Print

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

[cksedg]

We have an electric toothbrush in our master bathroom that has a VERY bright light that is very annoying at night.  I have plugged the toothbrush into an X10 appliance module, and control it with a Mini-timer.  It is set to turn off just before bedtime and turn on just after we get up.  This all works as planned---but----it turns on at random times during the middle of the night---not every night, but most nights.  It never turns off randomly---just on.  I have tried replacing the appliance module, replacing the mini-timer, and plugging it into a different outlet on a different circuit.  Nothing seems to solve the problem.  Can anyone help?

[Brian H]

Appliance Modules have a circuit in them for local control. This keep a small amount of current on the controlled outlet. As a test to see if it is Local Control. Use a power tap on the Appliance Modules switched outlet. To connect the toothbrush and a standard 4 to 7 watt night light. If the problem stops it is Local Control being fooled by the toothbrushes power supply to think it should turn on. There are fixes for this but kills warranty and requires disassembly of the module.
let us know your results.

[dave w]

Would a piece of opaque tape over the night light work?

[Dan Lawrence]

It probably would work to hide the light. A 4 watt night light bulb is pretty bright.

[Brian H]

The light would be off when the toothbrush is off. Though with power rates going sky high. Every watt counts.
There are other brand modules that have less sensing current and can be programmed to ignore local controlls. No disassembly required.

[dave w]

Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant just smackin a piece of tape over the light in the toothbrush and forget about the Appliance module. The KISS principle.

[Brian H]

KISS is so sweet and many times it is forgotten.

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

The other benefit of the tape solution is that the toothbrush would always maintain a full charge as it was designed to have power at all times.