X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: rjniles on September 15, 2011, 06:45:50 PM

Title: Do X-10 Switches meet UL and NEC code?
Post by: rjniles on September 15, 2011, 06:45:50 PM
I just installed a WS 13A switch and noticed it does not have a ground terminal. I thought that switches were required to have a EGC (Equipment Grounding Conductor) terminal since at least the 1999 NEC code cycle.  Could not find any UL listing info either.
Title: Re: Do X-10 Switches meet UL and NEC code?
Post by: dhouston on September 15, 2011, 07:11:58 PM
X-10's website says they are UL approved.

I have no switches but all of the plug-in modules appear to have UL & CSA symbols on their labels. In fact, X-10 uses the UL approval as a sales point for the TW523 saying it's a way to delelop your own controller without the need for UL approval as it's already UL & CSA approved.
Title: Re: Do X-10 Switches meet UL and NEC code?
Post by: Brian H on September 15, 2011, 07:28:31 PM
I have a Date Code 04L51 X10Pro XPS3 version of the WS13A. It has a UL & CSA emblem on it.
Can't say about the present ones.
Title: Re: Do X-10 Switches meet UL and NEC code?
Post by: dave w on September 15, 2011, 08:44:38 PM
Quote from: rjniles on September 15, 2011, 06:45:50 PM
I just installed a WS 13A switch and noticed it does not have a ground terminal. I thought that switches were required to have a EGC (Equipment Grounding Conductor) terminal since at least the 1999 NEC code cycle.  Could not find any UL listing info either.
I just checked the Home Depot switch selection web pages and it looked like even the 54 cent cheapie wall switches have a ground lug.

However that would also mean that X10 has, for over a decade, gotten away with selling switches which clearly  - visually, do not meet code.... with no "govmnt" intervention.  rofl
Title: Re: Do X-10 Switches meet UL and NEC code?
Post by: Sammer on September 16, 2011, 10:46:44 PM
There can be differences in the NEC for new electrical work and retrofit. While not allowed as new wiring under the 2011 NEC there are lots of older switch loops with no GEC, no neutral, no armored cable, no metal conduit or anything else that makes a ground lug on a switch relevant. How many X10 SuperSockets have you seen that are Tamper Resistant? In the not too distant future the use of Tamper Resistant receptacles will become the law of the land even for most retrofits.