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[dave w]

I frequent the local Goodwill for cheap electronics to play with, harvest parts, or clean up, fix and re-donate back to Goodwill. Today found two vintage X10 modules in blister pack under the Sears "Home Control System" name. The wall switch is the original toggle style switch which was in production for only a short time. The problem with the switch was; if you turned the fixture off with the wall switch, it also decoupled power to the electronics in the switch. Sooo one had to go back and turn the toggle (and light) back on if you wanted the remote control capabilities, then turn the fixture off via one of the remote control consoles.  The design creating this complaint generator was that regulations called for the ability to completely cut power to the fixture for safety when changing a bulb. This design was the quick answer to meeting that requirement,  while still introducing the concept of remote control for al lighting in the home. I don't think it was in production more than a year or so. Since it was not the original "BSR Home Control System" I am guessing early 1980's. I feel like this was an "American Pickers" score. 

[Brian H]

Nice find. 

I imagine the Load disconnect was changed to the small tab we now see. On the dimmer style switches.
The House and Unit Code wheels on the sides of the lamp module is also different.

[bkenobi]

I like the rocker/toggle switch of that module.  I would switch to those for all of mine if I could find them.

[JeffVolp]

I like the rocker/toggle switch of that module.  I would switch to those for all of mine if I could find them.

I installed several in another house years ago, and have a spare packed away in a box somewhere.

They are 2-wire switches with no neutral connection, and might not work with some LED bulbs today without a parallel incandescent or the LED Shunt.

Here I installed Leviton rocker action Decora switches.  Tap the top and the light ramps up to the previous brightness, tap the bottom and the light dims to off.  Hold either the the top or bottom to change the brightness.  They accept extended commands to set the brightness directly without going full on and then dimming down.  They also have a neutral connection, and have worked fine with dimmable CFL and LED bulbs.

Jeff

[dave w]

I like the rocker/toggle switch of that module.  I would switch to those for all of mine if I could find them.

Well Obe,  I'm not particularly attached to this one.  I only have the one, but you can have it for shipping. But remember when you turn the light OFF with the wall switch, you can not turn it back ON remotely because the switch electronics has no power. You have to use the wall switch to turn the light back ON then turn it off remotely. PM me if you want it.

[dave w]

Nice find. 

I imagine the Load disconnect was changed to the small tab we now see. On the dimmer style switches.
The House and Unit Code wheels on the sides of the lamp module is also different.

Yeah. This was a rush job I think. The "Air Gap switch" came later. I would like to open the package to find the date code but it is X10 history. I feel like Frank in "American Pickers" when he finds a rare Star Wars character still in blister pack. ( Like everyone knows how valuable a Sears Home Control System module is, right? I'm laughing too.) I would like to find one of the old Command Console with the ultrasonic remote. That would likely be more than forty year old.