Re: Odd Appliance Module

["Bob F" <bobnospam@xxxxxxxxx>]

David White wrote:
> Anthony R. Gold wrote:
>> On Sun, 3 Oct 2010 18:10:10 +0000 (UTC), David White
>> <whitedavidp@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Seems like it doesn't rain but it pours!
>>>
>>> I am seeing what I believe to be odd behavior in one of my 2-pin
>>> appliance modules (AM 486). In most of my modules of this type,
>>> even if an X-10 command has turned the module OFF, I can switch-on
>>> the attached device and it will work. I hear the module click when
>>> I do this. This is the behavior I want and expect.
>>>
>>> But today I discovered that another of my AM 486 modules doesn't
>>> exhibit this ability to switch-on the attached device if an X-10
>>> command has turned the module OFF.
>>>
>>> Which is the "correct" behavior? What does it mean that this one
>>> module doesn't behave like the others?
>>
>> It is designed to work the way you want and expect but the type of
>> load, whether resistive or reactive, may affect its reliability:
>>
>> http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Local_Control_for_Lamp_and_Appliance_Modules
>>
>> Try using a known resistive load, such as lamp with incandescent
>> bulb or a kitchen appliance that heats (water pot, toaster, electric
>> fry pan etc.) to test whether the issue is the type of load or
>> whether that feature of your AM486 has failed. Some people (me
>> included) dislike the local control feature and would consider the
>> change you have found to be an improvement :-) Tony
>
> Thanks Tony,
>
> I did try multiple attached devices. One was a heating pad, the other
> an incandescent lamp. I have also identified that more than one of my
> units seems to lack this feature (or bane for others) called "local
> control". So I conclude that this is not just a buggy module. I did
> find the following page that indicates that the standard X-10
> appliance modules (at least the 3-prong ones) no longer have local
> control. This implies that it once was there and now no longer is
> included. I think it is safe to assume that the same change was made
> to the 2-prong module. So I am inclined to conclude that some of my
> appliance modules are older than others (which, no doubt, they are).


Did you get these modules used? They may have been modified to remove the local
control option for use with CF bulbs or other problem loads.