I appreciate all the comments, suggestions and discussion. However my question remains unanswered:
- If I disable the current sensing circuits, can I eliminate the bulk of the quiescent current consumption?
- How do I go about not only defeating the current sensing feature of the chip (cut lead at D10 diode) but also defeat the couple of watts sent down the line to "sense" local control?
I would be happy as a clam to leave all my X10 modules/switches in place
IF I can defeat the current sensing feature. [This assumes that most of the quiescent load is spent on this function.] I don't need nor want local control. I'm more than happy to rely 100% on getting X10 signals through the house. So without getting into a discussion on "why you need local control", please offer any ideas for defeating local control.
Other than low wattage load, here's a problem that "local control" is causing at Christmas. My wife put up 650 LED Christmas lights on one of her trees. The entire load is 42 watts (!). I am trying to use an X-10 module to control this Christmas tree. I've tried a lamp module and then I tried an appliance module with the same results. I can turn the module on and of...however when the module is off, the LEDs have a very faint glow. The LEDs are pulling 3.5 watts from the module. If I can defeat the current sensing feature of X10 modules/switches, I can use X10 to control LED Christmas lights as well as the 87 other control points in the house.
Can anyone offer help? To repeat: I've already been to
http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm where I learned to cut the lead of the D10 diode to defeat current sensing. This modification cuts the control line from the microchip (defeats local control) but does not shut off the 3.5 watts going down to the load (the local control sensing current). What else do I need to do?
Thank you in advance for your help.