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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: teverk on August 31, 2016, 02:12:39 PM

Title: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: teverk on August 31, 2016, 02:12:39 PM

I own a home that has the original 2 conductor "Black and white wiring , I am trying to install a XPS3 wall switch and probably need to install a ground wire for this to work. This is thinking correct???
Thanks,
Steve Kopcial

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: Brian H on August 31, 2016, 03:19:03 PM

You have a Switch Loop with no Neutral power wire.
The White wire may have a black piece of tape on it or a black mark. That is many times the AC Hot Line from the fixture and the black from the switch feeds the light.

You can't use a safety ground for the missing Neutral wire.

I don't know if you can safely get the missing Neutral connection you need for the XPS3. From the fixture you want to control.
Depends on your exact situation.

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: teverk on September 02, 2016, 09:25:28 AM

Thanks Brian,

Fuse box and wiring is from 1961 when the house was built.  I am in the process of  updating the fuse box and breakers, sounds like I might need to update the wiring as well..   The original wiring  is the  black/white cloth jacket wiring, no markings on the wiring, is there another switch from x10 that would work for this application??  I just want to control a light over the sink .

Thanks, Steve

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: Brian H on September 02, 2016, 12:34:09 PM

What type of light? Incandescent, CFL, LED?
Do you want dimming? The dimming models for Incandescent and 120 volt Halogen bulbs. Don't need a Neutral power connection. They steal power through the load and why there is a load type requirement.

The X10Pro XPS3 is an On Off relay type. It also has been replaced by a X10Pro XPS4 improved version.
of the XPS3. The X10 model of the XPS3 is the WS13A.

I don't know of any other X10 method to do a switch loop easily. If you need a relay type module for the load you are trying to control. The dimmer models will work on a switch loop.

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: teverk on September 03, 2016, 03:19:35 PM

Brian,

I would like to use LED for this, its just a light over the kitchen sink,no dimming needed just simple on at a certain time and off at a certain time. I will use incandescent if it makes a difference.
I have a X10 rocket that the bulb screws into, I think the fixture might have enough room for the rocket and bulb, would this work??
Thanks,Steve

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: Brian H on September 03, 2016, 07:31:59 PM

My tests with dimmable LED bulbs. Showed that did not work reliably with the X10 and X10Pro two wire dimmers.
They should with 40 to 300 watt incandescent bulbs.

The LM15A Socket Rocket does not dim and is sold for incandescent bulbs. It does use the same electronic part to switch the bulb on and off. As the dimmers do.
There is a small glitch in the AC into the load. Some LEDs will be fine others may not be.
I tested a few dimmable and non dimmable LED bulbs with a LM15A. Had my XTBM X10 meter on the AC into my test rig.
One LED bulb showed some X10 noise on the meter when in the LM15A. All the other brands did no make any noise and where probably OK in it. Trying an LED would probably work. Just keep an eye on it for issues as time goes on.

Title: Re: XPS3 wall switch and a older home wiring
Post by: teverk on September 04, 2016, 10:54:29 PM

Thanks Brian for all you information.  I will experiment to see what works or just wait until I complete the new fusebox and just run the correct wiring for the project.
Thanks afain,
Steve