EZX10RF stops working . . .

[Anonymous]

#40138

I am having an on going problem with an EZX10RF (labelled on the back with 01.7E.0A, which I assume might be the firmware version). This unit was purchased from Smarthome on 6-26-09, however, repeated attempts with them has not solved the problem. Initially, the unit worked perfectly. Now, it works for several days then locks up (LED goes bright and steady) or goes “dead” (LED goes out completely). Coming back on is pretty much a guessing game – sometimes it comes back on after being unplugged for 24 hours, at other times it takes several days before the unit’s LED comes back on, plugged in or unplugged. Right now the LED is off and has been for about 48 hours. I would really love to solve this problem as the EZX10RF is the cornerstone of my security lighting. Is there a solution to this problem? (I program manually, not via a PC.)

[Anonymous]

#42571

01.7E.0A is its Insteon address not its firmware version.
Sounds like Smarthome should replace it as locking up for day at a time is not right.

[Anonymous]

#42572

I am a little concerned about the symptoms you describe. Pulling the plug on the EZX10RF for a few minutes is more than enough time for the power supply to drain off. Should make no difference whether you plug it back in then or 24 hours later. I’m thinking that something else may be involved. A noisy powerline, or perhaps one of the X10 devices is flooding the EZX10RF with signals. Have there been any changes associated with the powerline, a new appliance, existing appliances being used in a different manor. Do you have a way of monitoring the X10/Insteon traffic on the powerline? If so that might show unusual activity from one of the X10 RF or wired devices. If monitoring the powerline is not an option, then try turning off each of the X10 devices for a period of time and see if that has any affect on the end result. Also can you detail what your configuration looks like. What X10 devices, how many, are you using X10 RF or powerline signals to control Insteon devices, etc.

[Anonymous]

#42573

Thanks grif091 – I am beginning to think that I might have been experiencing a compounding of problems. First of all, the factory has just replaced my EZX10RF. With the new unit, I was able to quickly program it to receive a signal from one of my EagleEye motion sensors to turn on one of my ICON wall switches. It worked fine last night, they this morning it did not work – the EagleEye would not turn on the switch and the EZX10RF was blinking randomly, which to me seems to indicate that it was receiving signals from something. Then, later this morning, it is working again. So now I am going to start removing switches in the reverse order that I installed them to see if I can eliminate the problem. But I have a few questions for you: you said “perhaps one of the X10 devices is flooding the EZX10RF with signals.” Could this be an ICON switch? I also have an ICON 2856S3 ON/OFF adapter that is plugged into a GFI outlet. Could the GFI be a problem? Also, you asked “What X10 devices, how many, are you using X10 RF or powerline signals to control Insteon devices, etc.? Here is my configuration: 3 EagleEye X10 motion sensors (while trouble shooting I am only using one); to 1 EZX10RF, plugged in; to 4 ICON wall switches, wired in and 1 ICON on/off adapter, plugged in, which turns on a lamp. Any suggestions? (I have started taking one unit at a time offline – unplugged or unwired.)

[Anonymous]

#42574

The LED on the EZX10RF blinks when it is receiving an X10 RF signal and writing that X10 message on the powerline or writing the Insteon On/Off Group command sequence for the Insteon device that has been linked to the specific X10 code. The LED also blinks when it detects Insteon or X10 traffic on the powerline originating from another device. This is the less likely possibility in your case. It would be apparent if the LED was blinking when you pressed the ICON paddle.

Are you using X10 or Insteon messages to actually turn On/Off the ICON switch? If X10 the two X10 messages are sent from the EZX10RF in the blind with no expectation of a response from the ICON switch. If the ICON switch was linked to the EZX10RF when the X10 code was established from the EagleEye, then the EZX10RF will retry the Insteon command to the ICON switch several times until it receives an ACK from the ICON switch or the max retry count is exceeded.

You did not mention any cross phase coupling device(s) when you described your configuration. What that should be depends on whether you are using X10 or Insteon messages to control the Insteon devices. The ICON wall switch could be on the opposite 120v leg to where the EZX10RF device is plugged in making powerline communication intermittent. Without explicit phase coupling you are dependent on a 240v appliance to provide that coupling. An electric hot water heater, an electric dryer, etc. to get the powerline signals from one 120v leg to the other. Works okay when the appliance is on, fails altogether or is intermittent when the appliance is not on. As a test you can try plugging the EZX10RF into a circuit that you know is on the same 120v leg as the ICON switch.

Don’t know about plugging an Insteon device into a GFCI protected circuit. I would worry about that only if that is the only device you are having problems controlling.

The two primary questions, are you using X10 or Insteon messages from the EZX10RF to control the ICON wall switch; what if any cross phase coupling do you use?

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