Using X10 to Dim Landscape Lighting?

[Charles Sullivan]

Has anyone had actual experience with using an X-10 Lamp
Module (or Wall Switch) to dim 12 Volt landscape lighting?
What I have in mind is to plug the primary of the 120V
to 12V transformer into the module instead of directly
into the wall recepticle. The systems to be dimmed will
have lamp loads from about 100 to 300 Watts.

The transformer ought to look pretty much like an
incandescent lamp load to the module so I don't expect
a problem on that score (famous last words), but there
is a potential problem with overheating of the transformer
due to harmonics in the module's output.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Regards,
Charles Sullivan

[Ian Shef]

In article <59906u$c...@nw101.infi.net>,

I tried to use a landscape lighting transformer on an X-10
lamp module, and found that it didn't work (it was a few
years ago... I don't remenber whether it would not turn
on or would not turn off, but it was one of those two).

An appliance module worked fine. A dimmer module may work
for you if it is the three-wire type instead of the two-wire
lamp module type.

.. or maybe your brand of transformer will work where mine
didn't.

>
>Any advice will be appreciated.
>
>Regards,
>Charles Sullivan
>

Ian Shef * email: ibs...@ccgate.hac.com
Hughes Missile Sys. Co.* phone: 520-794-7176
PO Box 11337 * fax: 520-794-5452
Tucson, AZ 85734-1337 *

[Joseph Gilbert]

In <599m5h$9...@hacgate2.hac.com> ibs...@ccgate.hac.com (Ian Shef)
writes:

>
>In article <59906u$c...@nw101.infi.net>,
> cwsu...@nr.infi.net (Charles Sullivan) wrote:
>>
>>Has anyone had actual experience with using an X-10 Lamp
>>Module (or Wall Switch) to dim 12 Volt landscape lighting?
>>What I have in mind is to plug the primary of the 120V
>>to 12V transformer into the module instead of directly
>>into the wall recepticle. The systems to be dimmed will
>>have lamp loads from about 100 to 300 Watts.
>>
>>The transformer ought to look pretty much like an
>>incandescent lamp load to the module so I don't expect
>>a problem on that score (famous last words), but there
>>is a potential problem with overheating of the transformer
>>due to harmonics in the module's output.
>

Why not buy a LEVITON inductive dimmer switch. It is designed for
ceiling fans, and other transformer loads, like low voltage lighting.

Joe Gilbert
Symphony Automation
www.register.com/symphony

[David Buckley]

In article <59906u$c...@nw101.infi.net> cwsu...@nr.infi.net (Charles Sullivan) writes:
>
> Has anyone had actual experience with using an X-10 Lamp
> Module (or Wall Switch) to dim 12 Volt landscape lighting?
> What I have in mind is to plug the primary of the 120V
> to 12V transformer into the module instead of directly
> into the wall recepticle. The systems to be dimmed will
> have lamp loads from about 100 to 300 Watts.
>
> The transformer ought to look pretty much like an
> incandescent lamp load to the module so I don't expect
> a problem on that score (famous last words), but there
> is a potential problem with overheating of the transformer
> due to harmonics in the module's output.

STOP!!!!

A transformer looks nothing whatsoever like an incandescent lamp load.

Plugging an inductive load into a dimmer not designed to handle an
inductive load will shorten the life of (hopefully in this order) the
fuse, the transformer overheat device, the dimmer, the transformer, your
house.

Don't do it.

--
----------------------------------------+------------------------------------
David Buckley of Electric Solutions Ltd | Email: dbuc...@esl.tex.com
Services to the Computing,Electronics | BBS: +44-181-688-7080
and Entertainment industries. |
Calling from South London, in the UK |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Scott Wood`]

I have used a wall switch that will support transformers for halogen
lighting and it has worked fine for two years now. I don't know the number
but just look for the description to talk about transformers.
--
Scott Wood

Charles Sullivan <cwsu...@nr.infi.net> wrote in article
<59906u$c...@nw101.infi.net>...

>
> Has anyone had actual experience with using an X-10 Lamp
> Module (or Wall Switch) to dim 12 Volt landscape lighting?
> What I have in mind is to plug the primary of the 120V
> to 12V transformer into the module instead of directly
> into the wall recepticle. The systems to be dimmed will
> have lamp loads from about 100 to 300 Watts.
>
> The transformer ought to look pretty much like an
> incandescent lamp load to the module so I don't expect
> a problem on that score (famous last words), but there
> is a potential problem with overheating of the transformer
> due to harmonics in the module's output.
>