XPS3 and ceiling fan

[gossamer]

Hi,

I'd like to control my ceiling fan with an XPS3 wall switch, but it doesn't appear to work, no matter the combination.

There are just two black wires. I've connected one to line and the other to neutral, and vice-versa, and it doesn't work.

Is this switch capable of controlling a ceiling fan?

Thanks,
Alex

[Dan Lawrence]

NO.   You need a X10Pro Wall Switch Appliance Module (XPS3 to control a ceiling fan.

[J.B.]

He stated what he has is an XPS3.
The XPS3 should work but you require the WHITE neutral wire at the switch location.
If you only have 2 live (black) wires, you will probably need to hire an electrician to wire this properly and have it work.

[Brian H]

XPS3 will work fine with fans and other lights not rated to be used on a dimmer.
I have used them on CFLs.
Yes it requires a neutral power wire along with the line and load wires.

[Mel99]

Check and  see if your electrical code requires metal conduit.  It does where I live (Illinois).  And I have two wires coming to the switch box, usually a black and a white.

I use XPS3's to control a bathroom exhaust fan and outdoor CFL lights.  I use a DVM to determine which is the hot and which is the load wire. I connect the neutral on the XPS3 to the metal box and the conduit makes the connection back to the breaker panel.

- It work fine and last long time - (Sorry, that came from my time in the Navy and I couldn't resist.)

Mel

[dave w]

I connect the neutral on the XPS3 to the metal box and the conduit makes the connection back to the breaker panel.
Mel

Mel, this works, but is against code and could become dangerous. If any of the fittings where the conduit makes bends etc, becomes loose or corroded, the conduit now becomes ungrounded, and you lose the "neutral". Meaning the conduit is now hot through the XPS3, that includes the metal screws at the wall plates.

[gossamer]

In my circumstance, the ground wires were in the box but not connected. It is also a plastic box.

I was the original author of the this thread, and as it turns out, there are neutral wires in the box; I just didn't see them, and they weren't connected to the switch. They were just all wire tied together and stuffed in the back of the box. I'll try tonight to connect the neutral and see if it works.

Thanks,
Alex

[Brian H]

It should work much better with a neutral connection.

Do you have a meter or electrical tester?
If so see if you can safely find the Black Line wire by seeing which one has 120 volts on it when referenced to the neutral.

[gossamer]

It should work much better with a neutral connection.

Hi, as it turns out, the neutral was in the box after all. I somehow just didn't see it at first. I connected the neutral and it now works properly.

I'm using a SS13A remote wall switch to turn it on and off, and while it turns it on successfully, when turning it off, it then immediately turns back on. What could be the cause of this?

Again, turning it on and off from the switch itself works just fine, but when using this SS13A wireless remote switch, it turns on but off makes it turn off then on again immediately.

Thanks,
Alex

[dave w]

Again, turning it on and off from the switch itself works just fine, but when using this SS13A wireless remote switch, it turns on but off makes it turn off then on again immediately.

Try setting the fan to the highest speed (pull chain on fan). Does it still turn back ON?

[gossamer]

Again, turning it on and off from the switch itself works just fine, but when using this SS13A wireless remote switch, it turns on but off makes it turn off then on again immediately.

Try setting the fan to the highest speed (pull chain on fan). Does it still turn back ON?

Yes, on the fastest speed and slowest speed it works. The middle speed is the only one that changes from on-off and on again.

Is there a solution to this?

Thanks,
Alex

[dave w]

Yep,

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=21101.msg119400#msg119400
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=14210.0

[Brian H]

Unless my math went way off. The 22K 1/2 watt is too low a resistance value for the 1/2 watt size.
I get around .65 watt with a 22K resistor. 22K 1 watt would be OK.
33K would be about .43 watts.

[dave w]

Unless my math went way off. The 22K 1/2 watt is too low a resistance value for the 1/2 watt size.
I get around .65 watt with a 22K resistor. 22K 1 watt would be OK.
33K would be about .43 watts.

Heck, for safety and heat dissapation I'd use a 33K, 1 watt.

[snyder007]

Can anyone help on how to wire a 33K ohm 1/2 watt resistor in to stop the off/on problem? Does this get wired in the switch box or at the fan?