Print

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

[Cubbyd]

If it does not hurt a lamp or applliance module, I would like to use the "guts" in one of the modules as an option of controlling a given load.  The load, though, could also get power from another source which would show up on the load side of the circuit in the module.  Will that fry the guts of either a lamp (LM465) or a Appliance (AM466) module?  Will the application of that voltage change the state of the module to "on" if it was "off"? 

Both sources of power will be from one circuit, so there shouldn't be an issue of getting 220v across the hot side.

[Oldtimer]

I did this with a regular X10 appliance module in my former home with no problem whatsoever over a period of 10 years.  I have not tried it with a lamp module or a module that can be provide status feedback. The only thing you have to be careful of is getting the polarity correct. If you don't you will fry something!

[Brian H]

Like Oldtimer said. If you don't get the neutral on one and the line on the other crossed. No sparks should happen.
Also remember the power supply for the modules is a transformer less; capacitor type. Many have the LINE Input as the Common on the PC Board. So if removed from the case completely. Insulate well.

[steven r]

Hmm... What are you trying to do that you wouldn't want to control it directly?

Controlling a relay to switch the load would be the safest way I think.

[Cubbyd]

There is really two purposes to this.

One, is to control lights I cannot see from the switch.  If I turn them on with a hardwired switch I know they are on.  At other times I want them to come on via a timer.  If I replace the switch with a control module switch, there is not definite "on" and "off" nor is there a  small neon lamp in the paddle to show power is applied.  As a result, I am in one of those situations where I cannot easily determine if the circuit on or off since I cannot see the lights.

Secondly, many of the duplex outlets in my home are wired such that half of the outlet is always hot and the other is switched.  Some of these are used seasonally.  And, while I could just plug in a module, and use as needed, at times I also want the capability of turning them on and off manually, without having to go to some other AHP, or control box to do it.  Thus, using a double plug, (one in the switched outlet, one in the always hot, I could wire a small half duplex box with the guts of a module such that that one outlet then becomes either manually switched as it always was, and, in addition, the switched outlet could be supplied via the module while the other outlet is always hot, as in the past.  I know it could just cycle the switch on the lamp, to get the module to turn on, but its across a dark room and .....etc.

[Puck]

Cubbyd: Why not just replace the switch with an ICON On/Off Switch?

It's saver and it has an LED that will give you the ON/OFF indication you are looking for.

[steven r]

...One, is to control lights I cannot see from the switch.  If I turn them on with a hardwired switch I know they are on....

Thanks for sharing your application with us.
I use X10 to make sure that my lights are off more than I use it for timed events. For me having a hard wired on / off switch in parallel with my load would only increase my electric bill as I can't rely on switches being turned off at my house.