X10 Light switch/Stated Load

[tomtnt]

I have one of the el cheapo X10 decora switch rated at 500W - I think I may be overloading my sets of front porch lights - there's three overhead lights with 3 bulbs each - chandelier type bulbs - probably 40w - can't see, it's too high... but that would be 360W. Two lower wall lights also tied to the same switch looks like they have 60W - 80W bulbs... With the normal switch, all 5 sets of lights work. with the X10, only the 3 overhead light up, the lower two aren't working. does this sound like a load problem?

I've ordered a 1000W smarthome switch - but in the interim, is it safe to remove the bulbs from the two lower wall lights to lower the load so that I'm not overdriving the switch?

thanks

 

[BLH]

If it was overloaded. It may overheat or fail, but not some lights don't light.
You may want to double check that the load wires to the two lower bulbs didn't make a poor connection when the X10 switch was installed.
One thing to remember. The Insteon and Icon wall switches need a Neutral Power Wire in the switch box along with the Hot and Load wires. With out a Neutral the switch will not function. You can download the full manuals for all the Insteon and Icon devices from the Smarthome web site.