GuyBooth Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I have an XPCP X-10 Pro Passive Phase Coupler from a time when I used X-10 devices. Will it technically work well enough on an Insteon system so I will not have to purchase a 2406H? (I want to ignore the wireless access points solution for this question).
larryllix Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I wired one connected between my PLM receptacle and with lees than three feet of wire from the distribution box. It seems to work well to pass the X10 signals from phase to phase but with the Insteon signals....? I have enough dual-band signal repeating units to never know if it does anything. Since the signals are close enough in frequency the thought is it will work well with Insteon, also. With about 20 units and an PV co-generating inverter on one phase making electrical noise when the sun shines I get the odd device comm failure less than one per month. Some of my X10 units will not work at the 100' feet of cable end of the house but the Insteon always works everywhere.
TJF1960 Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I have an XPCP X-10 Pro Passive Phase Coupler from a time when I used X-10 devices. Will it technically work well enough on an Insteon system so I will not have to purchase a 2406H? (I want to ignore the wireless access points solution for this question). Technically it will pass insteon signals just fine. I used one (actually it is still in my panel). I found that the signal isnt as strong on the phase it passes to especially if there are more signal suckers on that side but it does work. Depends on the size of the house, distance of wires and amount of signal suckers. I would try it, worst case you have to add powered phase couplers. Tim
stusviews Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 INSTEON powerline (131.65 kHz) and X10 powerline (120 kHz) signals are close enough so that a coupler for either one is just as effective for the other.
Brian H Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) The XPCP has a tuned coupling transformer in it. Depending on how narrow a frequency it couples. It may not be as efficient with the 131.65 KHz Insteon frequency as the 120 KHz X10 frequency. I would suspect it would work fine. Edited August 10, 2014 by Brian H
GuyBooth Posted August 10, 2014 Author Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) INSTEON powerline (131.65 kHz) and X10 powerline (120 kHz) signals are close enough so that a coupler for either one is just as effective for the other. The XPCP has a tuned coupling transformer in it. Depending on how narrow a frequency it couples. It may not be as efficient with the 131.65 KHz Insteon frequency as the 120 KHz X10 frequency. I would suspect it would work fine. Thanks for everyone's responses. I will install the XPCP. I can always replace it later with the 2406H, but I also have a couple of access points, so I'm not anticipating any problems. For anyone who is interested I found this article very informative: http://jvde.us/x10/x10_couplers.htm Edited August 10, 2014 by GuyBooth
paulbates Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 I've used both. I got a measurable improvement when I added the insteon coupler.Fair to say that both work, but the insteon coupler works better for me. I have it and the insteon coupler plugged into the same box at the panel
Xathros Posted August 11, 2014 Posted August 11, 2014 I wired one connected between my PLM receptacle and with lees than three feet of wire from the distribution box. It seems to work well to pass the X10 signals from phase to phase but with the Insteon signals....? I have enough dual-band signal repeating units to never know if it does anything. Since the signals are close enough in frequency the thought is it will work well with Insteon, also. With about 20 units and an PV co-generating inverter on one phase making electrical noise when the sun shines I get the odd device comm failure less than one per month. Some of my X10 units will not work at the 100' feet of cable end of the house but the Insteon always works everywhere. Larry- You may be able to tell by your hops left count. If you get comms from the PLM to "powerline only" items on the opposite phase with 2 hops left, likely the wired coupler is working. Using an RF bridge will cost you one hop. -Xathros
larryllix Posted August 11, 2014 Posted August 11, 2014 Larry- You may be able to tell by your hops left count. If you get comms from the PLM to "powerline only" items on the opposite phase with 2 hops left, likely the wired coupler is working. Using an RF bridge will cost you one hop. -Xathros Thanks! With only the occasional comm failure I haven't needed to spend the time to understand all the cryptic hexadecanimals yet. Mosty I only see Don and val d'offing and hopping with each other and having INST-SRX , so far.
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