Remote signal failing

[DuaneD]

I am on my second wireless remote control. The signal gets progressively weaker over time. Have tried new batteries to no avail. Does anyone have an explanation why this occurs? It's not that the remote does not work, it's just that the switch fob over time must be closer and closer to the receiver to work...

Is it that the 110v relay require too much "power" for standard wireless switching products such that I need to look for a more "commercial" type of equipment? If so, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Duane

[bababrown]

DuaneD,
I do not know what the problem is but the relay coil takes 6.5 Volt Amps which is insignificant. It's not relay coil power.
bababrown

[Crafted]

Did you try a bigger antenna? Don't know of that would make any difference either.

Are you on the X10 system? I just got the slimfire remotes and appliance module thing. Tried it with a light bulb in the shop to test it and it seemed quite finicky, as in it hardly worked! Brought it home, plugged it in and it works great with no delay turning the bulb on or off. I just found out I have three phase power in the shop (o happy day indeed!! Hello new tools! This is after owning the place for almost a year too). Would that be any reason the remote doesn't seem to work at all there?

[Matt]

Hi,

Crafted the x-10 stuff is finicky most of the time for alot of people and i believe alot of the problems stem from floresent lighting being in the vicinity of the switch and maybe that's the difference between your shop and house. It could be some other interference though.

Duane are you using the heavy duty remote that we used to sell? Or something from Ace or big box store? I don't know what could be causing the problem and my suggestion would be to return and try a different brand. Do you have the receiver in a closet with the cyclone? If so maybe you could route the wiring so as to get a better line of sight(I know they don't need line of sight-but they do work better when they have it). The Coil of the relay doesn't draw enough power to interfere with the remote or I wouldn't think it would.

Matt

[McRabbet]

I would recommend the Shop Fox Remote available from several sources like Grizzly (H2797 (http://www.grizzly.com/products/Remote-Control-110V-75-Range/H2797) for $39.95) or Klingspor's Woodworking Shop (http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-bin/9E8F9898/mac/additmdtl.mac/showItemDetail?item=WK30380&qtyA=0&phsO=N&desc=110V%20REMOTE%20DUST%20COLLECTOR%20SWITCH&drpshp=N&alOrd=Y&iQty=.000&oQty=.000&initQty=1&assortParent=N&itemForSale=Y&styleName=&fixD=&face=.00&gftc=&stck=Y&prefS=&calledFrom=DS&ordInfo1=&ordInfo2=&ordInfo3=&ordMan1=N&ordMan2=N&ordMan3=N&persCode=&persReqd=&persLink=%20&shipRemaining=0&daysBetween=0&daysBetweenFix=0&monthsBetween=0) at $44.95. I've had one for nearly 10 years and it transmits reliably through my shop floor to my DC installed in my crawl space. The transmitters (2 supplied) use 9-volt batteries that last forever.

http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg288/h/h2797.jpg (http://www.grizzly.com/products/H2797/images/)

[Crafted]

Does that remote work with a master on/off switch? I have the x10 on/off switch installed and it works. The only me and the electrician are not sure about is how to use both the remote and the master switch together. More as a backup plan that if the remote should fail or whatever that I can still shut it down with a switch. With that said, should I get a different on/off switch then the x10 one? I realize it must because of the flourescents in the shop that the remotes don't work. Man that sucks!

[McRabbet]

I'm not familiar with x10 systems, but the remote I recommended above simply plugs into a standard 120 V outlet for its power and the power cord to the H230B Contactor coil plugs into the side of the Remote base unit (I used a 16 Ga. extension cord with the female end cut off and GB 21-143F 16-14 Female Disconnects crimped to the ends of the black & white leads and then to the male lugs on the coil of the H230B). The Outlet you use to power the Remote Control can be on a switch to turn off the Remote and thus the power to the DC Contactor. Mine has never failed in nearly 10 years of use for three different applications ranging up to about 8 amps of power load (Shop Vacs, a 1 HP DC and now the H230B Contactor).

[DuaneD]

Hi,

Crafted the x-10 stuff is finicky most of the time for alot of people and i believe alot of the problems stem from floresent lighting being in the vicinity of the switch and maybe that's the difference between your shop and house. It could be some other interference though.

Duane are you using the heavy duty remote that we used to sell? Or something from Ace or big box store? I don't know what could be causing the problem and my suggestion would be to return and try a different brand. Do you have the receiver in a closet with the cyclone? If so maybe you could route the wiring so as to get a better line of sight(I know they don't need line of sight-but they do work better when they have it). The Coil of the relay doesn't draw enough power to interfere with the remote or I wouldn't think it would.

Matt
The original remote was the one supplied with the system I purchased from you in early 2009. It worked great until is suddenly began losing range. You kindly replaced it with a GE model but this replacement is doing the same thing.

My shop is built inside a barn and the cyclone is outside the shop (about 10') but still inside a building. I like the design of the Shop Fox remote (McRabbet recommends) because it has an external antenna. Perhaps I'll try that. Some part of the remote is failing because it works like a charm initially but eventually fails.

Duane