Re: Making an X-10 lamp module immune to dimming

[ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani)]

In article <upJ1k.19034$102.546@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, JeffVolp@xxxxxxx (Jeff Volp) writes:
| "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
| news:hOWdnZPUEpdFotrVnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx
|
| > I believe the first test will just be to simply disconnect pin 8 from the
| > control line.  Hopefully it will be easy to rebridge if that turns out not
| > to work.  Also, hopefully, it won't incinerate itself after snipping that
| > line.  I guess I can trot out the old 20mm ammo box I have for containment
| > of explosive experiments - well, maybe just leave it on a fireproof
| > surface
| > to test . . .
|
| Whoops, that was a typo before.  Pin 8 is used for the local control.
| Snipping that will only disable local control.  Pin 6 drives the triac.
| That line is essential.  If snipped there will be no on/off control at all.
| The dimming phase control is inside the IC.
|
| It might be possible to extend the pulse coming out of the IC so that if
| there is ANY pulse at all, the transistor will remain on through the
| beginning of the next cycle so the unit will switch on right after the zero
| crossing.

How much current does the triac's gate draw?  I'd be worried that the
module's power supply can't handle leaving the transistor on for long.
These supplies are always by design near their limit.

The $1 modification avoids the power problem by getting the gate drive
directly from the line/load.  The author appears to know what he is doing
so I think if there were a simpler way he would have found it.  And it's
already pretty simple...

				Dan Lanciani
				ddl@danlan.*com