CFL Friendly Modules - NOT!!!!

[Dan Lawrence]

Just spent a little time on the X10 Website and guess what?  Those "CFL Friendly" lanp and appliance modules that they are advertising on the "package deals" with AHP and the plug-ins are just the same old lamp and appliance modules.

More good old HYPE and little substance.     

[bitman]

Sigh, yup.

Got to check some chicks though didn't ya.

Positively insulting.

C'mon x10, quit treating us like we stupid.

[Brian H]

NO. Internally they are different. I have both old and new appliance modules and the new ones are much better with CFL bulbs. I also measured the sensing current between them and it is different.
The PB boards between them are different also and those looking for the Local Control parts to remove may have a hard time finding them. 

[Dan Lawrence]

What's the release numbers of those CFL Friendly modules?  Are they available outside of the package deals?

[Brian H]

Like with the change to Soft Start LM465's. The new ones have the same AM466 for the three pin. Mine are dated code 08A02. I don't know when they changed it.

[Dan Lawrence]

Does X10 make a 2-pin AM486 in a CFL Friendly module? If they do, what's the release number.

[Dan Lawrence]

What we are looking for is the release number for the CFL Friendly Appliance Modules.  X10 doesn't give any other info and the part numbers are the same.  X10 did the same thing with the Soft Start Lamp modules.  Somebody at X10 needs to be beaten with a tire iron for not assigning new part numbers to these new modules.

[Brian H]

Only X10 knows if the two pin appliance modules are also CFL friendly.
I know by design the same PCB fits both cases; but do no know if the new boards are in the two pin ones. Also the sales site does not say they are.

[Dan Lawrence]

Thanks.   

[Noam]

Only X10 knows if the two pin appliance modules are also CFL friendly.
I know by design the same PCB fits both cases; but do no know if the new boards are in the two pin ones. Also the sales site does not say they are.

From what I know about electrical circuits and X10 (this actually applies to any timer that doesn't have a battery in it), a "two-wire" timer (or X10 switch in this case) will never be compatible with CFLs, unless they are engineered to work with such a device.
By definition, a "two-wire" switch or timer gets powered by running a small amount of current through the load (in this case, the light) to complete the circuit. This works with an incandescent bulb, but doesn't work with a flourescent, as you can't pass a "small amount" of current through one.

The timers that are designed to work with CFLs either have a battery in them (and don't try to run the timer itself off the AC), or have a Neutral (white) wire, and use that to complete the circuit.

[Brian H]

Very true. I also doubt the two wire wall switches that steal power through the load will work with a CFL or the new CCFL bulbs I am playing with.

We where trying to determine if the two pin appliance module was also CFL friendly like the newer 3 pin appliance modules.