Re: X-10 Appliance modules- more than just a relay?

["Steve Morgan" <steve@xxxxxxx>]

I found this at www.homation.com

Q509. How do I defeat local control of lights and appliances?

A standard appliance or lamp module will turn itself on if the power switch
on the device it is connected to is switched on. This provides local
control. This is not always desirable, however. Local control depends on
the
current draw through the module; if it exceeds a certain value, the device
turns on. Some devices (compact fluorescent lamps, for example) seem to
have
low impedance and keep switching themselves on even when explicitly turned
off. This local control can be disabled for appliance modules.

Procedure:

Inside each module, there is an integrated circuit labeled "PICO-
570" or "PICO-536C"  Cut the lead that goes from pin 7 of
this integrated
circuit to the hot AC connection.

Don't know how accurate it is, because the X-10 FAQ tends to refer to the
AM486 appliance module, but you never know!

Cheers,
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Doxey [mailto:keith.doxey@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 31 January 2000 09:34
To: ukha_d
Subject: [ukha_d] Re: X-10 Appliance modules- more than just a relay?


Hi Nigel,

Yep....just the leakage current used for local sensing.
If you do the mod to disable local sensing it should stop it.

Do a search for the link coz I cant remember where I got the info, but it
only takes about 5 minutes to do.

BTW. Discovered over Christmas that the leakage on a UK Wall swithc is
enought to light a set of Christmas Tree lights to about 30% brightness
even
when off. That's some leakage.


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


-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Orr [mailto:nigel.orr@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 31 January 2000 09:16
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] X-10 Appliance modules- more than just a relay?


I've got an X-10 query (gasp!) for someone who knows about the internals of
an appliance modules... I've got one AM12U, which I assumed switched the
load with a relay (from the clicking sound!).  However, we bought one of
the little Electroluminescent night lights at the weekend, and it glows
dimly even when the appliance module is switched off, round about 1/2
normal brightness.

I realise the nightlight doesn't need much power (about 200mW if my
calculations are right), but if it's just a relay in the appliance module,
it shouldn't even get that.

Is it just leakage in some noise suppression components across the relay
contacts that is lighting it (<1mA)?

It's not particularly critical, I'm just curious, but if someone doesn't
know the answer I'll have to disassemble it myself...

Nigel


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