Hi. I’m using an Intermatic CA3500 to control a high power relay. It keeps turning itself back on seemingly due to it’s load sensing feature. Is there a way to turn off the load sensing feature?
I’ve seen some other people say that “parameter 29” works for their device. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.
More generally, I’m new to Zwave controllable devices. Is there a repository of APIs to devices somewhere? I haven’t been able to find anything on the manufacturer’s web site (or anywhere else) about what the specific capabilities and parameters may be used for.
Thank you for your reply, however, I don’t think that thread answered my question. I had already tried setting parameter #29 to no avail. I’m wondering if it’s a different parameter for the CA3500 (perhaps 29 is unique to the GE)??
prolly…
most of the manifacturers use the same parameters throughout there product-range so is intermatic so it seems obvious it would be the same parameter . i tried finding some info on the device but it doesnt show any parameters in the manuals nor on some website
you might wanna ask here n see if they know [url=http://www.smarthomeusa.com/info/customer_service/#Technical]http://www.smarthomeusa.com/info/customer_service/#Technical[/url]
another idea might be using a opto-copler to separate the mains from the switchingpart
Thanks. I bought it from Automated Outlet and I have an email in to them; failing that, I’ll call tech support for Intermatic tomorrow during business hours. I’ll post whatever I learn.
that be great to help out yourself as well as others that might run into this problem. hope it can be solved… i see they have 220v equipment also … alas no EU frequenty
So, I contacted Intermatic. They said that they had no documentation regarding any type of parameter setting; nor was there anything that resembles an API to the device.
I mentioned that whenever there’s a load applied to this device, it turns itself on about three minutes later. For my purpose, there is always a load being requested by the device so, it always turns itself back on. Which essentially makes it useless to me. Frankly, I’m having trouble understanding how this device is useful to anyone since it will always turn itself back on.
Intermatic seemed to think that this particular unit may be defective. At any rate, I’m going to swap it out with a different outlet. Automated Outlet has been good about letting me return it even though they haven’t been helpful with the tech support (not surprising given that the OEM isn’t helpful with the tech support for this unit).
[quote=“Rich, post:8, topic:170857”]I mentioned that whenever there’s a load applied to this device, it turns itself on about three minutes later. For my purpose, there is always a load being requested by the device so, it always turns itself back on. Which essentially makes it useless to me. Frankly, I’m having trouble understanding how this device is useful to anyone since it will always turn itself back on.
Intermatic seemed to think that this particular unit may be defective.[/quote]
It’s the change in the requested load that turns it on. In other words once the load is turned off by the Z-wave signal it will wait until the load is manually switched off and then on again before “load sensing” should turn it on. It does sound like your unit is defective, unless you are switching a load that will go off and on by itself. A normal load, like a table lamp, would not trip the “load sensing” on again until you turned off the lamp manually and then turned it back on.
i’d go for another option … the load-sense might accidently trigger as the load on it has big condensators or exist of a motor that moves out of itself thus causing it to make electricity… another device without load-sense would eliminate this 100% where the 1st option is not
Anyone has a solution to this? I have the same problem and get the CA3500 to work with a TV I want turn on/off remotely… It does work when I unplug the TV from the outlet manually but what is the point of that! Tried setting #29 to 0.
Dirk
I suspect the CA3500 doesn’t like electronic loads. Be it a CFL ballast, TV switching power supply, or a GFCI outlet (my case).
I did find if you add a traditional incandescent load (a 60W bulb) with the complex load the problem is solved. In some cases maybe its OK to add a light bulb load with your problem device.
I’m not too sure why this is a problem for a TV. Powering one up merely puts the TV into standby state waiting for an IR command to power up.
Have not found a way to turn off the load sensing, but there is a simple and fairly inexpensive solution. I added a APC surge power strip and it easily drained the circuit when the cold cathode tube light was turned off. You gain the added protections and it works every time. Hope this helps!