X-10 Mods - WS467 Wall Switch

Here we explain how to modify a USA 115V WS467 Wall Swith to operate at 230V.

Introduction

These instructions are based on Hans Attersjö's Home page.  I have not attempted all of them and accept no responsibility for the effects of anyone making these modifications.   You follow these instructions at your own risk.

Modification Steps

This one is tricky to modify due to the small space available, you have to get the right components. It is a good idea to print out the schematics. Note that this module is made for American, rectangular wall mount boxes and might not fit your local standards.

1. Recent modules are using a triac called BTA10-600CW which is a 600V, 10A version. This is OK for 220V and 240V usage. Older modules use a 400V, 10A version called BTA10-400C which gives you a very small safety margin on 220V and which is even worse on 240V! If you have the 400V version, put a MOV across the switch, it might improve the reliability, especially if you have a 400V triac. Otherwise, change the triac to something with a higher voltage rating, like 600V. Note that it must have an insulated tab. Since four quadrant DC triggering is used, it is important to look at the DC characteristics of the gate and the Igt. I was lucky and got the 600V version in 8 out 10 of the switches I bought last year :-)
2. Change C1, the big, usually blue, capacitor marked 2E684 from 0.68uF/ 250V to 0.33uF/400V. Check that the height is not more than the big electrolytic capacitor in the other corner (around 13mm).
3. Change C2, the small, usually blue, capacitor marked 2E104 from 01.uF/250V to 0.1uF/400V.
4. Change R4 and not R2 from 22 Ohm 1W to 47 Ohm 1W. See below.
5. I suggest adding a MOV on the board across the terminals where the two incoming wires are soldered as shown on the drawing. Not to the cable for the slave switch if you have a WS477!
6. If you have a WS477 three-way switch, change also D11 from 1N4004 to 1N4006 or 1N4007. Also, change R11 from 10K 1/2W to 22K 1W. A 22k 2W would be safer in case the slave switch got stuck but there is not a lot of space.
7. I have been using one 0.22uF/400V and one 0.1uF/400V capacitor in parallel to replace C1. The 0.22uf placed in the original mounting holes and the other one glued upside down in the empty space on the right side of the choke. Don't drill holes there, the house code switch is on the other side of the PCB! One side of the choke is BTW connected to C1 so you can connect on side of the 0.1uF straight to the choke. I drilled a hole close to the hole where the wire from the choke goes in to connect a new wire from the 0.22uF to the other end of the 0.1uF.
8. Also, my C2 was physically too big and I had to mount it on top of the components up in the top left corner. All these references are as when holding the PCB with components facing you and the choke at the bottom.
9. I drilled a hole at the triac and placed the new MOV between the triac's T1 and the wire to the choke where the 0.1uf capacitor was connected. Everything was afterwards fixed with epoxy glue.

Local control gives you the possibility to dim the lamp also from the switch. It is strange that they have wasted components to inhibit this feature. It might therefore be a good idea to enable local control before you reassemble the module. Just solder a bridge over the vertical 0.47uF capacitor.

If you attempt these modifications, please let me know your results, and read the warning on the X-10 and 115V & 230V page.

Comments received at Redoak

• I have had a report from Corne Smit that these modification instructions do not work.
  
  
•  In December 2000, I received a further report from Frazer Cane in Australia who confirms that the above modifications do work provided R4 and not R2 is changed from 22 ohms to 47 ohms. Thank you Frazer.