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    PulseWorx UPB Wall Switch Dimmer (WS1D) — Firmware Specification

    September 08, 2026 4 min read

    Technical firmware specification for the PulseWorx/PCS UPB Wall Switch Dimmer (WS1D), covering wiring, rocker switch operation, dimming behavior, LED status modes, and supported UPB commands.

    💾 Download Original PDF
    Full text manual (for reference)

    Overview

    This document is the firmware specification for the PulseWorx/Powerline Control Systems (PCS) UPB Wall Switch Dimmer, model WS1D — a wall-mounted dimming light switch for the Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) home automation protocol. The WS1D controls a single 120VAC lighting load (600W, 1000W, or 2000W channel versions) and can be controlled three ways: its local Rocker Switch, an optional remote Slave Switch, or UPB commands sent over the powerline.

    Wiring & Connections

    The WS1D has four wires used to connect it to power, load, and an optional slave switch:

    • Black — Line (hot) in
    • White — connects to the Load and Neutral
    • Red — Load output
    • Yellow — optional Slave Switch connection (part # PCS SSR3)
    • Grey (optional) — to Neutral or Ground, illuminates the LED only

    An optional Slave Switch (PCS SSR3) wires in via the yellow terminal and operates the WS1D identically to its built-in local Rocker Switch — same load control, transmit control, and mode control behavior.

    Rocker Switch Operation

    The decora-style Rocker Switch has a top and bottom momentary pushbutton. Four event types are detected: Single-Tap (press >250ms, release before 750ms), Double-Tap (two taps within 750ms), Hold (press held >750ms), and Release (release after a Hold).

    Rocker Event Top Rocker (factory default) Bottom Rocker (factory default)
    Single-Tap Fade to 100% at Default Fade Rate Fade to 0% at Default Fade Rate
    Double-Tap Snap to 100% instantly Snap to 0% instantly
    Hold Start fading to 100% Start fading to 0%
    Release Stop fading Stop fading

    These Single-Tap/Double-Tap actions are fully reconfigurable via a UPB Setup Tool (each can be set to any target light level + fade rate combination), not fixed to the factory defaults above.

    Special Safety Feature — Power Disconnect

    Pressing the bottom rocker with extra force until a loud "snap" is heard physically disconnects power to the WS1D's internal circuitry — useful for safely servicing the load without removing the switch. To re-apply power, press the Top Rocker until it snaps back into normal position.

    Light Dimming

    • 200 distinct dimming levels (1–200) plus OFF, using a pseudo-logarithmic dimming curve for smooth transitions.
    • Levels can change instantly ("Snap") or gradually ("Fade") using one of 16 configurable Fade Rates, from instant Snap up to 1 hour full-range fade.
    • The switch remembers its last light level across power cycles (Reset Light Level, saved roughly every 2 seconds) and restores it on power-up.
    • Can be configured for on/off-only operation (Dimming Capable flag disabled) instead of full dimming.

    Fade Rate Reference

    Fade Rate # Time (0%→100%)
    0 Snap (instant)
    1–8 0.8 to 30 seconds
    9–13 1 minute to 15 minutes
    14–15 0.5 hour to 1 hour

    Status LED

    A single bi-color LED indicates switch status. It can operate in two modes:

    • Load Indicator Mode (default): LED color reflects the on/off state of the dimmer output (configurable colors: black/off, red, green, orange for both on and off states).
    • Diagnostic Mode: LED shows solid orange normally, blinks red when transmitting a UPB message, blinks green when receiving a valid message, and blinks off when receiving an invalid message.

    Mode indications: SETUP Mode blinks green/off; Factory Default Mode blinks red/off; Normal Mode shows solid orange. On power-up, the LED blinks 4 times in red/green to indicate the firmware version in binary (red = 0, green = 1).

    Modes of Operation

    • Normal Mode — default operating mode; setup register write protection enabled.
    • SETUP Mode — enter by multi-tapping either rocker exactly 5 times (or via a UPB "Start SETUP Mode" command); exit by multi-tapping exactly 2 times.
    • Factory Default Mode — from SETUP Mode, multi-tap exactly 10 times to reset all setup registers to factory defaults; exit (return to Normal) by multi-tapping exactly 2 times.

    UPB Command Set Supported

    Command Function
    Activate Set dimmer to the linked Preset's light level/fade rate
    Deactivate Turn dimmer off (0%) at the linked Preset's fade rate
    Goto Set dimmer to a specific level at a specific fade rate
    Fade Start / Fade Stop Begin or halt a fade in progress
    Blink Alternate between 0% and 100% at a specified rate
    Report State Reply with current dimmer light level
    Store Preset Save the current light level into the linked Preset

    The switch has 16 configurable Presets (Receive Components) tied to Link IDs 1–16, each holding its own light level and fade rate — allowing a single WS1D to respond differently to 16 different scene/link commands from a UPB controller. It can also be configured to transmit UPB messages (or automatic state reports) when the rocker is tapped, held, or released, enabling it to act as both a load controller and a scene-trigger transmitter on the powerline bus.

    Manufacturer

    Powerline Control Systems (PCS) / PulseWorx — 19201 Parthenia Street, Suite J, Northridge, CA. Full setup-register-level configuration (Network ID, Unit ID, password, presets, transmit tables) is done using a UPB Setup Tool — see the full downloadable specification for complete register maps.