Flickering WS12A

[Cubbyd]

I am using a WS12A wall switch on address E3 to turn a 70W incandescent lamp on, off and on a dimming schedule.  On the same circuit breaker circuit, in the same room, I also have a LM465 controlling another lamp on F6 plugged into the wall socket/LM465.

The WS12A has been a problem since I installed it.  Lamp on WS12A periodically flickers when it is off.  Periodically, lamp will dim on the stated schedule, then brighten on its own.  At times, the paddle will not turn the lamp on, yet the AHP will turn it on remotely.  At other times, I cannot turn it on no matter what I try.

During all of this, the lamp on the LM465 is operating normally and as desired.  No flickering, no control errors.  At one time, there was a lot of line noise in the room from a TV and surge protector.  Installed a filter on it, and that problem went away. 

Whats the probability I have a bad WS12A?

Appreciate any thoughts....

[Puck]

Lamp on WS12A periodically flickers when it is off.  Periodically, lamp will dim on the stated schedule, then brighten on its own.

Unless something else is sending signals on E3, this sounds like a defective WS12A.

Two things you might want to try first:

• change the address from E3 to see it it still acts up
• if you have another WS12A in your home, swap them and see if the problem follows the switch

[hostilejava]

Considering you're having a problem with local control I'd also say it sounds like you have a bad WS12A.

[JeffVolp]

Lamp on WS12A periodically flickers when it is off.

While unusual in a normal X10 installation, very strong signals can cause the triac in a dimmer to trigger prematurely when the 120KHz carrier is present.  This has been reported on Insteon dimmers with a heavy load when the lamp is dimmed to 50% or lower.  I also saw it myself on X10 lamp modules while driving the very strong XTB-II output directly onto that circuit.  The flicker is a momentary brightening of the bulb.  This should not happen when the lamp is switched off, but there can be a slight flicker if the bulb is turned off by max dim.

Since you experience other problems with this particular switch, it may be a defective switch.

Jeff

[Cubbyd]

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

This morning, it was working as it should.  Guess I scared it when I stuck a screwdriver in it to replace it.

[Puck]

Guess I scared it when I stuck a screwdriver in it to replace it.

If you moved anything while doing this, you may want to double check the connections inside the switch box. Particularly make sure the wires inside the marrett connectors (wire nuts) are electrically sound. You could have a loose contact that was causing your problems.

[steven r]

If you moved anything while doing this, you may want to double check the connections inside the switch box. Particularly make sure the wires inside the marrett connectors (wire nuts) are electrically sound. You could have a loose contact that was causing your problems.

Good point! We often two hastily blame X10 when the problem could be a simple connection issue.