Re: Do X10 modules degrade over time?

["bruceR" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

All I can think of is that maybe the units were stressed by power
fluctuations, lightning or other such events.

Joerg <notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> random735 wrote:
>
>
>> Had a similar experience with a powerlinc (serial).  Started missing
>> more and more until eventually it was neither receiving nor
>> successfully sending signals.  My transceivers were working fine,
>> and I swapped out the powerlinc with another one and all was fine...
>> so it definitely is not a noise related issue at least in my
>> case...(i thought it was at first, believe me, i tore my house apart
>> trying to figure out why the powerlinc was having issues)
>>
>> so it definitely did degrade over time until eventually it stopped
>> responding/sending...given that it's a solid state device, i have no
>> idea what would cause that....
>>
>
> That's pretty much my situation. Plugged in a new device and
> everything  worked again.
>
> Marc mentioned bad electrolytics. I did check some failed modules for
> that and found no problem. Most of the affected electrolytics were the
> big ones on PC motherboards and in larger power supplies. What I did
> notice was a change in behavior of the resonant circuit and this could
> possibly indicate damage within the chip. A fried or partially fried
> first stage maybe. One IC was actually completely dead. Usually ICs do
> not deteriorate but either work or die abruptly. However, I have seen
> some ICs in my professional life that did change their performance.
> Often because of electromigration caused by undersized interconnects
> on the chip.
>
> http://www.analogconsultants.com