LED Flame-bulb >>> X-10 (In)compatibility?

[CCinPA]

A Holiday emergency! I purchased LED flame-bulbs for my outside light-fixtures. But instead of "flickering"... They just pulse on/off. I'm thinking the problem may be caused by the X-10 switches that control the bulbs? Help?

[bkenobi]

No solution, but when I installed a LED motion sensor flood light on a WS467 controlled line, the motion sensor indicator on the fixture flashed on/off at about a 1 second interval.  Apparently it was not happy with the configuration so I swapped out to a standard light switch and it worked.  I was planning on swapping it out anyway, but was just testing before I made the change.  Strange behavior of LED components on a 2-wire switch is probably a given.

[Brian H]

Are the are an X10 wall dimmer type switch or the On/Off relay type?

The two wire X10 dimmer switches. Steal power through the load and are made for incandescent bulbs only.
You could try one standard bulb in the setup and see if it is enough to provide the switches power supply needs. To calm down the pulsing.

Saw your post on the Smarthome Forums. The bulbs probably have their own electronics. To drive the LED in a flicker pattern.

As you thought. They are probably not designed for dimmers.

[CCinPA]

The switches are not the dimmer-type... They are push on/off.

[Brian H]

Do you know what the model of the switch is?
When you push the button does its internal switch Clunk?
It still sounds like you have a dimmer that goes on and off with buttons.

[CCinPA]

Now I understand.  Although I use the switch only for on/off, it may be set-up/capable of dimming.

I'll check the model number.

[CCinPA]

Does it matter what wattage the add-on incandescent bulb should be?

[Brian H]

The model number would be a big help. Like WS467, WS4777 if a multi-way, X10Pro PLW01, PLW02 multi-way.

One clue to seeing if you have an older hardware X10 dimmer with the push button control. It turn it On and hold the button in. The load would start at 100% On and start dimming down. The later ones with Soft Start and Resume Dim would have been more obvious. They would Ramp On and Off.

I don't know a good value incandescent bulb to try. Many times a 7 watt night light would be enough. The X10 specification say a minimum of 60 Watts.

Your bulbs have electronics in them and after looking at the Amazon sales page you provided in the Smarthome forums.  Can have its mode changed with the switch controlling it. Even at 100% On the AC wave is distorted and your bulb may not be compatible. As there is no mention of dimmer compatible.

[bkenobi]

If you add an incandescent bulb, I would personally consider 40W minimum.  This value was given to me by an engineer at Heath Zenith related to their motion sensors, but it has worked for me on all other systems.  I know that many people have used simple night lights in their setup for solving the same issue which are likely ~7-10W.  The problem with those is the bulb size won't match.  The smallest wattage bulb with a standard A19/E26 style base I have seen recently is 7W with a ~1.5" diameter bulb (looks like a ping pong ball glued on a bulb base).  But, being a specialty bulb, it was much more expensive than a standard 40W A19.

[CCinPA]

Thanks for all the help! The solution looks a bit weird... But it works!

[Brian H]

Glad you got it working. By adding a few incandescent loads to the mix.