SoftStart

Question

Why does my new lamp module take about two seconds to turn on or off?

Answer

Some X10 modules have a "SoftStart" feature. When an X10 signal is sent, the module will fade the lamp up from the off setting. Traditional lamp modules have always come on at full brightness. The fade up or fade down takes about two seconds.

This feature used to only be available on the now-discontinued LM14A Two-Way Lamp Module. However, we will be introducing it in new LM465 lamp modules- we needed to change out one of the chips inside, and the engineers decided to upgrade the unit. Most new WS467s and WS12As also have SoftStart. We started making this change in 2007-look for a sticker with two numbers, a letter, and two numbers on the back of your module. The first two digits indicate the year the module was made. For example, 11E22 would have been made in 2011 (the 22nd week of 2011, to be specific.)

SoftStart will help lightbulbs last longer and is generally nicer on the eyes.

Current Versions of Active Home Pro

Recent versions of ActiveHome Pro treat all modules in the Lamps category as SoftStart. If you want to use an older, non-SoftStart lamp with ActiveHome Pro, you need to add a lamp from the Older Lamps (no SoftStart) category. If you do not do this then timers and macros will not work correctly.

1. Right-click on the module you want to edit then left-click on Edit Module.

   

2. Change the Type of Module to Older Lamps (no SoftStart). Sometimes this will change the Module drop-down, so make sure the correct sort of Module is selected.

   

3. Click OK. The header of the module should turn from baby blue to black. If you don't see that change immediately, click on a different room then back on the first room again. The module header should be black now.

   

Older Verisons of Active Home Pro-Before 3.203

Call your SoftStart modules and wall switches LM14A Two-Way Lamp Modules for best control results in ActiveHome Pro, using the procedure below. Please note that the Timer Test in the ActiveHome Pro Intro Wizard will not control SoftStart lamp modules via timer.

1. Right-click on the module you want to edit then left-click on Edit Module:

   

2. Change the Type of Module to Lamps and the Module to 2-Way Lamp Module:

   

3. Click OK and verify that a Poll button now appears on the module: