X10 question

I have had my aquacontroller for a while now but have left my lights on timers, and I decided tonight that it was time to try setting everything up automatic through the aquacontroller.

Well here is the deal. My VHO's will stick on. They get sent the "off" command, turn off, then seconds later "click" back on. I send the "off" command manually from the aquacontroller,  they click off, then seconds later click back on by themselves. The aquacontroller isnt sending the "on" command, at least the indicator light on the interface module doesnt indicate that it is. I have tried difference house codes, difference numbers, difference appliance modules, all with the same effect.  The only thing that I can come up with is that I am using 2 prong appliance modules -- do they need three prong appliance modules to work properly? If so - does anyone have a three prong I could borrow to test that theory so that I dont wast money upgrading to three prong for nothing?

Thanks for the help -

Shane

Brian! Havent talked or heard from you in a while! How is everything going?

Sure I would love to borrow one if you have a 3 prong. I am open whenever you can make it up here - just give me a time and a day.

Thanks!

Shane,

Sorry it took so long to answer.  I have seen this problem before.  Most likely the solenoid or whatever you are using to turn the lights on/off has a 5 volt "threshhold", you need a solenoid that has a higher "threshhold".  The threshhold voltage is what is turning your lights back on.  If you got your aquacontroller from MSM, talk to Randy and he'll get you set up correctly.  If not, talk to Randy anyway!

The technical answer is way to involved for me to write it out.  I am not too good at explaining in writing what is happening.  And for a non-electrical person, Randy Olsen does a terrific job of explaining it.  And he knows from experience what is happening to you and why.

Good luck!

Ok I fixed it. There is something called "Local control", where the X10 module has built in circuitry to turn itself on when it detects that the unit that it is controlling has been manually turned on. Well I guess electronic ballasts has some voltage that is running constantly on the line, and so the x10 module thinks that it was manually turned on. Anyway, you can take the module apart and snip a trace on the circuit board, and voila! It works. If anyone else has this problem I can quickly show them how to fix it.

Thanks for everyones help!

So you no longer need the 3 prong ones?  I'll go ahead and leave them home then.  Let me know if you need anything else.

Brian