X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: nick.hall on November 10, 2008, 07:45:31 PM

Title: Light Switch for Flourscent bulbs
Post by: nick.hall on November 10, 2008, 07:45:31 PM

I have sent an e-mail to the X10 people and never got an answer, so I guess I'll ask all of you:  What do I need to know about using flourescent bulbs with the standard light switch (the one that goes in the wall)?

Title: Re: Light Switch for Flourscent bulbs
Post by: Knightrider on November 10, 2008, 07:53:00 PM

First thing you need to know is that you shouldn't dim them, so the standard 2-wire x10 switch (ws 467) is out.  X10 does make a switch for this, but it requires a neutral wire at the switch.
Second thing you need to know is that many newer ballasts put noise on the powerline that block the x10 signal thus making you able to turn on the light via remote, but not off.  In this case, a filter after the switch and before the ballast may be in order.
If by "Florescent" you are referring to "CFL"s, that's another story altogether.

If you provide some more details of your situation, more light on the subject may be in order.