Disabling auto on for Appliance Modules

[tom e]

The X10 website used to have an article and
diagram showing how to disable this feature
so you didn't need to use the t-tap and
night light to stop Flourescent light from
turning back on after they were turned off

[Brian H]

http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm If the sensing current is flickering the lights. Do the cut the diode fix. The cut the small jumper will also stop the lights from restarting, if flickering is not the problem. The small jumper was thet way I went with my mods.

[dave]

I have the same switching on/off problem on some of my
wall modules.  can you give me the detials on "cutting the
diode" thanks

[Brian H]

Dave; You refering to dimming wall switches
or the relay type for inductive and CLF type
bulbs?

[dave]

I have wall modules (relay type) and on some of them when I
send an ON signal they will "flicker" on/off/on/off several
times and end up in a random state.  just incan bulbs
plugged into them.  thanks

[Brian H]

Dave; I don't think wall switches have a
local control sensing circuit like the
appliance modules have. I have seen a mod
for dimming switches that randomly turn on
or off; but not the relay ones. If you
trigger them with the local paddle are they
stable or do they also stutter locally also?

[dave]

I probably got the lingo wrong - they are wall outlets
(replace a receptacle)  and I trigger them thru master timer
or a switch on the wall.  both cases not usually stable.

[dave w]

How many of them do this? Have they been
modified? How old are they, and last but not
least: Do they go "clickty clickty click"
(THREE very quick cycles?). If they do not
go "clickty clickty click" read no further.

The Appliance Module and likely the Wall
Outlet have a sense circuit to confirm the
relay contacts change state after the
solenoid is pulsed by the controller chip.
If the chip does not sense a change of state
on the output of the relay, it fires three
more pulses before it gives up. IF you
consistenly hear three rapid clicks, several
things are thought of:
1. Modules are old and solenoid driven relay
is hanging up. Try silicone spray on
solenoid plunger and the cam that operates
the relay contacts.
2. Small plastic piece holding relay is
broke preventing the contacts from moving. I
have seen other posts on this problem and
don't think there is a fix other than trash.
3. A module hack gone awry. The wrong
componet got cut.

[dave]

yes, exactly with the clickity!  yes some are old (some
brown ones they dont make any more).  some do it some
dont ( say 3 of .  the ones that do it are always the same
location.   I replaced the white ones recently.  they worked
for awhile and then they went back to the clickity.  I have
not hacked any of them, yet.

[dave w]

Dave,
You said
"the ones that do it are always the same
location.  ", and you said they
were "receptacles" correct?

(from previous post of yours:  "I probably
got the lingo wrong - they are wall outlets
(replace a receptacle)" )

So, when you wire the receptacle into a
particular box, it goes clickity, clickity,
click, but when you move it to another
location it works correctly?

If this is accurate, you probably do not
have the problem of no feedback from the
internal relay...that problem does
not "heal" itself. I dunno...sorry.

[dave]

I have not moved a bad one to a different location.  it just
seems when I replace a bad one the new one in that
location goes bad while other ones in other locations
seem to work.  but I dont have alot of data points here.
the main issue is the clickity 3 times.  and that is the feed
back correct?  and the solution is??   BTW - thanks for all
your help

[dave w]

" the main issue is the clickity 3 times.
and that is the feed  back correct?  and the
solution is?? "

Rapid clicking three times is an indication
that the relay is not changing states as it
is told to. It has no connection to
the "local control" sense current. As Brian
H stated, I doubt the receptacle modules
have the "local sense" feature.

The clicks are caused by the relay not
changing state - as in being "stuck" ( a
little silicone lube may help). I remember a
couple forum posts, last year, stating a
small (fragile ) plastic part used to hold
one side of the relay would break and
prevent the relay from switching. The posts
refered to only the receptacle module and
not the appliance module. I do not have any
receptacle modules so can not investgate the
relay mounting failure comment. However the
clickity clickity click is a symptom common
to both appliance modules and receptacle
modules indicating the relay armature is not
moving.