X-10 Home Automation Devices

[michaelman2]

Anyone else use this type of system for their homes? Mine is old and cantankerous...

 

[mattl]

I've been using it for decades, works fine. I have lots of modules, 20+ and use a USB connection to the controller and have added a coupler/repeater/amplifier. Lots of issues prior none now.

 

[michaelman2]

Matt, I have a large number of permanent installation modules as well as the appliance modules. I have really had a time recently with them not responding, at all to the control boxes. I have tried a repeater with very limited success. Did the "turn on the dryer using a 220" trick and when I do this it does seem to help some of the modules respond....suggestions?

 

[mattl]

Control boxes?  What are you using?  About the only thing I use is the computer interface.  I'd have to go look and see what my controller is, I updated a few years back since Win 7 was not comparable with the ancient firecracker control I had been using.  I do have a few remote control units around the house but I don't use them much.  I do use a Slim Switch for some of my kitchen lights all the time.  I went through a number of coupler repeaters over the years, hope I don't jinx the one I have now, it's been great.  Had some problems with it, but found I had the DIP switches set wrong.

 

I started using X10 years ago to control my christmas lights.  We put a candle in each window and I got tired of turning on and off 30 candles. I only use the plug in modules usually one per room.  I do have a number of wired in switches around the house though.  Initially they were problematic too, but can't say I have had an issue in years. X10 may be old but for me it's reliable.

 

In thinking about it, a year or two ago when I did my fall cleaning I checked and often redid many outlets in the house.  I checked for loose connections and grounds, replaced worn outlets and pigtailed the connections.  The house was built in the mid 60s and they used the push in typed wiring connections on all the plugs and switches.  As I pulled them out I'd redo it with pigtails even if I did not replace the outlet.  That may have had an impact on my system.  I did find many loose and bad connections.  Actually had one in the kitchen that had overheated and burned but somehow did it in such a way it still made contact.

 

[kb0nes]

Years ago I managed a large pool hall where we used X-10 appliance modules to switch all the table lights on and off. We had a total of 64 tables over a 28,000 sq ft area although only 58 of those tables had remotely switched lights.

When we initially installed the system we had trouble with about 1/3rd of the lights working reliably. The issue was that the RF signal wasn't communicating across the panel to the other 3 phases of 120v power and the lights were distributed across all phases. Even though our stepdown transformer was only feet from the panel the signal wouldn't bridge the secondary windings. I ended up adding a repeater/bridge that would receive the signal from any phase then repeat it out to all three. The system was solid after that.

We did have one future issue caused by adding large industrial electrostatic air cleaners. The ability to control lights got flakey at best. Ended up learning that the power supplies in the filters were putting RF crud back on the line swamping out the X-10 signal. We ended up wiring the air cleaners onto a different step down transformer and the problem vanished.

 

[petek]

Does anyone here use a rooftop/tower antenna like everyone did back in the day before cable?  We used to receive the 3 VHF and 1 UHF channels from Detroit so I'm wondering now with the switch to digital over the air will it work as well.. The transmitters are roughly 55-65 or so miles away.  I"m like Sandy,, if I could just get TCM and those channels I'd be happy. Worse is our cable co. doesn't carry TCM but the the cable in the next town away does... grrrrr. 

 

[mattl]

Hmmm, are you sure you didn't want the " pulling the plug" thread? Yes OTA is alive and well. I'm 60 miles from Detroit and get all the channels. My VHF antenna has seen better days otherwise I'd try for CBET, ch 9, but unlike most stations they stayed on VHF rather than UHF which I can easily get.