Re: [mh] Solution for X10 Lamp Modules and LED flicker when on.

Thanks Jim

I've created 
https://github.com/hollie/misterhouse/wiki/X10-lamp-modules-and-flickering-LEDs 
with the content of this (without the diagram)

Please could you edit it as you see  fit?

Giles

On 31/01/2021 13:52, Jim Serack wrote:
>
> Short version: I have a solution for LED flicker X10 Lamp Modules when 
> on and I’m wondering if this is a common enough to put the effort into 
> a tutorial on how to fix or if everyone has moved on already.
>
> Question: Do you have this problem and do you feel it worth fixing the 
> old tech?
>
> Longer version:
>
> I’ve got a house with more than a dozen X10 lamp modules (ok some 
> would say a museum) that have served me well and generally meet my 
> needs along with UPB, and HAI alarm and control. In total around 150 
> points of automation, monitoring and sensing of lighting, HVAC, Pool, 
> Alarm, Irrigation, motorized awnings, etc. Misterhouse has been part 
> of this setup throughout.
>
> So I’m not inclined to discard and replace the X10 Lamp Modules yet 
> I’ve started to have more and more lamps with intermittent flicker 
> during the ON state as I end up replacing incandescent bulbs with 
> dimmable LED’s.
>
> I put together a test setup including a digital storage scope and 
> determined the problem is that the LED bulb current sometimes (~ 5% of 
> the time) drops below the TRIAC (in the lamp module) latching current 
> and thus turns off:
>
> Persistent trace scope image of an LED Bulb on X10 Lamp Dimmer running 
> 50% dim – dropout in Quadrant II
>
> The 6W LED Bulb current averages around 50 mA and the BTA10-400C has a 
> typical IL spec of 35mA (and no maximum in the specs). I replaced the 
> TRIAC with one with a IL MAX of 15 mA and the problem went away.
>
> The solution is to do a straight forward component replacement in the 
> X10 Lamp Module. The BTA10-400C TRIAC in at least some brands of the 
> modules can carry up to 10A (1200 watts) yet the module states 300W 
> max. Replacement Triacs with the lower latching current are readily 
> available up to 8 A of load (960 watts) that still exceed the 300W max 
> for the module and cost < $2 each – it takes about 30 minutes to do a 
> module (the first time).
>
>
>
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