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Author Topic: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb  (Read 7232 times)

Jeff M

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Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« on: March 13, 2011, 02:15:51 PM »

I have one of the 110v LED light bulbs in a lamp, connected to an appliance module.  It is one of those bulbs with about 90 individual led elements.  The module turns the bulb on and off just fine, except when it is off, some of the LED elements are still lit, although very dim.  It seems that the appliance module is not turning off completely.  Is this normal behavior?  I have another appliance module controlling a CFL light bulb, and I have not noticed any problems.
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Knightrider

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2011, 02:27:55 PM »

... Is this normal behavior?  ...

yes
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Brian H

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2011, 06:01:14 PM »

The LED bulb draws so little current. The am I On or Off sensor in the CFL friendly later ones or the Local Control Sensing sensor in the older ones. Will keep the bulb partially light all the time.
Try a four watt night light bulb along with the LED bulb and see if the glow goes away.
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Jeff M

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2011, 06:28:31 PM »

I thought that the lamp module kept the bulb in the current sensing loop, causing this behavior, and that the appliance module was different in that it was strictly or or off, thus safe for CFL bulb.
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Brian H

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2011, 06:38:40 PM »

The two wire wall switches steal current through the light bulbs.

Lamp Modules can cause problems with CFL. The dimming circuit even at 100% On. Alters the AC slightly and CFLs or the module can be damaged. Also the soft start ramp on and off is not good for a standard CFL.
Some Dimmable CFLs will work with Lamp Modules. Applance Modules are as you said strictly on and off. So CFLs are fine.

The lamp and appliance modules don't steal power through the load. As they have a Line and Neutral power connection.
They do have a feature called Local Control Sensing. Where you can use the local switch on the device. Turn it Off and back On. The module if it was off. It turns on.
The new CFL friendly Appliance Module has a very little current. Still on the outlet when off.
Since the electronics needs to know if the ratchet switch is on or off when a command is sent. The sensing circuit provides the needed information. LED bulbs draw such little current. They do glow from this current.

A CFL uses more current and the CFL friendly appliance module doesn't have enough off current to make it go back on or to randomly flash. Like the older appliance modules would do.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2011, 06:44:26 PM by Brian H »
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Jeff M

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2011, 06:56:47 PM »

Ok, I understand, Thanks.  Now, do you think there will be harm to the LED bulb or the appliance module if some of the LED's glow slightly when the module is switched off?
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Brian H

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2011, 07:32:12 PM »

I doubt it would harm the LED bulb or the appliance module.
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Jeff M

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2011, 08:27:12 PM »

I've see a couple of articles that describe a mod to disable local control.  I believe this will solve the "LED glow when off" issue.  Are you familiar with this mod?  Does it work?
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Brian H

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Re: Appliance Module and LED Light Bulb
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2011, 08:48:37 PM »

Yes it is for the older models that where not sold as CFL friendly.

There is no diode to cut in the CFL friendly ones. If you cut the one resistor on the outlet for on off sensing. It fires a few time like a machine gun as it thinks it didn't change its output.
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