Switch module

Received my HA18C switch module yesterday from Amazon, thanks to USPS, who delivers on Saturdays. I guess I didn't have to wait a month after all.

The switch module is fairly deep. Fitting it into the electrical box was a challenge. More on that later. It came in the usual plastic clamshell packaging.

The switch is a Decora style rocker type. Press the top to turn it on, press the bottom to turn it off. However, unlike a normal switch, the switch does not stay in that position, but returns to a middle position after it has been pressed. This is good for not confusing people not familiar with your switches - the early Leviton X-10 switches only have one position to press, the bottom, and it toggles it between on and off. A stranger to your house might not realize such a switch is the one controlling the light they want to turn on, because it looks like it is in the "on" position already.

The switch makes a springy sound when pressed, unlike the more pleasant, dull click of the Leviton switch. It also only comes in white, and doesn't include the cover plate. Not an issue if you have white switches and is replacing existing switches. You could get the Decora style covers for a couple of dollars, so that shouldn't be a deal breaker.

The package includes a few wire nuts. Only other item is a registration card, with a URL for on-line registration. By the way, the on-line registration does not work.

This switch cannot control other devices (is this what is called "scene capable"?). Meaning, you cannot turn the device on locally, and have it send out commands to turn another device on, for example. It does not send out updates when pressed locally. The documentation says it support 40 kbps, but I don't know of any way to verify that.

One nice feature of this switch is that for 3 or 4 way hard-wired applications, you can use regular switches for the slaves. The wiring details is in the 1 page installation instructions.

Installing it is a major pain. I picked the living room light switch, because it is more accessible and there are only two switches there. Should be easy, right?

Wrong.

Instead of 4 pairs of wire that I expected, there were 6 pairs of wires. I have no idea where the other two wires go. I need access to the neutral. There are 6 neutral wires all crimped together with some metal band. Not good.

I finally ended up swapping the positions of the switches, cutting one of the existing neutral wire and using a wire nut to tie it all together. It was a very tight squeeze and I ended with a slightly crooked switch and sore fingers. I'm definitely not looking forward to installing the other two switches I bought.

After more than an hour, everything is hooked up. I tested it without fitting everything in first, and it works! Instructions for how to include the device is included in the instructions this time (press the "On" position of the switch when asked to). Turned the circuit breaker off again to fit everything into the box, and cover it up. Mission accomplished.

One thing I'd like to point out is that after I switch the lights off, one of my compact fluorescent bulbs will flicker a little for a few seconds before going completely dark. I've never noticed it doing this with the regular switch.

In all, pretty good for $40, I guess, considering everything else I've found cost twice that.