Re: X10 lamp modules

[Keith Doxey <keith.doxey@xxxxxxx>]

They are normal plug top fuses, I remember blowing on once and thinking how
lucky I was that the triac survived. Just because the fuse blows doesnt
mean
the triac wont. Triacs can fail VERY quickly, much quicker than a normal
fuse will blow, hence the availability of Hi-Speed Ceramic fuses.

High speed types are available from Maplin and Farnell etc but
unfortunately
NOT in 1" (25.4mm) Plug type. Most dimmers use 20mm fuses.

High speed is not the same as Quick Blow. High Speed is MUCH faster.

Keith

Keith Doxey
http://www.btinternet.com/~krazy.keith
Krazy Keith's World of DIY Home Automation


-----Original Message-----
From: adrian.lucas@xxxxxxx [mailto:adrian.lucas@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 03 February 2000 11:31
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Re: X10 lamp modules


Are the fuses in the lamp modules "special" (high-speed?) or just
standard
2A plug top fuses?
If the former, wher do you buy them?

Adrian Lucas





keith.doxey@xxxxxxx on 03/02/2000 11:05:23
Please respond to ukha_d@xxxxxxx@SMTP
To:	ukha_d@xxxxxxx@SMTP
cc:
Subject:	[ukha_d] Re: X10 lamp modules
Classification:	Restricted
Let me guess.....
Is the lamp in question is mounted with cap DOWN ?

If so, it will almost always pop the fuse when it blows.
this is because, as the filament breaks it falls down and shorts out the
support wires turning your 60W bulb into a 2Kw bulb or higher, hence the
flash seen sometimes when a bulb blows.

DO NOT REPLACE THE FUSE WITH A HIGHER RATING OR SLOWER FUSE !!!!!

The fuse is there to PROTECT the triac in the dimmer
Fuses are EASY to replace, triacs are a pain.

You may remember the earlier threads mentioning "Ensure you have EASY
access
to the module for fuse replacement".

When I was running my Disco several years ago, the high-speed ceramic fuses
for my lighting controllers were about 50p EACH. I could buy a triac for
30p
but a fuse can be changed in a matter of seconds, triacs took MUCH longer.

If you are unfortunate enough to blow a triac they almost always fail SHORT
CIRCUIT leaving the light permanently ON. If the fuse hasnt blown then you
still need to get to the module to remove the fuse to turn the light off
AND
you have the hassle of having to change the triac or buy a new module :-((

Oh....Almost forgot to say...

BUY SOME NEW BULBS....They will last a bit longer :-))

Keith

Keith Doxey
http://www.btinternet.com/~krazy.keith
Krazy Keith's World of DIY Home Automation


-----Original Message-----
From: Raymond [mailto:Reb.barnett@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 03 February 2000 09:47
To: 'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'
Subject: [ukha_d] X10 lamp modules


Whilst X10 modules are in season: I've put a lamp module to the
strenuous task of running a 60W lamp. Last week the bulb blew (in quite
a big way) which took out the 2amp fuse in the module. I replaced the
bulb and the fuse (with one borrowed from a spare module) and all was
fine. The bulb has blown again this week, and blown the fuse again.

My question is - I can accept that twice is perhaps a coincidence (we
have a collection of second hand bulbs) but is it usual for module fuse
to blow? Can you swap the fuse for a slower blowing type, or does it
blow so easily for a good reason? Just strikes me as a nuisance,
especially if the fuse is in an LD10 buried in the ceiling...

Ray Barnett.

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