Problem with my WS 467

sniper33 · February 14, 2008, 11:41:26 AM

Hi,

I have just starting using X10 and I am having problems using my WS467. I have a CM11A installed on my PC by USB (used serial to USB adaptor). I am using Activehome software to control the module. The problem is when I open up the light bulb (60 watt) it barely gives off any light. The bulb is so faint that I can't barely see it. This is a new bulb since I tested on an ordinary light switch and it just fine. When I tried to dim the light it didn't dim. I am using A1 as my housecode and tried different codes as well. I followed all the instructions in setting my my CM11A on my PC and it seems to be fine. Could it be that my house wirring is just too old (built in '61) or my module is defective ? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

dave w · February 14, 2008, 11:59:30 AM

Can you make the bulb brighter by holding the button on the WS467 down (at the switch itself)?

sniper33 · February 14, 2008, 02:04:26 PM

Thanks Dave for your prompt reply. Even if I hold the button down, it doesn't get any brighter.

dave w · February 14, 2008, 04:24:04 PM

Is this a recently purchased WS467?

The new WS467 come ON at the last brightness level they were set at. The light can be dimmed locally at the switch.

The old WS467 came on at full bright and did not have local dimming capabilities. I was asking because if you had new switches, and someone had dimmed the light down very low before turning it OFF the light would come back ON at the very low level.

If it turns ON and OFF at the switch and turns ON and OFF through Active Home, can you brighten it using Active Home?

It has been so long since I have used Active Home that I can't help anymore, other than:

If it turns ON and OFF with Active Home but will not DIM/BRI, you might just have a bad switch.

sniper33 · February 14, 2008, 07:33:31 PM

I purchased the switch about two month ago through eBay (the name of the dealer was X10 warehouse). I can turn it off and on at the switch but not through Active home. I can't dim the light at the switch nor with Active Home. I suspect it could be the switch. The switches were pretty cheap about $6.00 CDN each. I will try another switch when I get home later tonight.
Thanks for the help.

Charles Sullivan · February 14, 2008, 08:34:18 PM

Quote from: dave w on February 14, 2008, 11:59:30 AM
Can you make the bulb brighter by holding the button on the WS467 down (at the switch itself)?

The way the "new" WS467 works with the push button is as follows:

A quick tap on the button will turn the light on or off. If turning on, the light will resume the brightness level it was at when it was turned off.

After turning on, press an hold the button (for a somewhat longer time than a "quick tap") and the light will (usually) get dimmer. Nothing will happen if the light is already at its dimmest level (which is not visual darkness like the old WS467).

Release, then press and hold the button again. Now the lamp will get brighter.

Dimming and brightening will alternate as you release, then press and hold the button again each time.

sniper33 · February 15, 2008, 02:18:03 PM

I will try it this when I get home tonight form work. If it still doesn't work, then I'll change the switch.
Thanks for the help.

dave w · February 15, 2008, 02:35:30 PM

Quote from: sniper33 on February 14, 2008, 07:33:31 PM
I purchased the switch about two month ago through eBay (the name of the dealer was X10 warehouse). I can turn it off and on at the switch but not through Active home. I can't dim the light at the switch nor with Active Home. I suspect it could be the switch. The switches were pretty cheap about $6.00 CDN each. I will try another switch when I get home later tonight.
Thanks for the help.

This is a bit different from what I originally understood.
When you turn the light ON and OFF at the switch, does it come on at full brightness? If it does, you could have an old style switch which is working correctly, but have a coupling or noise problem on the CM11 side of the equation.

sniper33 · February 15, 2008, 07:30:25 PM

Quote from: dave w on February 15, 2008, 02:35:30 PM
Quote from: sniper33 on February 14, 2008, 07:33:31 PM
I purchased the switch about two month ago through eBay (the name of the dealer was X10 warehouse). I can turn it off and on at the switch but not through Active home. I can't dim the light at the switch nor with Active Home. I suspect it could be the switch. The switches were pretty cheap about $6.00 CDN each. I will try another switch when I get home later tonight.
Thanks for the help.

This is a bit different from what I originally understood.
When you turn the light ON and OFF at the switch, does it come on at full brightness? If it does, you could have an old style switch which is working correctly, but have a coupling or noise problem on the CM11 side of the equation.

No, it never comes at full brightness when I turn it on or off. If it is a coupling or noise problem, what would I need to do in order to make the switch work properly ?

Brian H · February 16, 2008, 06:32:26 AM

Coupling and noise problems will not cause the bulb to not go to full brightness. It could cause the CM11s signals to not get to the switches in question.
Since the WS467 steals power through the load, technically the bulb may light 99% of what it would with a standard switch.
It is a standard 60 watt bulb we are talking about here?

sniper33 · February 16, 2008, 10:50:48 AM

Quote from: Brian H on February 16, 2008, 06:32:26 AM
Coupling and noise problems will not cause the bulb to not go to full brightness. It could cause the CM11s signals to not get to the switches in question.
Since the WS467 steals power through the load, technically the bulb may light 99% of what it would with a standard switch.
It is a standard 60 watt bulb we are talking about here?

Yes it is.

dave w · February 18, 2008, 12:17:51 PM

I think ya got a bad WS467.

An old style WS467 would come on at full bright when you pushed the switch button.

If a new style WS467, it might come on dim, but would get bright if you held button down. Your WS467 does not react in either of these two ways when operated locally at the switch.

About the only thing left is a bad switch module.

sniper33 · February 25, 2008, 09:04:15 PM

You were right on the nose dave ! Bad module. When I replaced it the light became extremely bright. However, now I can't seem to turn it on, off or dim it using Activehome with my PC. I am going to verify my configurations to see if everything is installed correctly.
Thanks again to everyone for their advice and help.

dave w · February 26, 2008, 12:09:30 PM

Quote from: sniper33 on February 25, 2008, 09:04:15 PM
You were right on the nose dave ! Bad module. When I replaced it the light became extremely bright. However, now I can't seem to turn it on, off or dim it using Activehome with my PC. I am going to verify my configurations to see if everything is installed correctly.
Thanks again to everyone for their advice and help.

OK now you can start troubleshooting for noise or coupling problems.

Charles Sullivan · February 26, 2008, 11:33:28 PM

Quote from: sniper33 on February 25, 2008, 09:04:15 PM
You were right on the nose dave ! Bad module. When I replaced it the light became extremely bright. However, now I can't seem to turn it on, off or dim it using Activehome with my PC. I am going to verify my configurations to see if everything is installed correctly.
Thanks again to everyone for their advice and help.

Go to the ActiveHome 1.42 menu Configuration > Set interface clock window and make sure the CM11A clock is ticking away in sync with the system clock. This will verify that ActiveHome is actually talking with the CM11A.

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Problem with my WS 467