Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[poursha]

Just wondering what people have done to try and convert the crapo push button wall switches over to a flip style, or at least something nicer.  I noticed this conversion in my searches, but it really requires an extra deep wall box to do it right. http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/modifying_wall_switch.htm#Using_wal_switch_with_original_rocker

At $10 a pc, I can have alot of fun with the cheapo X10 wall switches, instead of buying the fancy expensive ones.

Some ideas that I was thinking:
1.  Buy some cheap $1 regular switches from the hardware store, and cutout the flip switch and somehow affix is to the top of the X10 pushbutton switch, and create a camming action that triggers the push button.  Questionable reliability...
2.  Try to find some low voltage, low profile regular wall switches that CAN use the method described above.  Low voltage, low profile meaning that the X10 box can fit under the switch easier without deep box.

Other cool mods that I found when searching:
1.  Add local dim to cheapos - http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/modifying_wall_switch.htm#Adding Local Dimming
2.  Add LEDs to cheapos - http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/SwitchLED/ws467led.htm (from the cool mods site: http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm)

RoB

[MeThinks]

I'd rather push than switch....

 

[Brian H]

Yes experimenting can be fun and if I break a $10 switch it doesn't hurt like breaking a $50 one. 
Just one point many don't know. Be very careful if you expose the modules inside so they can be touched or add external wiring to them. Most modules have an AC Powerline Derived power supply. Most of the X10 and other brands have the AC LINE connection as the common on the board. Touch it and you get a big shock or a big spark if it hits ground.

[EL34]

Same here, I like the push switch. 

Doesn't matter to me that it feels a bit mushy of wobbles side to side just a bit.
They stand out so that I know which one is an X10 switch in a bank of switches.

Seems like a lot of trouble to convert the push to a toggle but go for it.
Maybe you'll come up with a cool mod.