.

• First, if you are using a mini-controller, make sure it is working properly by checking the little red light in the upper left corner. It should flash only when you press one of the buttons. Other controllers may not have this indicator so it is always wise to have at least one mini-controller available to test the system.
  
  
• Second, make sure your controller dial is set to the same address as your module. The controller only has a house code dial. The unit code is set by which button you press. Be sure the selector below the buttons has not been moved to the wrong position. If you are using A1 on the appliance module, for example, the selector must set to the left (labeled 1-4) so that the on-off switch labeled 1 will send an A1 signal. Wiggle the dials a bit to make sure that they are firmly set in their detent.
  
  
• If your lamp is turning on and off when you are not using the controller, you may have a neighbor who also has an X10 system and is sending X10 messages to your system. Try using another house code. You will have to change the controller dial and all modules in your system.
  You should know that it is extremely unlikely that X10 devices will turn on and off by themselves. They are designed with good security to prevent such occurrences. If you discover that happening, you are almost certain that an X10 controller in your system or another nearby is causing the malfunction.
  
  
• Some appliances (large screen televisions are often the culprits) can absorb the X10 controller signals so that the receiver never sees the signal and thus doesn't respond. Unfortunately, you must unplug such devices to see if they are offending. Just turning them off does not disable the circuits that absorb X10 signals. Consider any large electronic device a potential problem. Large screen televisions, computers, sound systems are all possibilities. If you find your system works when you unplug these devices you will need to plug each offending device into a filter so that it will be isolated from the X10 signals. Look for a unit like the FILTERLINC 5-AMP PLUG-IN NOISE FILTER. Use a power line filter that is designed specifically for X10 as other filters may not work.
  
  
• Some appliances generate electrical noise that can confuse X10 devices. Such appliances include motors (mostly the noisy type like blenders, vacuums, and drills) and fluorescent lights. These appliances only cause a problem when they are running, so just shut them off and see if your system works. Plugging these appliances into a power line filter should solve the problem. You may need a higher current filter for many of these appliances since motors in vacuums and similar appliances may draw 15 amps or more.
  
  
• Some wireless intercoms conflict with X10 signals and can not be used with X10 systems.
  
  

Finally, check for a phase crossover problem

Most modern houses are wired with two 110 volt circuits (often called phases). About half your lights and outlets will be on one phase and half on the other phase. Unfortunately X10 signals do not easily cross from one phase to the other. If your system doesn't work, the problem is probably because the controller is plugged into one phase and the module into the other phase. Since outlets in any one room are normally on the same phase, you should not have this problem with a simple system within a single room but if your controller is in another room there is an almost 50-50 chance that you will have the problem. To check for this problem try plugging your controller into other outlets. There is almost no sure and safe way to check if two outlets are on the same phase but if you plug your controller into the same duplex outlet as your appliance module you can be sure that they are one the same phase and determine if both these units are working properly. Phase crossover is one of the most common problems and various solutions are available depending on the particular situation.

A complete discussion of these solutions is on our phase crossover page.

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