Add local dimming capability to an X10 wall switch

The "vanilla flavored" wall switch from x10.com, the "WS-467", comes without local dimming capability: Though you can dim it from a remote controller, you can't dim it by hand by pressing its button. Strangely, it requires MORE components for them to make it WITHOUT local dimming capability. Shorting across the extra components "restores" local dimming capability to the switch.

Step 1 Disassemble the switch

see my project titled "disassemble an x10 wall switch"

Comments

[UnderManiac]

Great job. However, I was wondering if there is any way to disable the soft-start feature on their new switches? I prefer the instant-on feature. I'd set both the instant-on and dimmable features to the switches.
I like x-10, but they stopped making the instant on switches and tell me they will not return to that technology, despite my arguments requesting them to either make both types available to the consumer (let the customer decide what they prefer) or make a switch that has to capability of both (user selectable).
Any information on how to make a soft start light switch into an instant-om one would be greatly appreciated.

[z28racer]

would I be able to use a dimmer to control the heat on a soldering iron? or a strip heater for bendinging plastic made from about 12 inches of heater element from an old toaster ,space heater or hair drier?

[TK]

I would think so other than I don't know what kind of power those appliances pull or what the X10 dimmer modules are rated for. I have used lamp modules (which I think would work better for you) to control the speed of different fans.

[TK]

hate to make your efforts seem meaningless (honest, not sarcasm, I hate figuring something out a complicated way and someone shows me a much easier way to do the same thing), but I have one of those WS467 Wall Switch Modules from X10, and to dim it, simply hold the rectangular button, this will dim it or brighten it depending on which end of off and on your module is set to.