Triggers not working properly with ShowTime MP3 Director

[richardh]

I am having a problem with triggers and x10 controllers and don't know what to do.

I am using a Showtime mp3 director at a customers location for a lighting project. I have made 6 sequences that can each be triggered using the triggered inputs on the mp3 director.

To close each trigger, I am using X10 Relay modules along with a receiver and a wireless remote. When I press a button on the X10 remote, it triggers one of the 6 x10 relays which in turn makes contact with the Ground Pin and one of the 1-6 trigger inputs on the mp3 director.

The systems works like how it should except sometimes it will be running a sequence and it will just switch over to one of the other 1-6 trigger sequences. Usually it will switch to the sequence on trigger 1 but I have seen it switch to other sequences as well.

My x10 relays make a very loud CLICK noise when it makes a contact to trigger the mp3 direction, but when it acts weird and changes to another trigger sequence, the relay does not make any noise and is not making contact. What is even weirder is that I can disconnect the ground from the mp3 director so only pins 1-6 are going to the relays with NO GROUND and it will still switch. I have no idea how this is happening.

Sometimes it will switch in a few seconds and sometimes it may take up to 10 minutes. It is totally random when it will switch, and to what trigger will get set off.

If i remove the MP3 Director Connection Header though, it will not switch on its own. I have tried a different MP3 Director and different MP3 Director Connection Header and I still have the same problem.

I am out of options at this point and was wondering if anybody knows anything else I can try.

I have another project where I am using this exact same system with the x10 relays and remote but with the Mini MP3 Director and it works perfect and does not switch on you like I am having with the Showtime MP3 Director.

If anybody has any ideas or knows of any other wireless remote solution that can do triggers, please let me know.

[cmoore60]

Richard,

I believe that there was a firmware update for the MP3 units this year.

Might be worth a check to see if both your units are the same firmware.

Chuck