1999 at 17:34
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Scott,

I e-mailed you a description. Please note that 110 volts can kill you and you will be dealing with 220 volts! If you are unsure PLEASE hire a professional! Anyone who attemps to install X-10 should be careful!
OP | Post 3 made on Tuesday August 31, 1999 at 09:35
Jim Fouch
Historic Forum Post
If you need to ask, you probably should hire an electrican - not trying to be cheeky here, just want you to be around to enjoy your X-10.

Cheers, Jim.
OP | Post 4 made on Tuesday August 31, 1999 at 10:33
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
The reason I didn’t post the description on the thread is to keep every wanna be electrician from trying to install their own coupler. Some people are good with their hands (and heads) and will have no problem installing a coupler, others would loss their hands, fingers and life if they tried.

Once again, PLEASE HIRE A PROFESSIONAL IF YOU UNSURE!

Chris Couture
OP | Post 5 made on Tuesday August 31, 1999 at 23:19
Bundi
Historic Forum Post
I would like know the success people have had with phase coupling? The document I read stated that if certain outlets do not respond to X-10 commands then you may have an out of phase problem. To test this they suggested turning on the dryer or oven since they are 220v and this would link the both 110v phases. I have tried turning on both and still cannot get certain outlets to respond. They were all in the living room where my T.V. is plugged in, so i bought an A.C. filter from Radio Shack to see if this would help.....it didn't. Does it sound like I'm wasting my time with a phase coupler since It did'nt responed with the oven and dryer both turned on?
Also, Chris if you could also e-mail me your instructions for install. My friend is a certified electrition and would install it for me, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Bundi
OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday August 31, 1999 at 23:31
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
I will e-mail you a description tomorrow, it's on my other computer. Do you have any surge protectors in your home? These can "stop" X-10 signals from making there way through.

Chris Couture
OP | Post 7 made on Wednesday September 1, 1999 at 11:52
Robert (RCI Automation)
Historic Forum Post
Bundi:

Phase coupling is a necessity in an X-10 based system if you plan to have more than just a few X-10 receivers in your system. A passive coupler does good job of "bridging" 2 or 3 phases of electrical service, but it also attenuates the X-10 signal (not desirable). That is why an amplified coupler/repeater is a much better solution than a passive coupler. I haven't yet experienced a situation where installing an amplified coupler/repeater has not greatly improved X-10 signal reliability. It amplifies the X-10 signal about 50 times when it repeats the signal.

If you are interested in this topic, please review my previous post to this forum with the subject, "Why aren't my X-10 signals getting through?".

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]

OP | Post 8 made on Wednesday September 1, 1999 at 12:22
Bundi
Historic Forum Post
I do have a Surge protector for all of my A/v equipment which also passes my cable and satellite coax through. What if I put the A/C filter in between the outlet and surge protector.
Does that sound like it would help, or am I just wasting my time ??


Thanks
OP | Post 9 made on Wednesday September 1, 1999 at 12:33
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Try it! I bet this will help a lot! When you say you have an A/C filter, I guess you mean an X-10 in line filter? If so, yes, put it inline with your surge protrctor.
As per Roberts previous post, I agree, a amplifier/coupler “Would be the best piece of X-10 you could own!”

Chris Couture
OP | Post 10 made on Thursday September 9, 1999 at 10:53
Roland S
Historic Forum Post
Chris or Robert may be able to help me out on this one...

I decided on a passive coupler (Leviton 6299) since my house isn't very large and it would save me $150+. The signal strength emitted from the transceiver (via PalmPad) is strong enough to turn on lights on both phases with no problems, but the signal sent from the computer interface isn't strong enough to always turn on light on the opposite phase.

Before having an electrician come out to install the passive coupler, I thought I'd buy all the materials. I figured they mark up the price of all the supplies if I get it from them.

Is it 2 15-amp 1-pole breakers I need for this coupler? (diagram @ [Link: hometech.com])

The thing I can't figure out is that obviously, the unit is mounted outside the breaker box, but the wires are not long enough to extend from inside the box to outside where it can be conveniently mounted??? (I just have a curious mind.)

Roland
OP | Post 11 made on Thursday September 9, 1999 at 15:48
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Roland,
All you need is I single gang electrical box to mount the coupler in, 2 – 15 amp breakers and a run of 14guage 3 conductor wire long enough to get to the couplers location. A few wire nuts are how you hook it up. The prices you pay at the hardware store are much more that the electrician pays so they usually are competitive in the price. I wouldn’t waste the time to pick it up yourself unless you really wanted to save a few cents. Plus, he’s got to make a paycheck!

Chris
OP | Post 12 made on Friday September 17, 1999 at 10:31
Roland S
Historic Forum Post
Installed the Leviton 6299 Signal Bridge last evening without incident. Noticed MUCH improvement than previously seen. Macros involving modules on the opposite phase work!!!

I also noticed that -- on occasion -- modules on the opposite phase respond slower than those on the same phase. Is this typical?

Roland

OP | Post 13 made on Friday September 17, 1999 at 10:46
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Glad to see it worked fine for you! I don't really know about the response time.

Chris Couture
OP | Post 14 made on Thursday September 23, 1999 at 13:25
Roland S
Historic Forum Post
I recently introduced my friend to X-10. He has already went gung-ho and replaced practically every switch in his house.

He has noticed that all the lights in a particular room have problems turning most of the time. This only occurs when it is initiated by a macro (computer interface). Lights turn on fine via remote. Yes, this sounds like a typical phase jumping problem.

The thing is that when he turns on his stove (electric) or clothes dryer (electric), neither helps. He also has a hottub (220V) in which the water circulator is constantly on.

The house is less than 2000 s.f.

I'm stumped. I had the same problem (i.e. macro vs remote), but when a 220V appliance was turned on, it was fine.

He is going ahead and installing the Leviton 6299 Signal Bridge. I think it may work.

Any other possible causes or suggestions?

Roland
OP | Post 15 made on Thursday September 23, 1999 at 14:09
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Does he have any surge supressors in that room or through out the house? These can eat up the X-10 signal. Installing a Phase Coupler would be a wonderful idea even if he wasn't having problems, yet. It is a way you to improve the X-10 operation and make it more dependable. More that likely, all homes will need a phase coupler. The best soultion is to install the amplified version but the $$$$$ of it will decide that.

Chris


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