X-10 Signal Measurement
Ken Griffiths
Has anyone built up a "filter" network to watch the X-10 signals on a scope?
I would really like to get a good measurement of strength, as well as look
for interference.
I'm in the process of rewiring alot of the house and changing over from a
CP290 to a HCS II system. Along the way the X-10 performance became even
more erratic. I was going to blame my learning the HCS II, but I still
have problems with it out of the picture.
I can test the outlets using a 523 and Universal module on a plug strip.
(The 523 will indicate signals when the module will not respond.) I get a
go/no-go/maybe indication which seems to be related to the phase of the
moon. The wall switches are harder.
Thanks,
Ken
--
Ken Griffiths, Research Engineer k...@utig.ig.utexas.edu
Institute for Geophysics, The University of Texas at Austin
Eldon Ziegler
Ken Griffiths wrote:
>
> Has anyone built up a "filter" network to watch the X-10 signals on a scope?
> I would really like to get a good measurement of strength, as well as look
> for interference.
>
> I'm in the process of rewiring alot of the house and changing over from a
> CP290 to a HCS II system. Along the way the X-10 performance became even
> more erratic. I was going to blame my learning the HCS II, but I still
> have problems with it out of the picture.
>
> I can test the outlets using a 523 and Universal module on a plug strip.
> (The 523 will indicate signals when the module will not respond.) I get a
> go/no-go/maybe indication which seems to be related to the phase of the
> moon. The wall switches are harder.
reference manual contains a design for one you can build. It uses their
CP000 passive coupler to pick off the X-10 signal.
Line 1 meg ohmn
AC <------------------+---------^^^^^^---+-------------------O--> To
scope
Neutral | 100 K | --------|
AC <--------------+--------+-----^^^^^^--- |
| | | |
| | ---------------------------
| | -------------
| | | |
| ---------| |--------------+--O--> To
scope
| | CP000 | 100 K | |
-------------| |--+---^^^^^^--- |
| | | |
------------- ----------------
BE CAREFUL OF THAT 1 MEG OHMN DIRECT TO THE AC HOT LINE!
ACT's number is 800-886-2281.
Eldon Ziegler
HomAtion Systems
http://www.homation.com
Actpccpek
In article <ken-270796...@newshost.cc.utexas.edu>,
k...@utig.ig.utexas.edu (Ken Griffiths) writes:
>Has anyone built up a "filter" network to watch the X-10 signals on a
scope?
>I would really like to get a good measurement of strength, as well as
look
>for interference.
I have built 4 of them and my company builds a version for our
representatives. Since they are not UL rated and not really intended for
resale, it is best that you build your own. Below is a simplified diagram
(best when viewed in non-proportional font) that shows the line being
split into two paths. One path goes through a voltage divider (about
20:1) so that it can be used on a 'scope that has its highest volts/div as
5v. That goes into input "A" on the 'scope. Now you can adjust your
sweep speed to 2ms/div (or if you want only one sine wave, set it to
1ms/div and then adjust the fine sweep knob). The X-10 signal is present
but will be so small (in relative terms) that you will not be able to see
it. It is there, superimposed on the 60Hz line, but too small to see. In
order to exaggerate the X-10 signal, the second path goes through a simple
1:1 passive coupler (of course, I use the ACT part number CP000) and then
across a 100 ohm resistor and into the "B" input on the 'scope.
polarized---(line)---+----[2meg-ohm]---+--->BNC Center pin
| / to oscope A
2-prg plug--(neut)-+---+--[100k-ohm]-/
| | \------------------>BNC outer grnd
| |
| ---\ /-----+----->BNC Center pin
| CP000 100 ohm to oscope B
-----/ \-----+----->BNC outer grnd
This device, when used with a dual trace oscilloscope, will display the
X-10 signal, its relationship with the 60Hz sine wave plus any noise
within the range that most effects X-10 systems (80kHz-150kHz). If you
attend our next PCC class (Dallas, Aug 15-16) I will even show you how to
use it.
Good luck and all standard disclaimers apply. Don't electrocute yourself,
I would feel real bad about that. -Phil K.
ACT PCC PEK -----> Phillip E. Kingery | Nothing contained herein is
| `--> Powerline Control Components | to be construed as creating
`-> Advanced Control Technologies,Inc | any liability or engineering
Opinions are based on the information | responsibility on behalf of
at hand & worth what you pay for them. | ACT. Fax# 317-337-0200 USA
July 29, 1996
12:27 pm
Buster
On Sat, 27 Jul 1996 11:52:58 -0500, k...@utig.ig.utexas.edu (Ken Griffiths)
wrote:
>Has anyone built up a "filter" network to watch the X-10 signals on a scope?
>I would really like to get a good measurement of strength, as well as look
>for interference.
>
You can use an A/C operated AM radio to pick the signals up. Just tune to an
open spot on the band and have a listen. If you want a better idea of the
relative signal strength, you could hook a scope up in the audio chain, before
the volume control, or even across the speaker.
Checking the signal at the same outlet that it's being sent from should give
you a good reference for full scale.
Never tried the scope bit, but I have used a radio to do some debugging.
DO be careful hooking the scope up, depending on the radio's design, things
could be hot in there!!
Lou
Actpccpek
In article <31FCE4...@homation.com>, my buddy Eldon Ziegler
<homa...@homation.com> (who has a very nice hotel software package for
X-10 control) writes:
> I'm not aware of anyone that makes a commercial version
> [of an oscilloscope test box] but the ACT reference manual
> contains a design for one you can build.
Trying to draw the diagram for the test box only in ASCII characters is
difficult at best. If I had known that Eldon was going to do such a nice
job, I wouldn't have done mine. (His looks nicer than my drawing,
anyway.)
-Phil K.
ACT PCC PEK -----> Phillip E. Kingery | Nothing contained herein is
| `--> Powerline Control Components | to be construed as creating
`-> Advanced Control Technologies,Inc | any liability or engineering
Opinions are based on the information | responsibility on behalf of
at hand & worth what you pay for them. | ACT. Fax# 317-337-0200 USA
July 30, 1996
9:43 am
Barry L. Lankford
Ken Griffiths wrote:
>
> Has anyone built up a "filter" network to watch the X-10 signals on a scope?
> I would really like to get a good measurement of strength, as well as look
> Ken Griffiths, Research Engineer k...@utig.ig.utexas.edu
> Institute for Geophysics, The University of Texas at Austin
One thing I've been meaning to try (but haven't yet gotten a round tuit) is
to take parts from a dead X10 module to make a 'scope signal coupler. It
is hard to be specific since not everyone will have the same dead modules
(and some lucky ones might not any at all), but many modules have a tunable
transformer with a 1000pF mylar cap (for tuning), two back-to-back diodes
and a 68K resistor across the secondary and a .68uF capacitor coupling the
primary to the "hot" wire. If that part of the circuit were left intact
and all of the rest removed, you could wire a BNC connector to the
circuitry on the secondary (shield to one side and pin to other side
through a 33pF cap). You might also add a small transformer to step the
AC down to 5 to 15 VAC to use as a 'sync' signal to the scope. It might
be desirable to touch up the tuning of the transformer using an X10
controller as a signal source. Since I haven't actually gotten around to
trying this, I don't know if the one tuned circuit will be sufficient to
adequately separate the X10 signal, but it certainly seems like it is
worth trying.
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! I disavow any liability if anyone tries this
and damages anything including him- or herself.
One day when I feel like working on my homepage, I might draw this up and
make it available as a GIF file.
--
Barry L. Lankford email: Bar...@HiWAAY.net Amateur Radio: N4MSJ
Madison, Alabama, USA ICBM: 34deg 41min 52.2sec N, 86deg 45min 34.2sec W
WWW Homepage: http://fly.HiWAAY.net/~barryl/index.html (under construction)