Re: X10 and fluorescent lights

[dicko <drwho@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:42:38 -0500, greenpjs@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:52:53 +0000, Dirk Bruere at NeoPax
><dirk.bruere@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>P J wrote:
>>> I have an old X10 light control setup in my house with only incandescent
>>> lights being controlled by X10. With the recent push for energy saving
>>> fluorescent lights I am not sure if it would be possible to replace the
>>> old bulbs with the new ones and still have my X10 controls working. How
>>> are you handling this situation?
>>> pj
>>
>>On/off is probably OK, but I doubt a dimmer function will work.
>On/Off may not be OK.  Depending on the brand, many CFL's spew all
>sort of electrical noise back into the electrical wiring.  This noise
>can interfere with X-10.  I have some that work just fine and others
>that play havoc with X-10.

Some brands of bulb work OK, others create noise.

I have a whole bunch of Greenlite bulbs that are x-10 compatible.
They're several years old so I dont know if they're changed the recipe
for them.
 I had problems with Lights of America and Fein.  I ended up wiring a
humongus 1mh choke in series with each fixture to get them to work.

A bit more expensive, I also have wired a Leviton 6287  5amp Universal
blocking filter in series with the fixture to get it to work too.

-dickm