Re: CFL's and X-10

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Jim Hewitt" <jim.hewitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:g2mgk2$gls$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:ksidnXQmnpscpdDVnZ2dnUVZ_qvinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > I'd like to see someone invent a quarter-sized insert (like those old
bulb
> > life extenders that look like little casino-style poker chips) that
would
> > limit CFL-induced noise and signal attenuation AND provide a path for
> > current to leak back to the module to power it and keep the local sense
> > circuit active.  Drop it in the socket, screw a CFL bulb in, and no more
> > X-10 noise, no more CFL flashing or relighting, no more X-10 signal
> > attenuation.
>
> OK!  That's just what I need.  What bulk rate would you charge for a
couple
> dozen?  :-}
>
> I don't seem to have much interference problems (yet) but I still have
6-10
> incandescents around the house because of the flicker problem.

Unless the bulb makers design bulbs with X-10 in mind, I think X-10 users
will always have to implement far less satisfactory solutions with filters,
amplifiers, repeaters, special circuits, added-on incandescent bulbs, etc.

> I guess, though, from your post that you yourself don't feel qualified to
> invent them yourself.

Hardly.  (-:  But I'm pretty good at writing specifications and there's an
incredible brain trust here that can probably explain why such a device is
impractical or impossible.  However, since it took a long, long time for
Jeff's XTB to be invented, I am hopeful that there are more useful X-10
inventions to come from somewhere - maybe even from a group discussion on
CHA.

> Half of the difficulty lies in properly defining the product...

That's exactly right.  Usenet is a great place to do that, though.  Anyone
with a big X-10 installation has already learned or is soon about to learn
the joys of X-10 and CFLs.   Jeff's listed out a number of solutions to
common CFL problems here:

http://jeffvolp.home.att.net/x10_info/x10_cfls.htm

Based on what I read there, I think some dimensions of the problem will be
quite simple.  I read on some X-10 list that some people were soldering
resistors across their CFL table lamp cords to simulate a 7W nightlight
bulb.  As you may know, installing a small tungsten filament lamp with a
string of CFL's often solves the flashback problem.  But it's not very
elegant and it could be unsafe for a number of reasons.  The tungsten
filament provides a current leak path for the X-10 module's internal
electronic components and, more importantly, prevents the tiny current
leakage from the X-10 module from accumulating and flashing the CFL, even
when off.

Now it's up to the experts to say that the required resistor would be too
large, even if specially fabricated into a round wafer.

When we define and resolve the flash back/lack of leak path issue then we
can move onto to other X-10 problems from CFL, most specifically noise.
Jeff says on his site:

"If you are handy, an inexpensive solution for many table lamps is to
install a 1000uH Miller 5258-RC "Hash Choke" in series with the hot lead.
Double insulate it with shrink sleeving.  While the 1000uH inductor is rated
1 amp (100 watt bulb), I recommend the higher current 250uH 5254-RC if you
will ever use a high-wattage incandescent bulb in that lamp.

Could a component like that be mounted in the "poker chip" socket insert?
Could both a resistor and the choke fit at the sane time?  I don't know, but
I expect that Jeff does! (-:

--
Bobby G.