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[george536]

Ok well, ive been doing a good amount of reading and want to confirm ws13a's is what i need instead of the ws12a's since they are kinda pricey.

I have a newer home built in 2007 and the house all through out has cfls except for my plug in lamps, which i will use the lm465 for those.

i want to replace the original switch to my kitchen lighting which one switch turns on about 6 cfls in the kitchen, and the switch to my front lighting which turns on 3 cfls, and maybe my backyard light switch which just controls one cfl. Will the ws13a do what i need or can i get away with the ws12a?

good thing about the switches is that they look like my stock home switches which is great! 

any help is very much appreciated!!!!!!

[J.B.]

The ws13a is a relay type switch and you would need this for CFLs.
These also require a neutral wire be in the switch box.
If for some reason you do not have neutral in the switch box, you may want to look at the X10 Pro XPFM.
These are an in-line fixture module and will work for CFLs, ceiling fans, etc... and give basic on/off control.
The ws12a has a dimming circuit and can only be used for incandescent bulbs.
Hope this helps.

Good luck! 

[Brian H]

You may also see some online dealers selling the X10Pro XPS3 which is there equivalent to the WS13A.

[george536]

The ws13a is a relay type switch and you would need this for CFLs.
These also require a neutral wire be in the switch box.
If for some reason you do not have neutral in the switch box, you may want to look at the X10 Pro XPFM.
These are an in-line fixture module and will work for CFLs, ceiling fans, etc... and give basic on/off control.
The ws12a has a dimming circuit and can only be used for incandescent bulbs.
Hope this helps.

Good luck! 

thank you i will pop the cover off and look if i have a neutral wire. But i couldnt find the xpfm?

You may also see some online dealers selling the X10Pro XPS3 which is there equivalent to the WS13A.

found the xps3 seem they are more expensive than the ws13a, so im hoping i can use the ws13a.


thanks for the help i will check back to see if i have a neutral wire

[george536]

sorry i did find xpfm, still new to this i was looking for another wall switch. So if i dont have the neutral wire i would need to place this inline with my stock switch. hrm..

[Brian H]

No problem on WS13A or XPS3. Both would work and some EBay X10 dealers have them very inexpensive.

[george536]

this is what i have

[Brian H]

Looks like a switch loop. Where one wire is the AC line and the other goes back to the lights line connection.
If there isn't an unused white wire in the back of the switch box. You probably don't have a neutral connection needed by the WS13A or XPS3.
Some here may have ways for you to do what you need to do.

[george536]

Looks like a switch loop. Where one wire is the AC line and the other goes back to the lights line connection.
If there isn't an unused white wire in the back of the switch box. You probably don't have a neutral connection needed by the WS13A or XPS3.
Some here may have ways for you to do what you need to do.

how did i know mine wasnt going to be simple. hopefully someone can chime in on my options, or who can i PM?

[J.B.]

I have an older home and everything is on switch loops.
I've had to use the XPFMs to control my ceiling fans and some large fluorescent fixtures.
For the majority of lighting I am using incandescent bulbs and ws12as.

If neutral isn't available in the switch box, it should be located in the lights fixture box and allow you to use the XPFM modules.
If using incandescent bulbs in several locations you require x10 control is possible, it would be a bit easier to do this and use ws12as.
Having a large number of CFLs could possibly cause some issues with line noise as well.
You may want to read up on filters and/or amplifiers/repeaters such as JVDE XTBII-R if you have plans to install a number of x10 modules.

[george536]

well while going through the house popping off switches, turns out i have a couple incandescent switches, it says right on them for "permanent incandescent use only" 600w / 120 vac / 60hz even have a stock dimmer. They are wired the same as the switch i posted above except it looks different because of the dimmer.

Will i be able to use the ws12a on those? i see the ws12a have 3 wires and the red is not used unless a slave, and my switch has that copper wire, what is that copper wire used for? 

[george536]

after doing some praying, and actually heavier digging im hoping i have found the WHITE wires!





correct?

the last pic, the right switch is the incandescent switch im talking about.

[J.B.]

Those appear to be your neutrals.
If so, the ws13as should work for your CFLs.

[george536]

Those appear to be your neutrals.
If so, the ws13as should work for your CFLs.

thankyou answer i was looking for!

now what do i do with the copper wire? i searched and found a post that said just toss it to the back and leave it there, but no one confirmed on it.

[J.B.]

I have all metal switch boxes myself, so the ground attaches to them.
You may be able to tuck the ground behind one of the metal ears on the switch.
Maybe someone could chime in who has a bit more know how on this.