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💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: spam4us on August 24, 2021, 11:36:26 PM

Title: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: spam4us on August 24, 2021, 11:36:26 PM
A few years back, I purchased some WS13As thinking they can be used with LED flood lights. I haven't purchased the flood lights yet. My questions are....

Will the WS13A work with LED floodlights? (35W)
Will the flood light turn all the way off or will there be a dim glow that I've read about?
Will the XPS4 work with the flood light and will this solve the dim problem?

Looking at this light.
https://www.rablighting.com/product/X17FA35W


Thanks
 
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: brobin on August 25, 2021, 12:07:35 AM
There's really no way to predict how a particular LED fixture/bulb will work with an X10 relay switch.  I have several that work perfectly with appliance modules, one that has the dim glow sometimes and one that worked fine but put out enough line noise so that the module couldn't receive the OFF command.  For that one I used a choke in series with the hot going to the fixture.  Between the WS13A and the XPS4 I'd expect better results from the XPS4 but since you already have the WS13A try it first.

For info on LED noise see: http://jvde.us/x10/x10_cfl.pdf
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: Brian H on August 25, 2021, 06:19:09 AM
It is a relay On Off type switch. That uses a Neutral power connection.
So it does not steal power through the Load.
The LED assembly should not glow.
Noise may or may not be an issue as pointed out.

The XPS4 does have some new features. Like quieter relay and AGC.
Along with what they call a night light feature. Where it has a soft glow to find it in the dark.
I would second the thought. Try what you have now first and see the results.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: Brian H on August 26, 2021, 06:13:24 AM
I found the manuals for the LED Light you had provided a model number for.

It has lots of features.

You can set its color temperature and enable or disable a built in photocell.
With the photocell disabled you would have total control of it. If enabled you could control it but it would only light if it was dark out.

It also has a 0-10VDC input for a dimmer control. If it was connected to a 0-10VDC dimmer switch. It could also be dimmed. In your case capping the Purple and Gray dimmer inputs. For no control would be used.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: spam4us on August 26, 2021, 02:14:02 PM
brobin and Brian H

Thanks you both for your response. I am using a WS13A to operate a back porch LED light. I thought the WS13A also uses a relay and did not steal power through the load since it also requires a neutral. However, the porch light glows when it is off. I would guess it will do the same for the flood light.

Does the XPS4 use a different relay or design that will prevent the flood light from glowing? I will be purchasing 8 of these flood lights to replace 8 halogen floods. The halogen floods are operated by WS13As with no problem.

I have all of the WS13As mounted in receptacle boxes near my main electric panel. I am using remote x10 controllers to turn them on or off.   

Just want to be certain the floods will not glow using the XPS4 since I do not know what other alternative x10 switch would work.

Thanks again for you help.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: brobin on August 26, 2021, 02:48:48 PM
Please see this thread: https://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=29360.0

The XPS4 may be a solution as they state that it'll work with LEDs.
You might also want to reach out to Jeff at jvde.us to see if he still has any LED shunts left.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: Brian H on August 26, 2021, 07:04:43 PM
The X10 and X10Pro On/Off modules. Appliance and Switches.
That Clunk when turned On or Off.
Have a Ratchet Switch in them. With a coil to activate the switch and make the Clunk.

The electronics doesn't remember if it was On or Off.
So they have a sensing circuit that puts a small voltage on the output.
Some low current LED bulbs may have glowed from this small voltage when Off.

I have a test XPS3 version of the WS13A.
My test was .3mA. On a 120 Volt Bulb.
I don't think it would cause your LED Bulb Assemblies to glow or pulse.

I do not have any data on the new XPS4. Other than it is better with LED bulbs
and is quieter.
Has AGC that a WS13A doesn't have but the older XPS3 also has.
I suspect it may have a real relay in it and remember if On or Off. If it does. It may not have the sensing circuit in it.

If you have WS13A switches in use now. I would personally try the new LED flood lights on them and see if they act funny.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: spam4us on September 23, 2021, 11:43:06 PM
To follow up on this.....I installed the LED flood lights and am using the WS13A to control them. It works fine and the flood light does not glow.  I first tried it with just one light and there were no problems.  I then install a second light on the same WS13A. Again, there are no problems. The lights are 35 watts each.

So the answer is...….the WS13A works with these lights.

Thanks everyone for your help.
Title: Re: WS13A with LED or XPS4
Post by: Brian H on September 24, 2021, 06:06:38 AM
Thank you for the update.
Good to see the WS13A worked fine.