energy saving bulbs and appliance module

[sfoster2997]

They say the appliance module will control energy saving bulbs, they turn on and off o.k. but after awhile being off the bulb faintly starts flickering. Anyone else used these bulbs in this application

[dave w]

Are your Appliance Modules new? X10 is now advertising Appliance Modules as "CFL controllers" and everyone is curious to know if they have modified the modules to stop CFL flickering. If yours are brand new, it answers the question.

[sfoster2997]

They are not the newer ones but rep led me to understand the ones I had would function.

[dave w]

Threads on this board indicate some brands of CFLs flicker and some brands don't. In the older Appliance modules one could cut a diode and kill the leakage current through a load (not just disable local control, but actually stop the sensing current).

http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/Modifying_Appliance_module.htm

However this doesn't seem to work on newer modules.

A 4W night light also plugged into the Appliance module will stop a CFL flicker.

[Brian H]

I don't have any new Appliance Modules but the new Lamp Modules have slightly more AC sensing current but no DC component. Maybe the new Appliance Modules have also changed besides the surface mounted Microcontroller IC in it.

On the old ones even removing the diode and local control sensing left the 'Am I on or Off' sensing current to deal with. I removed that one also and the module was confused and chattered like a machine gun until it decided no more tries when turned on.

I also would like to hear from someone that got theirs in maybe the AHP deal with FREE CFL Bulb.

[dave w]

I don't have any new Appliance Modules but the new Lamp Modules have slightly more AC sensing current but no DC component. Maybe the new Appliance Modules have also changed besides the surface mounted Microcontroller IC in it.

Yeah, but if X10 INCREASED the AC sensing current, then they went down the wrong road because that will just make CFL and LED flicker worse.

How much of an increase is it?

On the old ones even removing the diode and local control sensing left the 'Am I on or Off' sensing current to deal with.

But that current isn't through the load is it?

[Brian H]

OK I may need new glasses. I rechecked my chart of currents. 

Old LM465A D.C.: 02I38 1.56ma AC 0.16ma DC
New LM465 w/S.S. D.C.:08A01 0.36ma AC no measurable DC

The 'am I on sensing current' is on the output and does sneak through the load when the switch is off. Some CFLs still flicker and my low wattage LEDs still glow about 1/2 bright
from that current. I cut the circuit out and the bulbs didn't flicker or glow dim. Just the module went crazy trying to find out if it was on or off. Ratcheting the switch in a machine gun  sounding fashion.

[dave w]

OK I may need new glasses. I rechecked my chart of currents. 

Old LM465A D.C.: 02I38 1.56ma AC 0.16ma DC
New LM465 w/S.S. D.C.:08A01 0.36ma AC no measurable DC

Just the module went crazy trying to find out if it was on or off. Ratcheting the switch in a machine gun  sounding fashion.

Yes, clickity, clickity, click (three times to jar loose a reluctant solenoid hammer or cam, then the controller gives up).
Interesting about the sensing current. Thanks for your information!

[Oldtimer]

Rather than trying to modify the appliance module or add a 4W night light to the output check out the various uses of resistors in this tutorial.  Simple to install and draw less than an extra Watt when the light is on.

Converting An Existing X10 System To Work With CFLs

[dave w]

  Simple to install and draw less than an extra Watt when the light is on.

Converting An Existing X10 System To Work With CFLs

Yeah, I just don't like the idea of putting a resistor across the line, in a confined space.