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[doug r]

IS THERE ANYWAY SHORT OF GOING BACK TO
TRADITIONAL LIGHTBULBS IN MY CEILING
LIGHTS,THAT I CAN CONTROL THESE WITHOUT
HAVING TO BUY THOSE EXPENSIVE FLOURECENT
SWITCHES I KNOW THE APPLIANCE MODULES CAN
CONTROL A PLUG IN LAMP,BUT MOST OF MY LIGHTS
ARE ON WALL SWITCHES.THANK YOU FOR REPLYING

[SteveRF]

I am in the same boat... I have a lot of
lamps and overhead lights that have been
converted to the new CF bulbs, they are so
efficient and great for the southern climate
where light heat really makes a difference on
the A/C usage. Will be looking for good
prices myself for some wall switches capable
of controlling CF lamps... I'll post if I
find bargains...

[joe s.]

These are $35 and look like they'll work:
http://www.homeautomationnet.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=884

Haven't used one though...

[tony]

Have you considered the in-line fixture
module XPFM Fixture Module, non-dimming 120
VAC, 15A, for use with inductive loads.
Described on  http://www.x10pro.com/
Automated Outlet and Automated Home Net both
carry it, prices range from  $19 to $23.

[roger1818]

You can buy a WS13A from Automated Outlet for $25.99
(http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php?productid=505&cat=2&page=1)
or you can just wait for X10 to have a 3 for 1 sale on it (X10's regular price is $32.99).

[SteveRF]

I am using the new "Dimmable" CFL's ...
Now I can use my normal WS467 light switches
to turn on and off the CFL's...
The are about $2.89 at Wal-Mart...

[roger1818]

Steve:  How well do the dimmable CFLs
work?  Do they make much noise when you dim
them?

[jim]

I tried a compact flourecent in an X10
Socket Rocket and to my surprise it works
great. I now have four of these operating
this way without any problems. Its not in
print anywhere that these can be used this
way, at least I haven't seen it anywhere.
Unless I have problems with this, I'm going
to keep using them.

[SteveRF]

Roger,
I am not sure about noise from dimming CFL's.
I use them in an ON/OFF state only.  Good
Point though....
SteveRF

[jim]

SteveRF: Do you happen to remember the brand
name and model number of the dimmable CFL's
you got from Wal-Mart? I searched the local
Wal-Mart and all I could find were the non-
dimmable CFLs and store personnel didn't
know of any that would dim.

[donald mcmow]

Dimmable CFB's are also available from your
local home improvment center - Home Depot and
others.

[SteveRF]

Jim,
Sorry I did not see your post earlier...
I do not know the brand etc...I am in Gulf
Shores Alabama right next to Pensacola
Florida.  I will look again in the next day
or two. I think both stores had them (a store
on each side of the bridge) but not sure so
may be a day or two.  I will pick up one so I
can test and have the data.
Regards,
SteveRF

[James S.]

I tried the Dimmable CFLs with the WS12A and
the WS467 and found that they don't work
well when trying to dim or brighten and
causes the switches to lock up(not respond)
for remote operation as well as manual
pushing on and off. They also have a
tendency to sometimes lock up the CM15A. I
did this test with the CM15A as only
transceiver pluged in and then repeated test
with the VR572AB as the only transceiver.
The results were the same with either
transceiver. So far the  dimmable CFLs have
worked okay in the socket rocket(which is
non-dimmable)and dim and brighten okay in
the lamp modules.

[roger1818]

James:  Thanks for your test results.  It
doesn’t surprise me though since X10’s
dimmable wall switches don’t use a neutral
wire and rely on the light having a low
resistance load to draw enough current to
power the switch (that is why they need a
minimum 40W light).  I suspect when you dim
the dimmable CFL, the wall switch doesn’t
get enough power to operate properly.  I am
not sure why it would lock up the CM15a
unless the CFL starts flooding noise on the
power line.  Does the CM15a recover if you
turn off the light?

[James S.]

Roger H:  The CM15A responded normally after
unpluging and pluging back in and removing
the CFLs and puting incandescent bulbs back
in. What I don't understand is why the CM15A
locked up with the WS12A and the WS467, but
not when using the same CFLs in the lamp
modules and repeating the dim and bright
cycle. Must be the difference in circuit
design. At least the lamp modules are still
working great after five days of normal use
using the CFLs. I'm still waiting for X10 to
design a WS13A wall switch that will
bright/dim the new CFLs.