X10 and LED lights
Bookmark this page:
 Yahoo!
 Google
 Windows Live
 del.icio.us
 digg
 Netscape
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Jim Baber on December 4, 2005, 4:48 pm
Please log in for more thread options --------------000206000202010104080700 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In the interest of power conservation, I used 3 strings of multicolored LED light bulbs in my christmas tree this year. I also used the same AM486 2 pin Appliance Module to turn these tree lights ON and OFF as I have in the past. I can hear the relay energizing and deenergising when the module switched from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON. But, lo and behold, while they turn ON just fine, they only turn "sorta" OFF, still having a faint glow that is noticeable at the daytime indoor light level. They are considerably dimmer but not OFF. My concern is not so much power consumption, but safety. These are on a good artificial tree (Non metallic), but is there a hazard in using the appliance module to turn these lights "OFF" (sorta)? Interestingly enough, the lights are UL Listed but do not indicate a wattage or amperage just showing the 120 V AC rating with a claim to use 80% less power than a standard incandescent light string. I am aware that X10 modules do some funny things to test the ON/OFF status conditions of their loads and I wonder if this testing could be of sufficient power to drive the diodes to emit some light. There are 105 actual LED bulbs in a series parallel array. --------------000206000202010104080700 Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=utf-8; name="jim.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="jim.vcf" begin:vcard fn:Jim Baber n:Baber;Jim adr:;;1350 W. Mesa Ave.;Fresno;CA;93711-2008;USA email;internet:jim@baber.org tel;home:(559)435-9068 tel;cell:(559)905-2204 x-mozilla-html:TRUE url:http://www.baber.org version:2.1 end:vcard --------------000206000202010104080700-- | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by John W on December 4, 2005, 5:22 pm
Please log in for more thread options Defeating Local Control: http://www.geocities.com/ido_bartana/ John W | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Art Todesco on December 4, 2005, 8:06 pm
Please log in for more thread options I'm running 70 multicolor LEDs on a
Smarthome module. I have local control defeated, a programable option. Even with them off, there is a very faint glow from some of the LEDs, mostly the blues. I understand the blues are set for the highest current in the string. I don't think this is a safety issue, but I'm not really sure. BTW, on some x10 modules, they glowed much brighter. Also, some of the modifications to defeat local control only defeat local control, but still leave the sensing current going through the lamp or appliance. Jim Baber wrote: > In the interest of power conservation, I used 3 strings of multicolored
> LED light bulbs in my christmas tree this year. I also used the same > AM486 2 pin Appliance Module to turn these tree lights ON and OFF as I > have in the past. I can hear the relay energizing and deenergising when > the module switched from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON. > > But, lo and behold, while they turn ON just fine, they only turn "sorta" > OFF, still having a faint glow that is noticeable at the daytime indoor > light level. They are considerably dimmer but not OFF. My concern is > not so much power consumption, but safety. These are on a good > artificial tree (Non metallic), but is there a hazard in using the > appliance module to turn these lights "OFF" (sorta)? > > Interestingly enough, the lights are UL Listed but do not indicate a > wattage or amperage just showing the 120 V AC rating with a claim to > use 80% less power than a standard incandescent light string. > I am aware that X10 modules do some funny things to test the ON/OFF > status conditions of their loads and I wonder if this testing could be > of sufficient power to drive the diodes to emit some light. There are > 105 actual LED bulbs in a series parallel array. | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by jrst on December 16, 2005, 1:07 pm
Please log in for more thread options I have the same problem in -- except they are in my bedroom and it is
not a safety concern but an ability to sleep! I tried clipping diode D10 - no improvement. It seems, from my Kill-a-Watt, that they leak 1 W and since the lights only use 3 W at full power, this is noticeable in the dark. Appliance modules and Light modules both seem to do this... any ideas? | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Posted by Frank Olson on December 17, 2005, 11:02 am
Please log in for more thread options jrst wrote:
> I have the same problem in -- except they are in my bedroom and it is
> not a safety concern but an ability to sleep! > > I tried clipping diode D10 - no improvement. > > It seems, from my Kill-a-Watt, that they leak 1 W > and since the lights only use 3 W at full power, > this is noticeable in the dark. > > Appliance modules and Light modules both seem to do this... > > any ideas? > Heh... Try unplugging it! | |||||||||||||||||||
| Similar Threads | Posted |
| X10 and LED lights | December 4, 2005, 4:48 pm |
| Lights flickering | August 30, 2005, 5:41 pm |
| Keeping lights off at night | March 3, 2005, 11:49 pm |
| LED Lights and other automation protocols | April 5, 2005, 8:13 pm |
| Re: X10 with Compact Fluorescent Lights (fwd) | July 13, 2005, 12:10 am |
| caution is needed with lights! | December 8, 2005, 2:02 pm |
| dimmer lights for house | February 12, 2006, 7:10 am |
| Controling Holiday Lights | October 15, 2006, 9:37 pm |
| Random X10 all lights on/all units off over and over | December 9, 2006, 12:05 am |
| Control Ceiling Lights | December 22, 2006, 6:57 pm |
| Xmas is early - with LED lights | November 5, 2007, 10:59 pm |
| X-10, GFCI, outdoor lights & problems | June 12, 2005, 1:28 am |
| Timer recommendation for porch lights | August 20, 2005, 7:59 pm |
| Howto: X10 lights on conduit for barn | May 28, 2006, 12:40 pm |
| Newbie question on external lights | July 19, 2006, 9:22 am |
> LED light bulbs in my christmas tree this year. I also used the same
> AM486 2 pin Appliance Module to turn these tree lights ON and OFF as I
> have in the past. I can hear the relay energizing and deenergising when
> the module switched from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON.
>
> But, lo and behold, while they turn ON just fine, they only turn "sorta"
> OFF, still having a faint glow that is noticeable at the daytime indoor
> light level. They are considerably dimmer but not OFF. My concern is
> not so much power consumption, but safety. These are on a good
> artificial tree (Non metallic), but is there a hazard in using the
> appliance module to turn these lights "OFF" (sorta)?
>
> Interestingly enough, the lights are UL Listed but do not indicate a
> wattage or amperage just showing the 120 V AC rating with a claim to
> use 80% less power than a standard incandescent light string.
>
> I am aware that X10 modules do some funny things to test the ON/OFF
> status conditions of their loads and I wonder if this testing could be
> of sufficient power to drive the diodes to emit some light. There are
> 105 actual LED bulbs in a series parallel array.
>