Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Socket Rockets failing  (Read 8447 times)

Davejb

  • Newbie
  • Helpful Post Rating: 0
  • Posts: 1
Socket Rockets failing
« on: August 03, 2006, 09:26:03 PM »

I've had 3 of these fail. With 2 of them the light bulb went bad, after the bulb was replaced they would no longer function and could not be reprogrammed. The last one stopped functioning after a power outage and cannot be reprogrammed. Anyone else expirience this?
Logged

JeffVolp

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 122
  • Posts: 2299
    • XTB Home Page
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2006, 12:42:24 AM »

It is a known problem.  When a lightbulb fails, sometimes the filament will break in such a way that it pulls excessive current for a fraction of a second.  That's what causes the flash we sometimes see when a bulb dies.  Because of its tiny size, I doubt there was room inside the Socket Rocket for a triac that could withstand the large current surge.

The Socket Rocket was a cute idea, but the plug-in lamp module is more robust.  Even those are sometimes killed by that current transient.
Logged
X-10 automation since the BSR days

steven r

  • Advanced Member
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Helpful Post Rating: 74
  • Posts: 2189
  • Halloween with X10
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2006, 01:35:16 AM »

The main reason I'd even consider a socket rocket over a plug-in lamp module is if I was using a non dimming CFL. Are CFLs less likely to take out a socket rocket when they die?
Logged
BVC let's me tell my camera where to go!
:) Murphy is my beta testing pal. He helps me find problems whether I like it or not. :)

JimC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 41
  • Posts: 631
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2006, 06:50:39 AM »

Quote
Are CFLs less likely to take out a socket rocket when they die?

I have been using  several socket rockets with CFL's for about a year now and have yet to have one fail (bulb or socket rocket). I don't know that CFL's draw more current when they fail. More often than not you will see the light output of the CFL start to diminish  and want to change it anyway before it completely fails.

Guess I have just been lucky. I have been using X10 products for many years and I have only had one lamp module fail. :) :D
Logged
_ _ ...  ..._ _

Brian H

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 305
  • Posts: 13295
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2006, 07:25:23 AM »

I too have lost a few with bulb burnouts. For the surge on burnout as mentioned. I also have a few with CFLs in them no problem.
Logged

JeffVolp

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 122
  • Posts: 2299
    • XTB Home Page
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2006, 09:37:50 AM »

Quote
Guess I have just been lucky. I have been using X10 products for many years and I have only had one lamp module fail.

We have used X10 since the brown BSR module days.  Perhaps half a dozen lamp modules have died over the years (not including the early BSR code switches, which were repaired on all of them.)  I don't recall any failures of lamp modules feeding compact fluorescent lights.  As someone else stated, compact fluorescent bulbs gradually dim over their lifetime until they are not useable anymore.  They do not pull that surge of current that sometimes happens when an incandescent bulb fails.

We have not had one lamp module or wall switch failure since we moved into this house several years ago.  We now use mostly compact fluorescent bulbs, but another factor may be the Leviton 51110 surge protector that is installed at the main distribution panel.
Logged
X-10 automation since the BSR days

Tuicemen

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 283
  • Posts: 10509
  • I don't work for X10, I use it successfuly!
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2006, 04:29:58 PM »

Quote
Are CFLs less likely to take out a socket rocket when they die?

I have been using  several socket rockets with CFL's for about a year now and have yet to have one fail (bulb or socket rocket). I don't know that CFL's draw more current when they fail. More often than not you will see the light output of the CFL start to diminish  and want to change it anyway before it completely fails.

Guess I have just been lucky. I have been using X10 products for many years and I have only had one lamp module fail. :) :D
CFLs are known to last over 5 years! In fact I just found two of the old replaceable bulb type I had forgoten about! I've Fried a socket Rocket also (I hadn't gotten around to replacing that bulb with a CFL before it went). >:(  ::)
Logged
Please Read Topic:
General Forum Etiquette
Before you post!

lingtrin

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 50
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #7 on: September 11, 2006, 05:32:56 PM »

You all are talking about CFL and socket rocket, to my understanding you shouldn't use the socket rocket with CFL. But reading this thread gives me another impresion, so you can actually use CFL and socket rocket toghether?
Logged

Brian H

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 305
  • Posts: 13295
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2006, 07:01:15 PM »

Well as you said. A CFL should not be used with a Triac type module. Though since the triac is not being used to dim and just as an On/Off device most will work fine. I did find one model of a GE and the TCP Brands of CFLs. In a Socket Rocket worked but made lots of powerline noise. Some in the X10 signal area.
Logged

JimC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 41
  • Posts: 631
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2006, 06:34:19 AM »

lingtrin,

The instructions that came with my socket rocket clearly states not for use with flourcent lights but they shire do work great with most CFL's. I have been using them in two differant locations for close to a year now and have yet to see a problem. ;D

Jim
Logged
_ _ ...  ..._ _

lingtrin

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 50
Re: Socket Rockets failing
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2006, 09:10:58 AM »

Great  ;D, thanks for your answers
Logged
 

X10.com | About X10 | X10 Security Systems | Cameras| Package Deals
© Copyright 2014-2016 X10.com All rights reserved.