LED Christmas Tree Lights Glow Dimly

[apostolakisl]

I put a 2456s3 relay on my new led christmas tree lights. When it shuts off, the lights stay on, very dimly.

 

How is this so? I thought this unit was a true hard contact relay (it sure sounds like one with its loud "click" when turning on/off.)

[Brian H]

Yes the 2456S3 is a relay type output.

 

LED lights don't need much current to light them dimly.

 

It is the low current from the Local Control sensing circuit. Even when you have local control set to off. The current is still there. The module just ignores any local control action.

 

Put a small 4 watt incandescent night light bulb along with the LED lights on the modules output. Some have used a 47KOhm 1/2 watt resistor in place of the 4 watt bulb. Depending on the amount of current needed to make them glow. The resistor may not completely extinguish them.

 

This is not just an Insteon module problem. It is a very common problem with X10 and other protocol modules also. When using the modern LED lights.

[art]

There are web pages describing X10 module modifications that snip the current sense connection inside the module. Anyone have something similar for the insteon modules - although I would hate to start breaking perfectly good modules just to have them keep up with technology.

[Brian H]

Yes but the new soft start X10 Lamp Modules and X10 CFL friendly Appliance Modules where completely redesigned and the diode fix is no longer there.

The Appliance Modules still make LEDs glow and the Lamp Modules also make them glow and not light correctly if there isn't enough of them to keep the triac on.

 

I have not seen anything for Insteon modules.

[ResIpsa]

I've always hated the nightlight solution to this problem because it leaves a 4-watt lightbulb glowing in an otherwise dark house. My solution has been to plug a short extension cord into the ApplianceLinc. The LED lights are then plugged into the extension cord, along with the adapter from any old electrical device (the kind with a transformer on the end). The transformer sucks up enough current to keep those LEDs from glowing. I'm now in the habit of saving the power cord from every cell phone, bluetooth headset, etc., that I retire. Works great, and no glowing lightbulb!

[apostolakisl]

With the Christmas lights you don't even need the extension cord becuase they all have the pass through outlet on the backside. I will go ahead and plug a wall wart into it when I get home tonight. Thanks.

 

Though I wish I could just shut off that test current altogether.

[art]

This does seem to be the best solution and we all have these things lying around. Although I suspect SMARTHOME might eventually provide a switch on the side, a software solution, or at least a "cut here" diagram.

[apostolakisl]

Yup, it works. Wall wart plugged into the passthrough plug on the led christmas lights does the trick.

 

Amazing how little current it takes to get led's lit!

[Hark Deba]

I put a 2456s3 relay on my new led christmas tree lights. When it shuts off, the lights stay on, very dimly.

 

How is this so? I thought this unit was a true hard contact relay (it sure sounds like one with its loud "click" when turning on/off.)

I've always disliked the night light fix for your problem because it results in a 4-watt lightbulb radiant in an otherwise black house. You may use small led lighting in this case to beautify your tree.