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[jagMan653]

Just paid $10 for a 95W-equivalent CFL and screwed it into a table lamp controlled with an AM486 module. Found that it turns itself on. Kind of spooky, especially today!

Is thia a known issue?

[Brian H]

Yes known problem. The module has Local Control sensing and the electronics in it trigger it back on.
As a test. Try putting a Small 4 watt night light and the CFL Lamp on the modules output. If it then acts right. You have a Local Control Problem.

Is the module fairly new? X10 recently redesigned the appliance module to be more CFL friendly. Yours sounds like it maybe the older design.

[jagMan653]

thanks for quick reply.

Tried it on 2 old Rasio Shack units and a newer X10 labeled unit with a 8E21 tag. Don't know if that dates it or what.

BTW I use the AM465 because the LM465 units quickly fail.

Ed

[Brian H]

Lamp Modules should not be used for CFL type bulbs in most cases.
I have tried dimmable CFL bulbs with a lamp module but not for extended periods.

8E21. If you get a chance. Can you put a standard incandescent bulb in the lamp with that module. With the module off. Toggle the lamps switch from on to off and back on. If it turns back on it has Local Control. If it doesn't go back on then is should be the newer CFL friendly one with no Local Control.

[jagMan653]

I have not been using the LM465 even for incandescent for a couple years. IOW, they were failing with ordinary bulbs.

The 8E21 responds to local control. So, I guess it's an old one.

Is the 4W incandescent in parallel with the CFL an acceptable workaround?

Do the AM465s shipping now work with CFL? I've been reading some old posts and there seems to be some doubt. We don't use Local Control much, so that wouldn't bother me.

Ed

[Dan Lawrence]

I have not been using the LM465 even for incandescent for a couple years. IOW, they were failing with ordinary bulbs.

The 8E21 responds to local control. So, I guess it's an old one.

Is the 4W incandescent in parallel with the CFL an acceptable workaround?

Do the AM465s shipping now work with CFL? I've been reading some old posts and there seems to be some doubt. We don't use Local Control much, so that wouldn't bother me.

Ed

There is a AM465 It's a Lamp Module, not recommended for CFLs as it dims , It's a AM486 for the 2-pin and AM466 for the 3-pin Appliance Modules. X10 also markets the AM466 as a CFL Friendly Appliance Module.

[Brian H]

I was hoping the 8E21 was 2008, but I now think it may have been a 1998 Date Code.

For the older Appliance Modules. The 4 watt bulb was the X10 recommended fix.

The new CFL modules are much better with CFL bulbs. I tried one of the latest GE Reveal CFL bulbs with both a new and old version.
As soon as power was applied with the old style. The bulb flashed like a strobe light, but didn't trip the Local Sense.
With the new style. There was no strobe flashing at all.

Results may vary as I had one older Greenlite CFL that flashed badly with the old style but had a very faint flash with the new style.

CFL manufacturers have so many electronic ballast designs. So results maybe tied to the actual bulbs electronics.
The new models are much better than the older ones.

[glb7272]

the latest am466 (same insides as am486 i believe) I received from the x10 site (not an affiliate) has the date code 08a02 and the board is labeled11313b. The only real load that turns it back on is a tiny cell phone charger that was not plugged into the phone (5 volt dc no label as far as mA). every cfl that i have plugged in has worked without problems. They were from depot and lowes 13w. I can't guarantee it will not happen but most likely you will be ok with the new ones from x10.com.

[jagMan653]

OK, I'll order a few AM466 units.

This help has been great. Thanks to all.

Ed

[Brian H]

Don't know how many you want, but the mega sale is still in force.
http://www.x10.com/promotions/mega_module_packs.html