Home Automation - GFI and X-10 compatibility
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llion52tw293
07-07-08, 06:43 PM
I installed a GFI circuit breaker in my breaker box. I used it to feed an x-10 controlled outlet. The GFI trips as soon as I turn on the breaker. I ran tests, other GFI,s another x-10 controlled outlet, and am convinced that the leakage current in the x-10 outlet causes the GFI breaker to trip. Would other brands (levitron) have lower leakage current? The outlet I used was made by X-10 PRO.
WDIBAA
07-07-08, 06:47 PM
Googling the above gives 112K hits, so something must be up with this things.
But I can't believe the X-10 people haven't foreseen the use of an upstream GFI.
But I can't believe the X-10 people haven't foreseen the use of an upstream GFI.
HotinOKC
07-07-08, 07:15 PM
Google hits has no relevance. I get 266k hits looking for "eaten hamburgers for sale"........
Read this:
http://www.smarthome.com/solution12.html
It discusses this issue.
Read this:
http://www.smarthome.com/solution12.html
It discusses this issue.
WDIBAA
07-07-08, 08:19 PM
I guess you could check for genuine leakage current in the cable between the GF and X-10 with a milliammeter. If no leakage, then. . .
In other parts of Cyberspace there's a controversy over whether AFCIs trip for no reason.
And if you do a patent search there are new patents that solve the "non-existent problem" of false tripping of AFCIs.
So here is a reputable source independent of the AFCI marketing people which says there is a problem and this source has put considerable money where it's mouth is to solve that problem.
A similar strategy might work here.
Neither the GFI people nor the automation people are interested in raining on their own parade (at least not until they solve this non-existent problem).
How far digested were those hamburgers?
In other parts of Cyberspace there's a controversy over whether AFCIs trip for no reason.
And if you do a patent search there are new patents that solve the "non-existent problem" of false tripping of AFCIs.
So here is a reputable source independent of the AFCI marketing people which says there is a problem and this source has put considerable money where it's mouth is to solve that problem.
A similar strategy might work here.
Neither the GFI people nor the automation people are interested in raining on their own parade (at least not until they solve this non-existent problem).
How far digested were those hamburgers?
llion52tw293
07-09-08, 09:34 AM
I guess you could check for genuine leakage current in the cable between the GF and X-10 with a milliammeter. If no leakage, then. . .
In other parts of Cyberspace there's a controversy over whether AFCIs trip for no reason.
And if you do a patent search there are new patents that solve the "non-existent problem" of false tripping of AFCIs.
So here is a reputable source independent of the AFCI marketing people which says there is a problem and this source has put considerable money where it's mouth is to solve that problem.
A similar strategy might work here.
Neither the GFI people nor the automation people are interested in raining on their own parade (at least not until they solve this non-existent problem).
How far digested were those hamburgers?
I did not measure the leakage current, but I did test out the rest of the circuit by removing the X-10 outlet from the circuit. The GFI did not trip.
In other parts of Cyberspace there's a controversy over whether AFCIs trip for no reason.
And if you do a patent search there are new patents that solve the "non-existent problem" of false tripping of AFCIs.
So here is a reputable source independent of the AFCI marketing people which says there is a problem and this source has put considerable money where it's mouth is to solve that problem.
A similar strategy might work here.
Neither the GFI people nor the automation people are interested in raining on their own parade (at least not until they solve this non-existent problem).
How far digested were those hamburgers?
I did not measure the leakage current, but I did test out the rest of the circuit by removing the X-10 outlet from the circuit. The GFI did not trip.