RE: [mh] x10 for shop lights

[Tim S. <tp...@ma...>]

On Sat, January 28, 2006 18:39, Jim Serack said:
> Tim,
>
> I think your modules are the victims of a voltage surge when the module
> turns off. The Ballast transformer is an inductor (like the ignition coil
> in
> a car) and the module relay is like the points - when they open the
> current
> wants to continue and generates a high back voltage - (enough usually to
> spark a regular switch) like in the 4-15KV range. The away the module is
> designed to sense the load being switched on and off at the appliance
> makes
> a path back into the electronics of the module (I think the snip you did
> only affected the logic not the connection to the load side) - so the
> module
> takes the hit - eventually it blows.

That makes sense. The funny thing is, this is happening on 2 separate
lights in my basement, but out in my garage, I have the same fixture
hooked into one of the hardwired modules, and that's been going fine for
over 18 months.

> You need to have something else discharge the inductive spike - like a
> cube
> surge suppressor AFTER the module before the shop lamps - or a small 7W
> bulb
> nightlight in parallel with the shops lamps....

That's an easy fix. I'll give it a try and let you know in 6 months or so.

Thanks

Tim