Unintelligable Masterplug instructions: what are 'channels'?

Kernel_Sanders

I have bought this mains extension socket, where six sockets can be remotely controlled. It's the third item on this PDF
http://www.masterplug.com/pdf/SRPRF82.pdf
but I'm at a loss by what it means by 'up to 16 different units'. It also refers to these units as 'channels'; what on Earth is it referring to?

LucianH

A question I'd ask is: what function did you want it to perform when you bought it?

I'm not familiar with this unit but I interpret the instructions to mean:

- The remote control can control up to 16 different "units" - where a "unit" is either a "Single Socket", "3-way adaptor" or "8 socket extension". Ie, if you bought 16 of these items you can control them individually via the remote.

- The term channel is used to "Identify" which of the 16 "units" you want to control. Since you only have the one (I assume) then this is not a function you need - you'll only be controlling the one "unit" with one "channel" of the remote and in this case with you can switch the power on and off to the extention sockets

- For the "8 socket extension" you can only switch on and off 6 of the sockets via the remote. And all sockets are controlled together as one - ie, you can't switch them on and off separately. The other two sockets on the 8-way will be on all the time

Which comes back to my first question - is this what you wanted?

LucianH

And just to supplement my previous post - to control the Socket Extenstion, use channel 1 which is controlled by switching Switch 5 to position I, and using on/off buttons 1. The section "Socket Receiver Setup" tells you how to program the Socket Extension to that button.

Kernel_Sanders

Yes, I did expect to control up to 6 sockets individually, so I didn't realise it could control those other items too. I still don't know what one of them is, though; a 'socket unit with r/c plug'?

John_Gray

R/c could either be "remote control(led)" or "residual current" or ...

Dontcha love technical instructions which appear to have been rendered into English from the original Chinese by someone whose expertise lies in international diplomacy or crochet?

LucianH

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

Yes, I did expect to control up to 6 sockets individually, so I didn't realise it could control those other items too. I still don't know what one of them is, though; a 'socket unit with r/c plug'?

I suspect that the socket unit with R/C plug is effectively doing a similar function to the multi way extention that you have. The difference being is that I should imagine that what's connected to the other end of the wire is a normal set of extension sockets (ie, 4 or 6 way). In this case the electronics for the remote control of the extension are contained within the "plug" as opposed to being contained within the extension socket unit. The advantage of the 8 way extension lead is that you can have two sockets with unswitchwed mains whereas, if you have a 4 or 6 way extension connected the R/C plug, all sockets will be switched (together) on/off via the remote.

If you wanted to be able to control each each scoket indiviually, I hope you bought it from somewhere where you can return it!

Kernel_Sanders

LucianH wrote: »

If you wanted to be able to control each socket indiviually, I hope you bought it from somewhere where you can return it!

Actually I am quite impressed with the range of the signal i.e. it seems to go effortlessly through floors and walls, even when not pointing towards the target.
I'm presuming this is because of its tiny but powerful 12V 23A battery. So, if I bought some of those piggy back sockets separately, I could train each one to recognize a different channel from my existing remote, right?

LucianH

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

So, if I bought some of those piggy back sockets separately, I could train each one to recognize a different channel from my existing remote, right?

That's the way I read the instructions. If you buy some of the "Single Sockets" or "3-Way Adaptors" you should be able to put those in different rooms, set them to different channel buttons on the remote, and control them with the remote from elsewhere within hte house. But remember - I haven't got experience of these, I'm just interpreting the instructions.

Also, from what I gather it has a wireless range of about 30m. So if you find your appliances mysteriously turning on and off then it could be that one of your neighbours has got one as well!