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[Mr. Jones]

I guess I should maybe buy some extra equipment? 

[Brian H]

Well I see Smarthome has started releasing new X10 only devices.
Look like their Icon line but maybe has firmware limiting them to X10 only.
http://www.smarthome.com/X10WS12A/Smarthome-X10-Decorator-Style-Dimmer-Switch-White/p.aspx

So I would think. If there is a shortage of X10 devices. Other sources maybe opening up.

[B.A.]

Well I see Smarthome has started releasing new X10 only devices.
Look like their Icon line but maybe has firmware limiting them to X10 only.

This is great news 
True rocker and local status for $24!

[Brian H]

As long as the users remember all of them use a neutral. So replacing an X10 two wire WS12. Requires a neutral connections.
I did a real quick count and saw 10 devices recently released.

[dhouston]

They've never really discontinued them. They currently list 266 devices as X-10 compatible and at least 30-40 of those are X-10 only, including some made by X-10. Given the state of the economy, I would not expect they would discontinue their lower priced devices.

• http://www.smarthome.com/_/Dimmers_Lighting_Appliance_Control/X10_Compatible/_/z/23X/nav.aspx?No=0&Ns=Price

[B.A.]

They've never really discontinued them. They currently list 266 devices as X-10 compatible and at least 30-40 of those are X-10 only, including some made by X-10.

They never had true rocker switches with local status for that price. These look new to me.
I searched high and low when I first got into X10.
Closest they had was the Icon line for about ten bucks more.

[pomonabill221]

Hi all!
  This is great news.... smarthome has x10 switches/dimmers.
BUT....
  do the dimmers have the fade on/off?
  I looked at the essential, and it does NOT.
Need to look some more...
I am spoiled with this feature, and always wanted that with my old x10 dimmers, and now I have the newer ones and LOVE it!
  I was using SmartHome manager and the cup1132 interface, but switched to x10 (again) and did not like that the smarthome dimmer modules didn't support extended dim commands, so yanked all my smarthome stuff and replaced with x10.
  Just need to know if the new smarthome dimmers support the extended dim and ramp up/down!

[Brian H]

Until someone actually tries them. We may have to wait for exact answers.
Since the lower cost Icon modules don't have a adjustable ramp rate. My thoughts are the X10 firmware will also not support any adjustable ramp rate.

As for the Extended Commands. I kind of doubt that is going to be implemented.
Smarthome even with my 1132CU and my present 2413S PLM support %dim.

[B.A.]

So what do you have to do w/o extended commands?
If I wanted my light @ 25%, would I have to go to 100% first and then dim by 75%?
I've never had modules that didn't support it. I only have X10 and Leviton.

[dhouston]

Those who bother to read the specs might learn something.

• http://www.smarthome.com/X10WS467D/Smarthome-X10-Toggle-Dimmer-Switch-White/p.aspx
• http://www.smarthome.com/X10WS467/Smarthome-X10-Toggle-Wall-Switch-White/p.aspx

The first is a dimmer with programmable ramp rates, it will resume at previous level (or to preprogrammed level)

The second is for fluorescents and inductive loads.

Both have excellent sensitivity (much better than X-10) and can do 3-way (or more) by connecting additional switches so they just send a command to the main switch. Both send commands when switched locally.

While they require a neutral and don't do extended commands, in most other aspects they out perform X-10 made equivalents.

[pomonabill221]

Those who bother to read the specs might learn something.

[lis

Well I DID read ALL the specs.
My question was to responding to extended dim commands AND ramping!
Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

[B.A.]

Those who bother to read the specs might learn something.

And I was asking about dimming when a module does not recognize extended commands because
I have not encountered it yet.
It really had nothing to do with the NEW Smarthome switches.

[dhouston]

If I wanted my light @ 25%, would I have to go to 100% first and then dim by 75%?

The X10WS467D/X10WS467DI dimmer switch (and others) can be used in one of two modes. In one, it comes on at whatever level it was at when it was turned off; in the other it can be programmed to always come on at a certain level.

With any X-10 module/switch w/o extended dim, you can also dim to 0% and then ramp up to any desired level under software control or with RF. This does waste a small amount of energy (~2.5W with 100W bulb) as compared to full off.  Most modules/switches use ~0.5W at full off. (Hmm, out of curiosity I'll have to check my dimmable CFL, which can dim to 0%, to see how much energy it wastes in that state.)

I haven't had hands on experience with the X10WS467D/X10WS467DI but all their early X-10 compatible devices that I have used/tested supported preset dim commands with 32 levels. You would need software to support this and I think X-10 removed preset dim support (because Smarthome supports it?) from their software - I never use X-10 software so cannot be certain.

 

[bkenobi]

So has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.smarthome.com/X10WS467I/Smarthome-X10-Toggle-Wall-Switch-Module-Ivory/p.aspx

I look at it and see the perfect switch.  It can handle the new stupid bulbs (CFL and LED).  It does not have the dumb soft start feature.  It looks and feels like a standard toggle light switch.  It even tells the software what has happened locally.  The only down side I see is that it costs more than a standard X10 switch.  If it works as advertised, I'm totally in!  I'm tired of messing with some of the issues related to WS467's (as mentioned above).

[Brian H]

Read the sales page. It mentions a relay output. It does not dim at all.

As with all the Smarthome modules. It does require a neutral power connection and is not like the X10 two wire ones that steal power through the load. So a Neutral power connection is required.

I have one of the Insteon ToggleLinc Relay models and have added an X10 optional address to it. The X10 one is probably the same hardware with a different firmware doing X10 only.

One thing you may find slightly different. The toggle button sticks out straight. You hold it down for Off or Dim. Up for On or Brighten.