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Worth trying to repair X-10 modules?

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

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Reply to
JazzMan
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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

Reply to
Vlad

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

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Reply to
Bob Urz

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

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Reply to
Vlad

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

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Reply to
mike

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

Reply to
none

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

Reply to
Vlad

Sounds overly sarcastic to me. mike

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Reply to
mike

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.

Reply to
James Sweet

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