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[mike]

PLEASE MOVE THIS TO RIGHT FORUM IF THIS ONE IS WRONG.

I just sent the following email to Smarthome and think everyone should be aware of it:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:    QC MAJOR PROBLEM!
Date:    Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:49:44 -0500
To:    custsvc@smarthome.com

Hi,

I probably have 40pc of your FilterLinc MOdel 1626 around 4 buildings with X10 products.

I JUST BLEW FUSE IN ONE AND FOUND THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS!  So the fuse does not protect the inductors and caps inside, and they are all on the low side, NOT THE HOT SIDE, of the circuit!  The device does nothing other than being a potential fire hazard that will not meet the UL sticker on it!!!!!!!!!

Please tell me you have a date code or version range where you know that this happened so I can go check my other units since I normally bought in qty.

In the meantime, tell me how to return this one and possibly others that were built wrong.

This unit has the following unique markings:

QC 2
0820
V1.2,  0379

I await your quick reply!

[Brian H]

The fuse is part of the PC board and is in series with the inductors. 
Mine is also a rev 1.2. older Date Code 0651.
So the inductors and capacitors in the filter, where still protected by a fuse. Though a line to ground short in the load would not be protected.

So in your case. You found the board end marked Output was mounted reversed and the output end was on the line input side. Which would basically have the fuse and inductors on the neutral power connection. 

Side note. The 1626 five amp FilterLinc is now discontinued. Only the 1626-10 ten amp one is being sold now.

[dave w]

So in your case. You found the board end marked Output was mounted reversed and the output end was on the line input side. Which would basically have the fuse and inductors on the neutral power connection. 

I have never looked inside the FilterLinc, but am wondering: Although this would not protect if the filter or load shorted to ground, but wouldn't a fuse in the neutral leg still provide protection against over current conditions? A Kirkoff's Law thing(?).

[Brian H]

Yes a fuse in the neutral should protect from too much current through the filter, but not an external load to ground as one would expect.
Though its ability to filter maybe compromised.
http://home.comcast.net/~gafield/family/gary/electronics/X10_Filter.pdf
The 1626 had a five amp fuse the 1626-10 had a ten amp fuse in it. IMHO the added cost for the ten was just to have the ten amp fuse in it. As both have the same board and coils in them.

Unfortunately the UL or ETL sticker on a unit does not mean that exact one is OK. It should be but who knows.
My coworker was working on a new machine and got knocked flat on his back. When he touched the cabinet and the near by steal column.
Found the moulded line cord {made in Mexico} had the Black Line and Green Ground wires reversed inside the moulded plug. Yes that made the whole cabinet 120 volts AC to a real safety ground. It had a UL sticker on the cord but I didn't verify it was not a counterfit ID number.

[dave w]

http://home.comcast.net/~gafield/family/gary/electronics/X10_Filter.pdf
The 1626 had a five amp fuse the 1626-10 had a ten amp fuse in it. IMHO the added cost for the ten was just to have the ten amp fuse in it. As both have the same board and coils in them.

So Smarthome.com had a five amp, and a (more expensive?) ten amp filter and the only difference was the fuse capacity...  

As W.C. Fields said:  "There's one born every minute...."

[Brian H]

Kind of a moot point now. They only sell the ten amp one. The five amp one is discontinued.
Though I guess some Automation Dealers, that handle Smarthome. May still have some of the five amp ones.

[mike]

I will go thru the ones I have and check x10 sig strength on both filtered and unfiltered side to see if they work;  if there is one there may be more.  I never considered checking that the filter actually worked after the first one.  might be there are a few important ones on computers and such that arent doing the job and I just assumed they were.  Might make for a better overall system to test each one to be sure....

[dave w]

mike, did you hear back from Smarthome.com?