Coupler-Repeaters: Which is best - hardwired or Plug-in?

The hardwired ones are typically installed at the service panel which is better than the dryer outlet which may be no where near the panel. That being said, the plug in model may still be all you need. I use a plug-in one at a home I have that is 2500 sf and it works perfectly well. I chose to do it that way as the panel is mounted on the outside of the house and a hardwired unit would have been inconvenient to mount and subject to high heat. In my 8500 sf home, the plug in unit didn't do so well even though I installed a dryer outlet right next to the panel for that specific purpose. The ACT unit fit the bill better for that application.

From:JW JW

I have used both, and I have found the Leviton Hard-Wired unit works best. I used the Smarthome, and I didnt feel the signal worked as optimally as it could have. The Smarthome plugin unit was 5 feet from the panel.

Thanks for the input, Bruce. I might go with the hardwired unit, just to be sure.

The installation seems simple enough, but I admit some confusion over connecting the coupler to each "phase" of the service box. Is this determined by the two sides/columns of circuit breakers? In other words: left side is one phase, and right side the other, so one black wire gets connected to each side?

I've installed new circuits in the service box, but I'm a bit dense on the whole phase concept.

Thanks!

My 220 dryer plug is on the 2nd floor, with the service panel down in the basement...would that make a difference?

NO! The "phases" (which are actually called "legs") are alternating down each side like this:

A B B A A B B A

and so on. So, if you need a 220 circuit you put a pair of breakers connected by a bar, one above the other, and get both legs. You can do the same for the breakers for the repeater. Note that if half size breakers are in use, two share the same connection. Go to Home Depot and look at the display for the breaker panels and it'll all be clear to you. If it's not, hire an electrician or at least find a friend or handyman who can teach you. One advantage to the plug in unit is that you don't have to poke around in a service panel that you're trained on.

From:JW JW

Bruce.. thanks! A little information provides a great education. I already have a 220 circuit, but the outlet runs up to the 2nd floor from the basement. From what I've read, a plug in module may not be as effective as a hardwired model.

Sounds like the coupler simply connects to each of pair breakers, with a ground running to the ground bar?

As always, a picture is worth a thousand words. I've been trying to find one on the net with no luck, so will run down to Home Depot, as you suggest.

Thanks again. Joe

Look at this picture and you'll see what I'm talking about. The difference is that instead of the surge arrestor shown, which is connected to both legs and ground, the repeater will connect to both legs and the neutral bar (white wire).

Here is a link to an updated description of one installation of an ACT 230 repeater-coupler + X-10 signal monitoring equipment and to Phil Kingery's splendid narrative of the theory and practice of coupler-repeaters and instructions for installation. Kingery specifically addresses use of multiple repeaters in large installations.