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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 10:40:46 AM

Title: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 10:40:46 AM
I'm assuming "polarized" means one lug on the plug is wider than the other.  With that in mind, are the lamp modules polarized on the female side?  Most of the lights I'm trying to control have one lug larger than the other.  Don't want to have use appliance modules if I don't have to.

Do the light modules "snap" (relay click) off/on like the appliance modules?

Anyone have any idea what the power consumption of any of the modules is?  A portion of the lights I'm working with are low wattage.

Thanks for any insight!
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 09, 2006, 11:08:16 AM
Quote from: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 10:40:46 AM
I'm assuming "polarized" means one lug on the plug is wider than the other.  With that in mind, are the lamp modules polarized on the female side?  Most of the lights I'm trying to control have one lug larger than the other.  Don't want to have use appliance modules if I don't have to.

Yes.

Quote
Do the light modules "snap" (relay click) off/on like the appliance modules?

No.

Quote
Anyone have any idea what the power consumption of any of the modules is?  A portion of the lights I'm working with are low wattage.

There's a voltage drop across a LM465 lamp module of about 6 VAC when a connected 100 W lamp is turned fully On.
I presume your "low wattage" lights are strictly incandescent bulbs.



Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: dave w on November 09, 2006, 12:07:18 PM
Adding to Charles's information:
Module current consumption varies depending on the module (appliance, lamp, receptacle, universal, etc) but a good rule of thumb is between 2 and 5 watts, per module, when the load is in the OFF state.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 12:37:30 PM
Thanks guys.  It was a BIG help.  The wife just loves those little candlestick lights.  I get scolded for turning them off and forgetting to turn them back on by nightfall so to avoid the wrath I leave'em burn 24 hrs/day.  They don't draw much, but I'm hoping to extend their lives by using my new ActiveHome Pro.  I'll buy the cheaper lamp modules for them and use the appliance modules for some bigger things.

Wonder how many other guys go thru this with their wives?  Should we poll? I'm sure it's already been discussed here though.

Thanks again!!
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: dave w on November 09, 2006, 12:50:49 PM
Quote from: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 12:37:30 PM


Wonder how many other guys go thru this with their wives? 


(hand raised)
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: JMac on November 09, 2006, 12:55:09 PM
I seem to remember a 40 watt minimum light bulb for use on the lamp modules.  Isn't that correct? 
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: ArtClark on November 09, 2006, 02:38:55 PM
I have run 4 Watt Night Lights with no problem, though turning on a lamp module via the switch on the lamp using the
current sensing function might get tough below a watt or so.  Never had that trouble, but it may be possible.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: JimC on November 09, 2006, 03:22:30 PM
Quote
I seem to remember a 40 watt minimum light bulb for use on the lamp modules.  Isn't that correct?

Same as ArtClark, I have also been using a 4 watt night light with a lamp module with out problems.  ;D
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 09, 2006, 03:36:11 PM
Quote from: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 12:37:30 PM
...The wife just loves those little candlestick lights.  I get scolded for turning them off and forgetting to turn them back on by nightfall so to avoid the wrath I leave'em burn 24 hrs/day.  They don't draw much, but I'm hoping to extend their lives by using my new ActiveHome Pro...

Alternate Idea:


A *LONG* time ago (before most of the current X10 employees were even born :o ), before the days of CFLs, I used this "trick" on several 25 Watt and 40 Watt incandescent lamps that we keep on daily from dusk until bedtime. Now I have 9 Watt CFLs (equivalent to 25 Watt incandescent, IIRC).

*MUCH* cheaper than buying lamp modules *AND* even if you leave them on all day at 50% duty cycle, probably *LESS* power than a Lamp Module "idling" on OFF all day... ;)
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: Charles Sullivan on November 09, 2006, 03:56:46 PM
Quote from: JMac on November 09, 2006, 12:55:09 PM
I seem to remember a 40 watt minimum light bulb for use on the lamp modules.  Isn't that correct? 

No, that's only for the wall switch modules like WS467.   The WS467 has only two wires and its logic circuitry is powered by the current passing through the bulb.  The plug-in lamp modules (and wall switches requiring a neutral connection) always have full power from the AC line available for their logic circuitry.

Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: HA Dave on November 09, 2006, 07:19:37 PM
Quote from: rodskid on November 09, 2006, 12:37:30 PM
I get scolded for turning them off and forgetting to turn them back on by nightfall .............. I'm hoping to extend their lives by using my new ActiveHome Pro. 

Wonder how many other guys go thru this with their wives?  Should we poll? I'm sure it's already been discussed here though.


My wife loves those low voltage landscape lights. So of course, I have several. They have a transformer with a clock wheel timer-thingy. But as much as I tried, I could never keep them coming on at dusk and off at sunrise... because those times keep changing.

BX (Before X10) I had hardwired a light sensor on the back of the house, to an outlet in the basement (where the transformer is).

Now I could use one of several X10 items to control "night-lights". The X10 floodlight, the sundowner, eagle eye, active eye, etc.

But I don't think I would ever go back to a clock based "timer" again.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: TakeTheActive on November 09, 2006, 08:18:50 PM
Quote from: Dave_x10_L on November 09, 2006, 07:19:37 PM

Now I could use one of several X10 items to control "night-lights". The X10 floodlight, SunDowner, eagle eye, active eye, etc.

(http://graphics.x10.com/images20/sale_product_0320a.gif)

SUNDOWNER with dusk to dawn control[/size] (http://x10.com/promotions/sd533_ed_lightson.html)
;)
[Seems like a decent deal!]
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: Brian H on November 09, 2006, 08:33:19 PM
Oh good to see the Sundowner  is back. For awhile it was listed as out of stock and some where asking if it would ever be back.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: dave w on November 13, 2006, 12:28:35 PM
Quote from: TakeTheActive on November 09, 2006, 03:36:11 PM
[Alternate Idea:

  • Get a dozen "thumbwheel" switches (the kind you find on hanging chain lamps), along with a dozen 1N400X (where 'X' > 2; 200V Peak Repetitive Reverse Voltage or higher. Thanks Puck! ;) ) 1 Amp diodes.
    .
Hey TTA you remeber back in the 'ole" days you could solder a diode acroos the ON-OFF Vol switch of AC-DC TVs and radios and have "Instant On". The Old Days......
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: steven r on November 13, 2006, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: TakeTheActive on November 09, 2006, 03:36:11 PM
...1 Amp diodes....
Do you remember the little button shaped devises that had a diode in them? They were made just the right size to fit in a lamp socket.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: HA Dave on November 13, 2006, 01:52:23 PM
They would make light bulbs last for years!

Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: MrBlackCat on November 14, 2006, 12:21:03 AM
Quote from: steven r on November 13, 2006, 01:37:22 PM
Do you remember the little button shaped devises that had a diode in them? They were made just the right size to fit in a lamp socket.
I still use some of those little diodes... now I just use 130V bulbs mostly, but back then (way?) those diodes were great in the stair lights and any lights in hard to reach places.
(wow, you guys are old hu?  Hehehe)

John Martin
MrBlackCat
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: steven r on November 14, 2006, 09:53:12 AM
Quote from: MrBlackCat on November 14, 2006, 12:21:03 AM
Quote from: steven r on November 13, 2006, 01:37:22 PM
Do you remember the little button shaped devises that had a diode in them? They were made just the right size to fit in a lamp socket.
I still use some of those little diodes... now I just use 130V bulbs mostly, but back then (way?) those diodes were great in the stair lights and any lights in hard to reach places.
(wow, you guys are old hu?  Hehehe)
Yeah I have a couple spot bulbs that keep burning out and are a pain to replace. I could use a couple of those buttons or find a long life bulb that size.

As to age... Most people guess early 40s but the drivers license says I'm a bit over 50.  ;)

Also welcome and thanks for your informative posts. It won't be long before you hit the magic number of posts and shed your newbie status. With the exception of those of us grandfathered in from the previous old board, everyone has started here as a newbie.
Title: Re: Lamp Modules Polarized?
Post by: dave w on November 14, 2006, 11:57:00 AM
Quote from: steven r on November 13, 2006, 01:37:22 PM

Do you remember the little button shaped devises that had a diode in them? They were made just the right size to fit in a lamp socket.

YES! I have desperately been looking for the "Bulb Life Extender" buttons, but can find none, even on eBay. Does anyone know of a source? I need about six.