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Shop > Climate Control > Residential PC Home Control Systems > RCS X10 , UPB, Z-Wave, and RS-485 Communicating Thermostats > MM2LS-800
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PCS SceneMaster MultiModule Lighting Controller
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This product has been discontinued.
Product Overview
Powerline Control Systems is proud to introduce the MM2 Multi-Modules. These two circuit plug-in circuit lighting controllers are available in two versions: the MM2L/S-800 powers two dimming circuits, 800 watts total, 800 watts per circuit maximum, and the MM2F/S-15 has two non-dimming outputs of 15 amps total, 15 amps per circuit maximum.
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PCS SceneMaster Frequently Asked Questions
SCENEMASTER SYSTEM
SM1: Do all PCS products require a Neutral wire?
SM2: What is the SceneMaster System?
SM3: Why would I use the flashing mode (Ramp Rate 16)?
SM4: Can I use the flashing mode as an indicator?
SM5: Why would I want to disable a channel from a scene?
SM6: How would I use a Pathway scene?
SM7: What is the difference between Master Scene Enable and a Channel Enable?
SM8: Why change the receive level?
SM9: My PCS receiver does not respond to X-10 commands?
SM10: The LED indicator and lighting circuit is not working?
SM11: The LED indicator is on, but the light cannot be controlled by a transmitter?
SM12: Why does my PCS product blink different colors sometimes?
SM13: Why can't I use a Minicontroller to program SceneMaster products?
SMARTSWITCH
SS1: My lights start to flicker as it dims off?
LIGHTING MODULE
LM1: I can't find the Program Button. Where is it?
MULTI-MODULE
MM1: The MM2 pulls out of the wall too easily.
SCENEMASTER SYSTEM
SM1: Do all PCS products require a Neutral wire?
Yes. The SmartSwitches and the Lighting Modules require a Neutral wire for normal operation. The Multi-modules plug into a standard wall outlet which automatically has the ground connection.
SM2: What is the SceneMaster System?
The SceneMaster System triggers any group of lights to immediately proceed to their lighting level with an ordinary X-10 command. This means that a single X-10 command like "D1 ON" can cause your dining room lights to simultaneously go to their preset level. Another command like "B1 ON" can set your bedroom lights to their respective lighting levels. All lights can be can be individually set to their own brightness level.
SM3: Why would I use the flashing mode (Ramp Rate 16)?
If a security scene address is transmitted as a result of an alarm condition or a person pressing "911", you can have selected lights start flashing. Usually, strategic lights like the front or back outside lights should start flashing to guide emergency personnel to the house or scare away the intruders.
SM4: Can I use the flashing mode as an indicator?
Yes. You can use this mode to flash the lights to indicate that the security system has been armed or disarmed. The user can see this from the driveway. To do this you would turn the flashing scene on after the security alarm is set and several seconds later turn the flashing scene off.
SM5: Why would I want to disable a channel from a scene?
As an example, an LM4 Lighting Module (four-circuit module) has one channel (CH1) that controls a porch light and the other three channels control three lights in a dining room. If you could not disable CH 1 from the dining room scenes you would have to choose a lighting level for each scene, (ON, OFF, or some middle level). It's clear that we do not wish the porch light to change when we select a dining room scene. A LM4 module has only 16 scenes that affect all four circuits (unless disabled). One or more circuits can be disabled from one or more scenes. See the programming section for Scene Disables
SM6: How would I use a Pathway scene?
As an example, a customer wants a night path from his bed to the refrigerator. You choose Scene 5 (default address is P5) to produce this Pathway scene (Scenes 5-8 are reserved as pathway scenes although any scene can be used for any purpose). If there are 40 circuits in the house and this scene P5 uses only 6 of the circuits, the other 34 must be disabled otherwise they will respond to P5 and would have to change to some predetermined levels.
SM7: What is the difference between Master Scene Enable and a Channel Enable?
The Master Scene Enable capability is accessed in the Mode 5 programming mode and acts as a master enable allowing the entire module to respond or disregard scene control. The Channel Enable (Mode 3) programs a single channel to respond or disregard a single scene address
SM8: Why change the receive level?
In a residential noise-free environment where signals may have low voltages, a 12-mV level may be sufficient as a threshold. If there is excessive noise or strong signals from other homes, a 100mV or 200mV setting may help filter out the noise and still accept the signal.
SM9: My PCS receiver does not respond to X-10 commands?
Reasons for transmission failure of X-10 commands can get complicated. Please refer to question G1 to understand the most probable reasons X-10 signals will not work.
It is relatively simple, however, to determine if the PCS product is at fault or if a valid X-10 transmission has been sent. Check to see if the LED on the product is lighting up or if it responds at all to X-10. If the LED does not blink after any X-10 transmissions, then check to see if other X-10 products are responding. Replace the product and see if the new product will work.
Make sure to check if the correct addresses are being sent to the PCS products. The PCS products, however, will blink green for a moment if the PCS sees a recognized X-10 address (a primary address or scene addresses), and will blink off for a moment when it sees a valid, but unrecognized X-10 address.
It is possible that due to heavy attenuation, the X-10 signal could be so low that it is not strong enough to be seen by the PCS product. In cases like these, the receive level of the PCS product can be lowered to levels that would accept the low X-10 transmission. Just go to Mode 5 and then key "9" to call up the receive level setting. The default setting is 4, or 50mV. Place the setting to 1 and work your way up.
It always better to improve and increase the X-10 transmission than to lower the receive level of the products. X-10 signals can be improved utilizing coupler/repeaters to boost the signal and filter to isolate sources with detrimental effects.
A test tool from Monterey Instruments called the Signal Analyzer is an excellent troubleshooting aid in determining what X-10 address was sent and how strong it was. The tool can also measure the noise level of the environment to help find the correct receive level.
SM10: The LED indicator and lighting circuit is not working?
These are strong indications that there is no power being supplied to the product. Check if the circuit breaker is connected or a ground fault interrupter has been reset.
SM11: The LED indicator is on, but the light cannot be controlled by a transmitter?
If the LED indicator is on, then the unit is getting AC power. For the light to be controlled by a transmitter, the product must have all internal components properly working and a valid X-10 command must be properly received.
First, test if the light turns on and off at all, by controlling the AC power to the PCS unit. If the light turns on, this proves the internal components are working. Now let's test the X-10 part. The PCS LED should respond to any X-10 signal transmitted (momentary green for the primary address or any scene addresses, or momentary blank for any other X-10 addresses). Try another X-10 transmitter source closer to the PCS unit and see if it works. An excellent test tool is the Signal Analyzer from Monterey Instruments. It will display what X-10 command is being sent and what signal level it is. It also can tell you what the noise level is. If the X-10 signal is too weak, then maybe you should install a coupler/repeater. If the line noise is too high, then a filter on the noise source should isolate the problem.
SM12: Why does my PCS product blink different colors sometimes?
The tricolor LED (green/red/orange) indicates what X10 signals are on the electrical line. This is valuable for trouble-shooting as an indication of proper system operation. The table below shows the meaning of the various LED colors.
SM13: Why can't I use a Minicontroller to program SceneMaster products?
The Minicontroller is a simpler version of the Maxicontroller. The Minicontroller can send addresses containing the device code (number) up to 8. It cannot send any any signals using the numbers 9 to 16. SceneMaster programming uses all numbers up to 16.The Maxicontroller can send the full complement of X10 signals.
The second reason is that SceneMaster programming requires an address only signal. The Minicontroller sends an address followed by an On or Off command automatically. The Maxicontroller, however, can send an address only signal.
SMARTSWITCH
SS1: My lights start to flicker as it dims off?
Overload conditions can make SmartSwitches flicker when lights are ramping on or off. Check the total wattage of the loads and determine that it is within the capability of the switch's power output. Also consider the heat being conducted from adjacent switches in the mulitgang boxes. Excessive heat may reduce the power provided by the switches. Inadvertent shorting of wires can also cause overload conditions. Check the current (amperage) being delivered out of the switch.
LIGHTING MODULE
LM1: I can't find the Program Button?
The Program Button was originally located on the Lighting Module face next to the Status LED. The Program Button is now located underneath the module. If you are facing the module and the Power Button is on the top face the button, then the Program Button is on the bottom face of the module roughly two inches from the right side of the Lighting module.
MULTI-MODULE
MM1: The MM2 pulls out of the wall too easily.
The Multi-Module is intended to be securely screwed into the wall and the user should not be able to pull out the MM2. The installer should first take out the cover plate of the outlet. Then the installer should screw the MM2 into the outlet using the the screw that comes with the MM2.
TROUBLESHOOTING HOME AUTOMATION
G1: PLC Signal Transmission Problems?
At PCS, we take a special interest at the reasons why a system using our products may not work as expected. Even though we do not design or manufacture transmitters, we are familiar with the leading sources which could be problematic to an X-10 application. We've come to the conclusion that two main reasons are to blame. These are signal strength and noise.
The reduction of a signal between the transmitter and receiver are a function of the "electrical distance" from one point to the other. The most likely causes reducing X-10 signals include transmissions crossing from one phase to another, capacitive effects suppressing voltage spikes found in powerstrips and appliances, and lengthy wire runs found in large homes. Solutions for low signal levels include using plug-in filters to isolate capacitive "signal sinking" loads such as power strips, using phase couplers / repeaters to enhance transmissions between phases, and, if possible, keeping the X-10 system on one phase of the house.
Excessive noise emanating from loads such as baby monitors and computers can drown out a valid signal since the receiver will not see the transmission. The solution is to locate the noisy source and isolate it with a plug-in filter
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PCS SceneMaster Setup Software
Powerline Control Systems has released a Windows based software tool that enables users to efficiently setup and record scene lighting systems using the complete line of PCS SceneMaster Lighting products. Previously the only way to setup and program PCS SceneMaster products was to perform a cumbersome button-pressing series of programming steps using a manual device such as the X10 Maxi-controller. The new SceneMaster Setup Tool incorporates the following features:
- Works with all PCS Version 2 and Version 3 including SS1L Wall Switches, MM2 Plug-in Modules and LM1 and LM4 2000W
- Wire-in Power Modules.
- Easily program up to 16 Scenes and Ramp Rates in all PCS modules.
- Set primary ramp-rate, receive level and many other parameters.
- Enable or Disable response to All Lights On and All Units Off.
- Will work with X10/IBM Active Home Serial Interface (CM11A) or Marrick LynX-10 Serial Interface.
- All settings are saved in Back-up File and can be printed out in Hard-copy Print Out Form.
- Built-in X10 General Purpose Transmitter Keypad, for testing or programming.
- Built-in X10 Receive/Transmit Log function to watch powerline or test transmitters.
- Job information section in file to record both Contractor Information and Customer Information.
- Will store old settings into new devices.
- Customer Notes section to store comments and history of job.
This Software is FREE. For all users the software is designed to greatly simplify the use of the SceneMaster Lighting Systems components. Because all device settings, including all scene information, are stored in non-volatile EEPROM memory we believe this software will finally enable the average contractor and end-user to take full advantage of the powerful capabilities of the SceneMaster Lighting products.
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