compact flourescent flashes

[cj4331]

I disabled local control by cutting the jumper for pin 7 and verified it was disabled by testing with a conventional bulb in my lamp.  But when I use a compact fluorescent bulb (7 watt) it still flickers/flashes when the appliance module is off.   Cutting the jumper for pin 7 must disable Local control sensing to prevent the module from turning back on but not the delivery of the circuit test current. How can I stop that current from being sent to the bulb when the unit is off?  There has to be some other path that can be cut to do this.  My unit looks exactly like the one shown on http://www.smarthome.com/solution24.html

Thanks

[Walt2]

Compact Fluorescents have a very high inductance.  That means, they don't like it when current flow changes abruptly.    As an example, this is how older cars use to create the "spark" for spark plugs.  They would disrupt the current flow (with the "points") thru a large inductor (the "coil"), and that in turn created thousands of volts.

Anyway, you possibly need to provide the current an alternate path.  One such way, is to simply try plugging in a plain old incandescent night light together with the CF.  Just try this, and see if the problem goes away.

[Brian H]

You may also try the diode cut shown on this site.  http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm
Note X10 has updated the LM465 Lamp Modules and I believe the Appliance Modules also due to obsolete parts being replaced by new electronics. If yous does not match the PC Board in the mods. You may have an updated one that few of us have seen yet.

[cj4331]

yes, http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm.  That solved it.  Thanks!

[Brian H]

Glad you found it and it was not one of the updated ones where we have little data yet.

[gdkramer]

Be careful using compact flourescents with X10 systems. I found my interference and signal sucking problem to be a single compact flourescent lamp. I racked my brains to find the culprit. It was a month an a half of trial and error to find it. Glad I ended up buying an X10 signal strength meter.

[Brian H]

Some brands of CFLs are very noisy and others are better in X10 situations.
My DuraBrite ones where very noisy.

[JMac]

Wouldn't it be nice if there were a CFL brand that was not a "signal sucker", and didn't interfere with the X10 signal ?  One that was reasonable in cost, say in the $2-$3 range.  Oh, and also dimmable down to at least 20%..........maybe some day..........