Although I live in Australia, I will head this request as "European" since the X10 modules sold in Australia appear to be the same as those in Europe / UK (Marmitek, etc) except with the standard Australian / NZ plug / socket arrangement. So, I have had
a couple of these which have died on me, and I am trying very hard to repair them as I still have a very good application for using them. Having dismantled the modules and checked the associated circuit board, I can see that most of the circuit appears
to be similar in design to that widely published on the Internet by SM Bloom for the 110v lamp module with obvious changes to take account of the higher supply voltages in European countries (220v through 250v). However, there is one area of the circuit
that leaves me perplexed. In the 110v circuit, the 120Khz 'control' signals are fed to pin 1 of the associated 78561 microcontroller via a variable coil and what appears to be a couple of clamping diodes and a 33pF series capacitor.

However, on the European models, the associated circuitry is much more complex. The 120KHz signals are again fed to pin 1 of the 78561 via a variable coil but then via a much more complex circuit consisting of two extra transistors as well as a number of
associated capacitors and diodes. I have traced the circuit and there are certainly some anomalies! The first transistor used is marked C705 and a 'net search shows this as a small signal RF NPN transistor. However, the references to this show a
nonstandard pin configuration (ECB rather than EBC)) which certainly does not appear to be the case on the one I have removed from a PCB. I am 99% certain that the one used has a standard EBC configuration. The second transistor is marked C623 which
seems to be the same as others on the PCB. I have a sketch of how I believe the circuit is laid out, based on the best of my ability and without destructively unsoldering too much (The tight layout makes this a difficult task, to say the least!). My
question is, does anyone have ANY knowledge of what the purpose of this extra circuitry is and how it works? I am happy to share my sketch if there is anyone out there that might be able to answer me!

Oh, and my fault-finding so far seems to indicate that the major problem is a breakdown of the initial 0.33uF 630v polyester capacitor that is used in place of the "large blue" 0.68uF capacitor on the 110v modules.

Many thanks in advance for any assistance - there is precious little information available on 'true' European voltage modules.

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* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Andrew Gabiel replied: - If it just went open circuit, then you should be able to simply replace it. Use a Class X1 or X2 capacitor to reduce chance of it shorting (these are designed specifically to have mains voltage across them and remain safe).

Thanks Andrew. Somewhat independently, I had already decided that might be a better solution. It's also easier as the 'main' electronics retailers here don't stock a decent range of HV mylar capacitors, but do keep a range of X2 mains caps. (I've ordered
some fom overseas, but they do take a while to reach here. We'e a long way from anywhere!) It doesn't - thankfully - look like it went s/c - it actually measures 0.113uF rather than 0.33uF, so hopefully it won't have destroyed anything beyond it. I'm
keeping fingers crossed!

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In article <[email protected]>,
Mike Weaver <[email protected]> writes:

Andrew Gabiel replied: - If it just went open circuit, then you should be a= ble to simply replace it. Use a Class X1 or X2 capacitor to reduce chance o= f it shorting (these are designed specifically to have mains voltage across=
them and remain safe).=20

Thanks Andrew. Somewhat independently, I had already decided that might be = a better solution. It's also easier as the 'main' electronics retailers her= e don't stock a decent range of HV mylar capacitors, but do keep a range of=
X2 mains caps. (I've ordered some fom overseas, but they do take a while t= o reach here. We'e a long way from anywhere!) It doesn't - thankfully - loo= k like it went s/c - it actually measures 0.113uF rather than 0.33uF, so ho= pefully it won't have destroyed anything beyond it. I'm keeping fingers cro= ssed!

That means the dropper LV supply will only be able to supply 1/3rd of
the original current to the LV circuitry, and it's unlikely it was
originally over-spec'ed by a factor of 3, so that very likely explains
why the circuitry wouldn't work.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] writes:

Although I live in Australia, I will head this request as "European" since = the X10 modules sold in Australia appear to be the same as those in Europe = / UK (Marmitek, etc) except with the standard Australian / NZ plug / socket=
arrangement. So, I have had a couple of these which have died on me, and I=
am trying very hard to repair them as I still have a very good application=
for using them. Having dismantled the modules and checked the associated c= ircuit board, I can see that most of the circuit appears to be similar in d= esign to that widely published on the Internet by SM Bloom for the 110v lam= p module with obvious changes to take account of the higher supply voltages=
in European countries (220v through 250v). However, there is one area of t= he circuit that leaves me perplexed. In the 110v circuit, the 120Khz 'contr= ol' signals are fed to pin 1 of the associated 78561 microcontroller via a = variable coil and what appears to be a couple of clamping diodes and a 33pF=
series capacitor.=20

However, on the European models, the associated circuitry is much more comp= lex. The 120KHz signals are again fed to pin 1 of the 78561 via a variable = coil but then via a much more complex circuit consisting of two extra trans= istors as well as a number of associated capacitors and diodes. I have trac= ed the circuit and there are certainly some anomalies! The first transistor=
used is marked C705 and a 'net search shows this as a small signal RF NPN = transistor. However, the references to this show a nonstandard pin configur= ation (ECB rather than EBC)) which certainly does not appear to be the case=
on the one I have removed from a PCB. I am 99% certain that the one used h= as a standard EBC configuration. The second transistor is marked C623 which=
seems to be the same as others on the PCB. I have a sketch of how I believ= e the circuit is laid out, based on the best of my ability and without dest= ructively unsoldering too much (The tight layout makes this a difficult tas= k, to say the least!). My question is, does anyone have ANY knowledge of wh= at the purpose of this extra circuitry is and how it works? I am happy to s= hare my sketch if there is anyone out there that might be able to answer me= !

Oh, and my fault-finding so far seems to indicate that the major problem is=
a breakdown of the initial 0.33uF 630v polyester capacitor that is used in=
place of the "large blue" 0.68uF capacitor on the 110v modules.

If that capacitor short circuited, I suspect it will have blown
all the low voltage circuitry, unless a zener diode held on for
long enough to blow the resistor in series with the capacitor
(which you can test with a test meter, although it's often
obvious when they blow).

If it just went open circuit, then you should be able to simply
replace it. Use a Class X1 or X2 capacitor to reduce chance of
it shorting (these are designed specifically to have mains
voltage across them and remain safe).

Many thanks in advance for any assistance - there is precious little inform= ation available on 'true' European voltage modules.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)