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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => User Modified Devices => Topic started by: toasterking on March 24, 2015, 10:03:57 AM

Title: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: toasterking on March 24, 2015, 10:03:57 AM
This modification is for a PAM01 appliance module (possibly also PAM02, AM486, and AM466) made in or around 2010.  It prevents the appliance module from supplying sensing current for local control to the load connected to its outlet.  This prevents the module from errantly switching on due to back EMF from an inductive load connected to it.  It also prevents the module from supplying most current to the load, which may alleviate the need to connect a bleeder resistor or night light in parallel with the load to prevent lights from glowing when the module is off.

Even with this modification, a small amount of current is still passed through the load to determine whether the latching relay is in the open or closed position.  This leakage is still just barely enough to light a connected LED rope light.

On the circuit board inside the appliance module, cut either lead on resistor R4, located near the hot side of the load socket.  See the ridiculously blurry photo, attached.  Separate the lead from the resistor and wrap both with electrical tape.  If the component placement on the board does not look identical to the photo or the resistor is labeled R14 or anything other than R4, then this is a different design; do not attempt.
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: Brian H on March 24, 2015, 03:16:46 PM
Thank you for the information.
I still have a PAM01 in my storage box. I will see if mine matches your photo.
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: toasterking on March 24, 2015, 05:51:58 PM
One more note:  This circuit board in the photo may look kind of odd since it has no power prongs or sockets.  It is indeed a PAM01 but is one I have modified to be wired as an inline module rather than a plug-in module, so just disregard those wires where the connection hardware should be!
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: toasterking on March 24, 2015, 05:54:11 PM
I will see if mine matches your photo.

I am sure that there are both newer and older versions of the PAM01 that are different.  Unfortunately, I do not have handy a range of date codes to which this mod applies (nor do I quite understand how to decode those date codes).
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: Knightrider on March 24, 2015, 05:59:06 PM
+1 from me. I tried to give you +2, as you posted on two different modules, but the forum blocked me.  #:)
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: toasterking on March 24, 2015, 06:01:07 PM
Huzzah!  I've been a forum member for almost 3 years and I finally got one!  Thanks!   :)
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: Brian H on March 25, 2015, 06:23:35 AM
Actually you have a 2 now.  ;D
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: toasterking on March 25, 2015, 09:53:06 AM
Thanks, Brian!
Title: Re: PAM01 appliance module - disable local control sensing current
Post by: str0y on August 18, 2016, 04:18:48 PM
I did the same mod on an AM466 appliance module, by unsoldering diode D4.  Holding the circuit board, looking at the copper side with the house and unit select areas on the right, diode D4 in on the lower right, and marked.  Note the polarity is marked on the board (and on the diode) if you decide to put it back.