Re: X10 TM751 Endless Dim Problem

["Gavin" <gavin.alloyd@xxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I'm pretty sure at this point that it's mostly heat related.
With the fan on, it continues to work fine, but after a few minutes
with the fan off, endless dims start back up.  When I turn the fan back
on, the endless dims go away after a couple of minutes.

Too bad there isn't a good spot inside the module for a small copper
heatsink.
Thanks again Dave, for all your help.

- Gavin


Dave Houston wrote:
> It may not be entirely coincidental (I suspected the 20 minute abeyance
> after (de)tuning might be heat related.) but I suspect the heat is somewhat
> normal (or an effect of the endless transmissions). The TM751 draws 1.2W
> when idle so should be slightly warm. If you have a ~3W nightlight, the
> nightlight should be warmer than the TM751.
>
> It's been a few years since I investigated this but I found I could induce
> it in 100% of the TM751 modules I tested (about a dozen) by aligning the
> antenna with an extension cord. Inductive feedback of the 120kHz on the line
> appears to trigger the phenomenon.
>
> The RR501, while not immune, is far less susceptible.
>
> However, I recommend going to the Leviton HCPRF All Housecode Transceiver.
> It costs more but handles all housecodes, has a silent relay, and appears to
> be immune to the endless dim syndrome.
>
>      http://www.smarthome.com/4017.html
>
> "Gavin" <gavin.alloyd@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >Well, thanks Dave for the response.  Now this is interesting... I
> >noticed that the TM751 was slightly warm when I would go over to unplug
> >it to reset my lamps.  I didn't think much of it, but the next time I
> >plugged it in, I put it right next to a fan running in my apartment,
> >with air blowing right across the model.  It's been plugged in for at
> >least a couple of hours (a record), and I haven't had an endless dim
> >since (I've been testing it every 5 minutes or so)...
> >
> >Is there any possibility that an overheating module would cause an
> >endless dim, or is this more likely a coincidence? (even if it's not, I
> >don't really want to run a fan 24/7 just to keep the dimmer working).
> >
> >And if it does turn out to be a coincidence, is there a newer
> >transceiver module that doesn't suffer from this annoying problem?
> >
> >Sorry for so many questions and thanks again,
> >Gavin
> >
> >
> >Dave Houston wrote:
> >> It sounds like you've already tried the things that worked for some people.
> >> Only a few people reported that detuning worked. If you've tried diffenent
> >> outlets and tried reorienting the antenna (horizontal works for some,
> >> vertical for others), I don't have any other suggestions.
> >>
> >> "Gavin" <gavin.alloyd@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I know this is an old subject... but I could use some help. :-]
> >> >
> >> >Just got ahold of a TM751, 2 lamp modules and an RF pad.  Hooked up two
> >> >lamps, everything worked great the first day.
> >> >
> >> >The next day I started to get the endless dim.  Lamps turn on OK, but
> >> >when I try to dim, they keep dimming and dimming until the lamp is off.
> >> > To get it back on I usually have to unplug/replug the tranciever
> >> >module.
> >> >
> >> >I read about (de)tuning the slug inside the TM751, opened 'er up and
> >> >turned it 1/16 of a turn clockwise.  Put it back together, and
> >> >everything seemed to work fine, but the endless dim starts up again
> >> >after about 20 minutes.  To fix it I then I have to give the slug
> >> >another turn, and still this only lasts for about 20 minutes.  I have
> >> >tried the TM751 on every outlet in my apartment (about 9 different
> >> >outlets).
> >> >
> >> >Any ideas?  Thanks all.
> >>
> >>
> >> http://www.davehouston.net
> >> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/roZetta/
> >> roZetta-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> http://www.davehouston.net
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/roZetta/
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