Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Stupid remote lamp controller
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Skramy
11-07-07, 10:35 AM
I'm Baffled.
I have a RadioShack appliance controller. The lamp module plugs into one elec outlet, the controller plugs into another outlet. Thus, I can turn the lamp on & off from another room ANYWHERE in the house. EXCEPT ONE ROOM. It will not work with the module in Room A and the controller in one particular room (Room B) UNLESS I turn on the ceiling light in Room B.??#%&? (I swear it worked once or twice with the ceiling light off but not any more). I have to have the ceiling light on in Room B.
Both units are two prong.
(I have a three prong module = same thing)
I checked all outlets with my yellow circuit tester. All are wired correctly.
I checked with voltmeter. All OK.
There are no GFCI's involved.
Both upper and lower of all 4 outlets in Room B act the same.
The clock radio, nightlight, elec blanket, & vanity lights in Room B all work with the ceiling light off.
The ceiling light switch does NOT turn on/off any of the outlets.
Works OK if both units are in Room B.
I reverse the units = module in Room B, controller in Room A. Works fine then.
But not with module in Room A and controller in Room B UNLESS the ceiling light is on.
What's the deal?
SteveS
I have a RadioShack appliance controller. The lamp module plugs into one elec outlet, the controller plugs into another outlet. Thus, I can turn the lamp on & off from another room ANYWHERE in the house. EXCEPT ONE ROOM. It will not work with the module in Room A and the controller in one particular room (Room B) UNLESS I turn on the ceiling light in Room B.??#%&? (I swear it worked once or twice with the ceiling light off but not any more). I have to have the ceiling light on in Room B.
Both units are two prong.
(I have a three prong module = same thing)
I checked all outlets with my yellow circuit tester. All are wired correctly.
I checked with voltmeter. All OK.
There are no GFCI's involved.
Both upper and lower of all 4 outlets in Room B act the same.
The clock radio, nightlight, elec blanket, & vanity lights in Room B all work with the ceiling light off.
The ceiling light switch does NOT turn on/off any of the outlets.
Works OK if both units are in Room B.
I reverse the units = module in Room B, controller in Room A. Works fine then.
But not with module in Room A and controller in Room B UNLESS the ceiling light is on.
What's the deal?
SteveS
racraft
11-07-07, 11:12 AM
Is the receptacle switched?
core
11-07-07, 07:00 PM
Welcome to the mysteries of powerline signal devices! This is what makes them so "fun".
First of all, if you have a CFL bulb in that ceiling fan temporary replace it with a normal indandescent. This does _not_ sound like your problem -- just best to eliminate that variable while you are doing your testing.
It sounds like the lights and receptacles in room B are on the same circuit? To me it sounds like you have noise being generated by some other device on that circuit. When you switch on the light, the load on the line attenuates the noise somewhat, allowing your controller to work. And yes, it's very likely that it did work a few times even with the light off.
The noise could also be on the circuit for the receptacles in room A but it's sounding more like the B circuit to me.
The source of this noise could be a TV, even if turned off, (common culprit), battery charger, anything with a switching power supply such as a computer, etc. Unplug everything you can from both circuits and test to see that the remote works. Then plug them back in one at a time to see who is at fault.
Once you have found it there are many solutions. I won't get into all of them because some require spending additional money, probably a bit more than that controller cost you.
The easiest thing to do is move the controller and module closer to each other ELECTRICALLY. The noise source will probably end up being between the module and controller, in terms of wiring, and that's what you need to change. If you don't know how your circuits are wired them I'd just say start use the brute force approach and start trying different receptacles. Sometimes a well placed extension cord is a solution too.
Let me know what you find out. If you happen to know what's on which circuit in terms of room A/B that would help too. (And if you don't, don't tell racraft! LOL)
-core
First of all, if you have a CFL bulb in that ceiling fan temporary replace it with a normal indandescent. This does _not_ sound like your problem -- just best to eliminate that variable while you are doing your testing.
It sounds like the lights and receptacles in room B are on the same circuit? To me it sounds like you have noise being generated by some other device on that circuit. When you switch on the light, the load on the line attenuates the noise somewhat, allowing your controller to work. And yes, it's very likely that it did work a few times even with the light off.
The noise could also be on the circuit for the receptacles in room A but it's sounding more like the B circuit to me.
The source of this noise could be a TV, even if turned off, (common culprit), battery charger, anything with a switching power supply such as a computer, etc. Unplug everything you can from both circuits and test to see that the remote works. Then plug them back in one at a time to see who is at fault.
Once you have found it there are many solutions. I won't get into all of them because some require spending additional money, probably a bit more than that controller cost you.
The easiest thing to do is move the controller and module closer to each other ELECTRICALLY. The noise source will probably end up being between the module and controller, in terms of wiring, and that's what you need to change. If you don't know how your circuits are wired them I'd just say start use the brute force approach and start trying different receptacles. Sometimes a well placed extension cord is a solution too.
Let me know what you find out. If you happen to know what's on which circuit in terms of room A/B that would help too. (And if you don't, don't tell racraft! LOL)
-core