Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Worth trying to repair X-10 modules?

J

JazzMan

Jan 1, 1970
0
I bought the big 12-pack of module a few years back when
I went X-10 in my house. Since then I've had several failures,
especially in the appliance modules and the light switch
modules. Take the light switch module for instance. Typically
it will first stop responding to the remote signal intermittently,
then eventually it won't respond at all. It will still work in
manual mode for a few more months but eventually even that will
no longer work. I've researched and found that switch design
was a problem, but this one has a soldered on discrete switch
and not the assembled one that breaks the leaf most often.
I've looked for a blown fusible link/wire on the board to
no avail. I've had two of these fail this way.

Next up are the relay-switched appliance modules. They, too,
intermittently cease to respond to remote control, but will
still cycle on if I turn the appliance off and on manually.

In all cases a new replacement works just fine as soon as it's
installed.

So far I've got 2 light switch modules, 3 relay-switched appliance
modules, and two wall-plug light control modules that have all
failed this way.

Are they worth repairing?

JazzMan
--
**********************************************************
Please reply to jsavage"at"airmail.net.
Curse those darned bulk e-mailers!
**********************************************************
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry
**********************************************************
 
V

Vlad

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a few X-10 modules that stopped working.
The other day I went to Radio Shack to buy one more and was sold a
wireless unit that works extremely well.
It doesn't have all the bells that X-10 has but to operate a single
unit, it does a fantastic job.
It's just one small RF transmitter of the key chain type with a button
for ON and another for OFF and a receiving unit that operates the
unit plugged into it's outlet .
One can get different pairs operating at different frequencies
To my knowledge there are no timers or wall switches available but for
a reliable single circuit, this is the best.

Vlad
 
B

Bob Urz

Jan 1, 1970
0
JazzMan said:
I bought the big 12-pack of module a few years back when
I went X-10 in my house. Since then I've had several failures,
especially in the appliance modules and the light switch
modules. Take the light switch module for instance. Typically
it will first stop responding to the remote signal intermittently,
then eventually it won't respond at all. It will still work in
manual mode for a few more months but eventually even that will
no longer work. I've researched and found that switch design
was a problem, but this one has a soldered on discrete switch
and not the assembled one that breaks the leaf most often.
I've looked for a blown fusible link/wire on the board to
no avail. I've had two of these fail this way.

Next up are the relay-switched appliance modules. They, too,
intermittently cease to respond to remote control, but will
still cycle on if I turn the appliance off and on manually.

In all cases a new replacement works just fine as soon as it's
installed.

So far I've got 2 light switch modules, 3 relay-switched appliance
modules, and two wall-plug light control modules that have all
failed this way.

Are they worth repairing?

JazzMan

I just went through a couple of my appliance modules not too long ago.
Was trying to hook one to my son's TV to turn his Nintendo off by remote
control when the little bugger would not go to bed on time.

As i recall, i took the appliance modules apart. I had two different
versions. No bad solder connections. But i carefully took the selector
switches apart and cleaned the contacts carefully and put some contact
preservative on them. It seemed to help.

Bob
 
V

Vlad

Jan 1, 1970
0
If we had a schematic we could probably fix some of the problems but I
haven't been able to get them.
There are tuning circuits that probably go out of tune but without
some information becomes a pain and not worth the time spent.

Vlad
 
M

mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
Vlad said:
If we had a schematic we could probably fix some of the problems but I
haven't been able to get them.

X-10 Schematics are avaialable on the web. I saved 'em....
somewhere..., but can't tell you where they came from. Google.
mike




--
Return address is VALID but some sites block emails
with links. Delete this sig when replying.
..
Wanted, PCMCIA SCSI Card for HP m820 CDRW.
FS 500MHz Tek DSOscilloscope TDS540 Make Offer
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
MAKE THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO THE LINK
ht<removethis>tp://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/
 
N

none

Jan 1, 1970
0
If we had a schematic we could probably fix some of the problems but I
haven't been able to get them.
There are tuning circuits that probably go out of tune but without
some information becomes a pain and not worth the time spent.

Vlad


FIX?? Not to be overly sarcastic but X-10 products aren't even worth
BUYING much less repairing.
 
V

Vlad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mike
I found them . The last time I did a search I found nothing but since
that time the Google as improved.
I may take the time to play with them.
Thanks

Vlad
 
M

mike

Jan 1, 1970
0
none said:
FIX?? Not to be overly sarcastic but X-10 products aren't even worth
BUYING much less repairing.

Sounds overly sarcastic to me.
mike

--
Return address is VALID but some sites block emails
with links. Delete this sig when replying.
..
Wanted, PCMCIA SCSI Card for HP m820 CDRW.
FS 500MHz Tek DSOscilloscope TDS540 Make Offer
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
MAKE THE OBVIOUS CHANGES TO THE LINK
ht<removethis>tp://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/
 
J

James Sweet

Jan 1, 1970
0
FIX?? Not to be overly sarcastic but X-10 products aren't even worth
BUYING much less repairing.


I've been using X10 lamp and appliance modules for at least 15 years now and
love them, I'm not aware of anything else on the market that does what they
do and does it so well. That said, I sure did get sick of their obnoxious
internet advertising campaign a few years back, probably did more to spur
the popularity of popup/banner blockers than any other single entity.
 
Top