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dgasmd

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Hunted house from aquacontroller???

I recently set up the AC2 in my system. Was having tons of problems with the unit and programming, but I think those are done now. Still can't tell you why nor can Curt from what we discussed ont he phone yesterday. HOwever, I am still not able to use the unit because it has turned my next door neighbor's house into a hunted house

Yesterday I finally finished the programing again for the 6th time. I connected the unit and it seemed not working right. 1 hour later, my neighbor comes over and asks me if I know anything about electricity because their lights are going nuts in their house. I go over to see what it is to find tha tthe lights all over the house are turning on and off at random and on their own. They said it started the night before last and it has never happened before. I asked them if they had any x-10 or automation equipment in the house and they said no. I looked and some of the light switches are on dimmers, but some are not. I thought maybe it had something to do with the AC2, as unlikely as that was, so I went home and disconnected it. It comepltely stopped the light problem. I still thought that could not be the problem. I went home and got on the phone with Curt who says he has never heard of such a thing or can't possibly think of how it may be happening unless the signals are going out the house and coming back to the pole or source that supplies energy to my neighbor's house. In which case, it may be doing it to the entire neighborhood. I had to redo my entire programming once again after that for other reasons, but as soon as I was done and re-connected the unit to the x-10 stuff, I could see through my windows that my neighbor's lights were doing their hunted house effect again. For the sake or time and not having to get into a machete fight with them, I temporarily disconnected the unit.

ANY IDEAS WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE? Any suggestions on how to fix it? I want to use the unit as I ahve over $500 invested in it, but I don't want to gain an enemy that will cost me more than that by making my neighbors crazy with lights coming on and off. DC-8 and such are not an option!!
 

GSchiemer

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Return it, sell it, or throw it away and get a Sensaphone system (http://sensaphone.com/). I gave up on these X-10 systems a few years ago and I've never looked back. I'll never trust these things to run my pumps, lights or other critical equipment. They're supposed to provide enhanced security, control and automation but all they do is increase the risk of things getting out of control. I've found that the more you rely on automation, the less reliable things become. All you really need is something to monitor basic parameters and alert you if there is a problem.

BTW, ORA uses a Sensaphone system to monitor their fish and coral greenhouses. I've used one for 4 years without a single malfunction. I use it to monitor multiple temperature setpoints, electrical power, unusual noise, and water leaks. It uses a regular telephone landline to call my cell phone (or three other phone numbers) to alert me in the event that anything moves outside my preset parameters. It also has a battery backup, so it continues working without electrical power. They make many models with increasingly sophisticated features. I have the model 1108. I swear by this thing. And the price is right too!

Greg
 

dgasmd

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Greg:

Now you tell me? :? :?

The reason I got this unit is because I can do monitoring, timers, and not only alarms but also turn things off with it too in case the chiller craps out. My chiller runs on its own controller and there is a big fan int he equipment room/garage that runs on its own controller too. This unit is simply acting as a timer for my kalk reactor, timer for my lights, timer for one of the 4 close loop pumps to be off for 6 hours per day rotating among all 4 pumps, and timer for a fan above the lights. Also, I need it to turn the lights, close loop pumps, and skimmer pump off in the case the chiller dies and temps continue to go higher. I did not find any other unit that does the same in one piece.

I looked at the unit you suggested and unless I missed it completely, I don't see any monitoring with it nor do I see any timer features to it. Could you tell me what you can do and monitor with it??

I completely agree with you int hat automation tends to get things more problems than anything else. I had run my systems for years with nothing but $7 timers from walmart and it worked flawlessly. I only monitored with pinpoint meters and never did any controlling of pH or ORP. Had a ranco controller for heaters and fans. All worked perfectly too. Most people I know automate far too much making their system as strong, solid, and reliable as the weakest link in the chain.
 
A

Anonymous

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Can you put a filter on the line so that nothing will get outside of your house?
 
A

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Ask your specific controller's manufactor/salesman for filter that keeps it from interference with each others. If they don't have anything that isolate it from your neighbor's signal, or in your case, isolate your signals from your neighbor, maybe you need to consider other alternatives. You don't want a home automation system that let others to control your devices without authorization. Imagine a burglar plug something into an outdoor socket and disable your alarm?
 

GSchiemer

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dgasmd":1g1syg1j said:
Greg:

Now you tell me? :? :?

The reason I got this unit is because I can do monitoring, timers, and not only alarms but also turn things off with it too in case the chiller craps out. My chiller runs on its own controller and there is a big fan int he equipment room/garage that runs on its own controller too. This unit is simply acting as a timer for my kalk reactor, timer for my lights, timer for one of the 4 close loop pumps to be off for 6 hours per day rotating among all 4 pumps, and timer for a fan above the lights. Also, I need it to turn the lights, close loop pumps, and skimmer pump off in the case the chiller dies and temps continue to go higher. I did not find any other unit that does the same in one piece.

I looked at the unit you suggested and unless I missed it completely, I don't see any monitoring with it nor do I see any timer features to it. Could you tell me what you can do and monitor with it??

I completely agree with you int hat automation tends to get things more problems than anything else. I had run my systems for years with nothing but $7 timers from walmart and it worked flawlessly. I only monitored with pinpoint meters and never did any controlling of pH or ORP. Had a ranco controller for heaters and fans. All worked perfectly too. Most people I know automate far too much making their system as strong, solid, and reliable as the weakest link in the chain.

The Sensaphone model that I use is just a monitor, not a controller. It monitors tank temperature, air temperature, loud or unusual noises, electrical power failure, and has multiple sensors to detect water leaks. It can do many more things, but this is all I need for peace of mind. The unit calls me if anything is out of line. If it can't reach me, it leaves a message and then calls my wife's cell phone. If she doesn't answer, it calls the next phone number, etc. It explains the problem in plain English in a computer voice and let's me listen in on the room. If it ever calls me with a temperature or water alert while I'm away, I just call a neighbor to go check on things. It's virtually fool-proof.

They do make models that offer controller functions but I didn't want that technology. I had the Neptune unit with ALL the bells and whistles (it's someone else's headache now.). :) I tore out all my automated controllers and replaced them with quality mechanical timers. I'm a computer geek and thought all that technology was cool and useful, but I was wrong. It's more trouble than it's worth. No more sleepless nights or nervous vacations for me!

Greg
 

GSchiemer

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Righty":3byrwwqn said:
Greg, what did your unit run?

I paid approximately $350 a few years ago.

The base Model 1104 includes built-in sensors for room temperature, noise, and electrical power. I added a remote temperature probe and water leak sensor. There are many other optional sensors.

I found this retailer through a quick check on Google:

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/detail_pages/FGD1104.html

Greg
 

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