Hi,

I just received my ActiveHome kit today and I tried one of the Lamp Modules that I got. At first I could not get it to work, but then I tried a different receptacle and all was well.

I know now that I have a phase issue and I believe I need to purchase an ACT CR230 Coupler/Repeater. Is this correct or is there something else that would work as well? The coupler looks like it is around $129 US. That works out to about $178 CDN. Ouch!

I live in Canada and was looking for something a little cheaper if possible. Plus I would like to know if the CR230 is rated to work on my electrical panel in the new house we just built 2 months ago. In other words, is it approved for Canada?

So far with the one lamp and appliance module I have, it works like a charm. I am using the Homeseer product, which by the way is AWESOME!!!

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Bob

Bob, I've been using X10 for 20+ years, the last nine years in my current home, and I've only now installed a phase coupler. I had a very few areas in my house which could not be reached by controllers in a very few other areas, and so just lived with it. I knew it was a phase coupling issue, because when I turned on my 240V dryer, all of the X10 would operate correctly.

Well, I finally found what I wanted here: -- a phase coupler built into a 240V plug, that sits between the 240V wall outlet and the dryer plug. It works great! I now have full control of all areas :-). And the coupler is still on sale for $30US.

And it is CSA approved--I'm in Canada as well. The only thing to watch out for when ordering from the U.S.A., is the shipping. This one came UPS, and UPS hit me for another $30 for brokerage fees (for bringing it across the border). Another order I placed the same day, came FedEx and was delivered to my door without requesting any fees. Two days later, I get an invoice from FedEx for $55(!) for brokerage and duty. I'm disputing that one, as there should be no duty on this stuff. Isn't that what free trade is all about? A third order I placed that same day was shipped via postal service, and although it took a week longer, the only additional charge was $5 for customs clearance.

Thanks for the response.

I have a 220V dryer receptacle but I do not use it. I have a gas dryer. Does the item you mentioned act as a repeater as well. If so, why do they charge so much for the ACT CR230 Coupler/Repeater?

With this item, does the dryer have to be on for it supply X10 signals to the other phase?
The reason I ask is that I do not use the 220V dryer plug.

My house is also 3400 sq ft total. Would a couple/repeater be better in this case. I have read that it would.

Which part number did you order (4816C, 4816A2, or 4816B2)?

Thanks again
Bob

This message was edited by Blade9123 on 08/14/03 07:27.

probably need the coupler/amp, depending on how noisy your electrical enviroment is, and how good the original signal strength of your transmitters are, and if you're not willing to gamble 30 bucks that the coupler only will do the job. (if the coupler only doesn't work you could probably sell it on e-bay for 20 bucks and not lose much.) I have a dryer plug in/phase coupler/amp/repeater that is not made anymore and it solved 99.9% of my x10 problems. my dad had a more spread out house (ranch vs multi-story) and the passive coupler solved all of his problems except one. we just worked around that problem. I'm sure a coupler/repeater/amp would've solved it. Note: The SignaLinc™ is a passive coupler and does not amplify the signal. This means the signal coupled onto the receiving phase will be no stronger than the original signal on the transmitting phase. How well the SignaLinc™ works in your home is dependent on many factors, including signal strength for the transmission phase. For homes larger than 3,000 sq. ft., we recommend installing an amplified coupler repeater.

Bob, I bought the 4816A2 4-wire plug-in coupler, as that's what our outlets are here. The 3-wire one should be the same, internally. You're having no dryer plugged in should make no difference, the coupler should work fine. However, as jrx10 has already said, the SignaLinc is a coupler only, and for your size home you probably need a repeater. But as he also said, you could try the SignaLinc first, and if it isn't sufficient, sell it and move up to a repeater. It's too bad that the dryer-plug-in coupler/repeater that jrx10 mentioned is no longer made, as it it so convenient to just plug it in and avoid paying an electrician to install one in the panel.

don't really understand the philosophy of this new amp that just plugs into a regular plug. looks like to me you would need 2 of them. (mobius loop of x10 signals, wo) seems kind of a dirty solution. I guess it has some merit, if you have a bunch of x10 signal suckers on one circuit for instance. here's the link. [Link: smarthome.com]

Hi jrx10. There's been some discussion (and review) of the BoosterLinc on comp.home.automation, which you could google for. I think it is not so much for phase coupling, as for amplification on a single phase, in weak areas or long runs. [Could be used in conjunction with phase coupling/repeating.] But it seems rather pricey :-(.