X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 12:51:35 AM

Title: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 12:51:35 AM
Do these ever go bad?? I have one that just stopped working, or works now and then, is this common?
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: KDR on June 20, 2008, 05:18:55 AM
Although it is not common that they go bad, like anything they could fail. It has been reported here that when used with incandescent light bulbs and the bulb burns out that the current surge has damaged some rendering them useless. I have about a dozen in service for over 2 years without 1 failure. About 2/3 of them are used with CFL's and the rest with incandescent bulbs.

If it is working sometimes you might want to try moving it to a differant location (for testing) to see if that helps. You could have a noise problem or phase problem that is blocking the PLC signal.

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: Brian H on June 20, 2008, 06:47:00 AM
Yes if it is stuck on. Many times after a bulb burns out. The module was damaged by surge from the bulb failing. I have had a few go that way myself.
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 10:07:23 AM
it is controlling LED strips under a cabinet, it has been working perfectly for about 2 months, and not nothing, I tried another one in the same location and it didn't work either. It's kinda strange..............this location didn't work, and neither did my porch lights, then I installed a phase coupler and everything worked fine, now everything works fine except this one socket rocket for the LED's, well this location.
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: Brian H on June 20, 2008, 11:28:45 AM
Have you added anything new to the home? Even things like a new cell phone charger. Many new electronic items make noise or have filters in them that absorb X10 signals.
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 11:37:20 AM
Quote from: Brian H on June 20, 2008, 11:28:45 AM
Have you added anything new to the home? Even things like a new cell phone charger. Many new electronic items make noise or have filters in them that absorb X10 signals.

Ya know, I was trying to think, and there is nothing that I can think of that I have added.................oh wait..........I do have a nintendo wii charger that I just plugged in the other night to charge my controllers, and I haven't unplugged it. on that same wall too. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

I'll have to check that out.
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: steven r on June 21, 2008, 11:45:25 AM
Quote from: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 11:37:20 AM
...I was trying to think, and there is nothing that I can think of that I have added.................oh wait..........I do have a nintendo wii charger that I just plugged in the other night...
It's the little things like that that we tend to forget. I have a filter that I plug my laptop into because I discovered that it was interfering with my X10 signal. I also have a charging station where I charge batteries including my phone. It consists of an outlet strip plugged into an X10 filter.
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: idbl_fanatic on June 21, 2008, 12:36:29 PM
Quote from: steven r on June 21, 2008, 11:45:25 AM
Quote from: idbl_fanatic on June 20, 2008, 11:37:20 AM
...I was trying to think, and there is nothing that I can think of that I have added.................oh wait..........I do have a nintendo wii charger that I just plugged in the other night...
It's the little things like that that we tend to forget. I have a filter that I plug my laptop into because I discovered that it was interfering with my X10 signal. I also have a charging station where I charge batteries including my phone. It consists of an outlet strip plugged into an X10 filter.

Well I unplugged it, and it worked fine last night so we'll see if it keeps working, thanks for the help!!
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: Dan Lawrence on June 21, 2008, 01:24:32 PM
Sounds like a couple of plug-in noise filters would be a good investment to any X10 system.
Title: True or False?
Post by: PajamaGuy on June 21, 2008, 02:25:58 PM
Socket Rockets need a stronger & cleaner signal than lamp module do?
Title: Re: Socket Rockets......go bad??
Post by: steven r on June 21, 2008, 02:27:36 PM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on June 21, 2008, 01:24:32 PM
Sounds like a couple of plug-in noise filters would be a good investment to any X10 system.
For my setup it sure is. I have 7 or so UPS units to protect computers, the entertainment areas, phones, and even the fish tank. Since UPS backups can suck the X10 signal, each of those is plugged into a 10A noise filter.
Title: Re: True or False?
Post by: Dan Lawrence on June 21, 2008, 04:16:10 PM
Quote from: PajamaGuy on June 21, 2008, 02:25:58 PM
Socket Rockets need a stronger & cleaner signal than lamp module do?

Not that I know of. I have Socket Rockets in my attic closets and basement overhead lights. I have a WS4777 in the Laundry Room for the overhead light and a Socket Rocket for the light over the washer and the stationary tubs.

AHP has no problem addressing all of them.