Hello X10-philes,

I live in a condo with no washer/dryer. I have a set of plugs on a different phase (same phase as my oven) that I need to couple. I've heard that you can do some coupling using a .1uF 600V capacitor....Is this true? How do I install? I've purchased one rated at 1000V just in case. I don't want to buy the other kind of phase coupler cause I don't know what I'm doing to install it and everyone I've seemed to ask, doesn't even know what a phase coupler is.

Thanks for your help.

Given the cost of the switches, personally, I wouldn't attempt what you're suggesting. That's aside from the fact that the only way a coupler works is to...well...couple the two legs of your 110 volt service in your condo. If you look at your circuit box, there are two verticle main power lines coming in to the top of the box. Every other breaker in the box works off one of these two lines (for example, on each side, breakers 1,3,5,7,9 etc. work off one of the lines, and breakers 2,4,6,8, etc. work off the other line). Those items in your house, like some ovens, that are 220 volt have a double breaker that runs off of both 110 volt lines, hence the 220. For what you are suggesting to work, you have to tap into both of those lines. Not being an electrician, I personally wouldn't mess with it, and I'm very comfortable working around electricity.

Just my thoughts.

The simple fact is that doing what you're suggesting, while it may be effective, is also extremely dangerous. If your insurance company found out about it, they'd surely be unhappy, and possibly wouldn't cover the resulting fire and loss of life and/or property if things went wrong. Installing a phase coupler in the breaker box is not really rocket science, and as long as you get a UL-listed one, you can feel a lot better about the robustness and safety of the solution.

Here's how to install a phase coupler in your breaker box:

1. Figure out what type of breakers fit in your box and buy two at Home Depot (or equivalent store)
2. *Turn off the main power on the breaker box*
3. Hook the neutral (white) wire of the phase coupler to a free screw terminal on the neutral block. You'll see other white wires hooked up to the other screws.
4. For each of the two black wires on the coupler, hook the wire to the screw on one of the new breakers.
5. Plug the breakers into the box such that they're in adjacent slots. You want one on one phase and the other on the other phase.
6. Mount the phase coupler somewhere outside of the breaker box.
7. Flip the main switch and enjoy your newly improved X-10 performance.

I'm no electrician and even I did this in my last house. It's relatively safe and easy as long as you're careful.

Hope that helps,
Rob

This message was edited by colemanr on 09/03/03 17:51.

This is a BIG NO NO!
Nothing should be in the 'breaker box' except the breakers. The coupler needs to be mounted in an adjacent box. This could cancel your insurance or result in a fine(if discovered).

JMTCW
O

My apologies for the bad information. In my old house, there was quite a bit of space at the bottom of the box, so I didn't think that there would be a problem with the two items sharing space. I stand corrected (and have edited the above post).

Rob

I believe that you must also mechanically couple these two breakers together so that if one trips the other one does as well. These coupling straps will be available at the same place you got the breakers

I am under the impression that a two pole breaker could be used instead of two single pole breakers. This would provide the mechanical coupling as well.

Thanks everyone for your help...If you think of anything else, please let me know. I monitor this site regularly.