Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[robert]

I have an accent light in the ceiling
controlled by a lamp module.  The bulb blew
so I replaced it.  The module now wont turn
off.  I swapped it out with a spare module
I had and the spare works fine.  I tried
the faulty one in a few other locations and
it still only stays on, it wont turn the
lights off or dim.  Is there something I
can do to fix this module or is it trash?
I know they're cheap, but, if there's
somethign I can quickly fix on it, Id
rather do that, since I like figuring out
problems like this lol.  Any help would be
greatly appreciated!!

[Brian H]

The surge from the bulb blowing out. Shorted the Triac in the module. If it is a LM15A Socket Rocket repair isn't easy. If it is the plug in type like the LM465 I have see repair data. You most likely have to change the triac. One place to look is: http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm

[Brian H]

One point I missed. If it is a plug in lamp
module. Pick an Isolated Tab type triac. I
actually did a few LM465 mods myself.
Exchanged the triac circuit for an SSR type
relay and can control small appliances with
it.

[robert]

It's an LM456 if that helps.  Thanks for
the replies.  

[robert]

Oops, meant LM465, guess my lysdexia is
kicking in lol.  

[Brian H]

Oh my fumble fingers are always showing up
if I am not real careful! You are welcome.

[robert]

Wow, I just looked at that page, and I am
totally lost.  I thought maybe it was just
a "go to radio shack and get this little
part" kinda fix.  I am capable of soldering
on a PC board, but, I have no idea of the
things they are talking about when changing
voltages on things and such, Im totally and
utterly lost.  I might just chuck this
thing in the trash LOL.  Looks like too
much work now......

[Brian H]

Robert; The site has many mods and hacks on
it. Sorry you got overwhelmed. All you need
is a new triac. I checked the Radio Shack
web site and I don't think they carry any of
them now. If you would like more data leave
a message. I maybe able to give you a better
description of what you need to look at.

[robert]

Ok, I read more and found a part in there
that was more in line of what I needed.  It
said to unwind the coil and re-wind it.
So, I just desoldered it, and unwound it,
counting 73 winds.  But, Im not sure if the
core/spindle is any good because it appears
that the windings have kind of melted into
the plastic spindle, and it has a small
crack in the plastic around the core.  Does
this mean their will be some sort of
problem?  Nowhere does it touch the core,
its just that the windings look to have
made their permanent indentions in the
spindle.  Could this be caused by the heat
of the attic where the lamp module was
located?  Or did it just get hot from
regular use and finally crack the plastic
spindle?

What do I do now?  Is the verdict to chuck
in in the garbage?

[Brian H]

If the coil was not burned. It was not the
problem. You said it looks kind of melted
into the plastic. Sounds like maybe the
triac shorted and maybe you had a heavy load
on it. The Triac is screwed to the metal
heat sink that the coil was tie wraped to.
Near the Left lower corner if you are
holding the pc board components up and the
two pc mounted output connections near the
bottom. So the coil if burned needs to be
rewound and the triac is probably also bad.
If you don't have a source of wire and a
triac. You can use it as a learing tool or
toss it. I would toss mine if the coil was
fried. Triac I may try changing. Heck I
removed a few and used T. Parent's mods to
add an SSR to control appliances with a lamp
module.

[robert]

Does running a lamp dimmed down for long
periods of time damage these modules?  Just
wondering if it causes alot of heat dimming
it down.

I will go to Radio-Shack and see if I can
get a Triac like the one listed, and some
copper wire the right size, and rewind the
coil and replace the triac and see if it
either works or fries my fingers when I
plug it in LOL.  Thank God for circuit
breakers and fire extinguishers.  I may
plug it into an extension cord out in the
driveway LMAO.

The coil, other than the plastic under the
windings being a bit melted with the small
crack in it, looked fine to me, with the
untrained eye though.  All the wire looked
perfectly fine.  Now that Ive unwound it Im
sure I'd never get that curly mess back on
neatly again, so thats why I plan to just
replace it.  Guess this week Ill be making
a trip to Radio Shack.....

[Brian H]

Running dimed realy should not overheat the
unit. Most times it is more lamp wattage on
the module than specfied; or maybe in a real
hot area with almost rated wattage. Also
running a lamp not made for a dimmer like a
CFL can make problems. I have a B&D Freewire
Module [made for them by X10] and it was
modified to add a fuse internally for the
output.