Re: Anyone seen the X10 Mains Sockets on LetsAutomate?

["Mark Hetherington" <mark.egroups@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@y..., Keith Doxey <ukha@d...> wrote:
> It would have to be twin single sockets rather than a double which
requires
> more space.
>
> Unless the electronics were actually built into a socket as the two
sides of
> a double are fed from common terminals.

Good point. I forgot about the shared feed of a standard 2 gang
socket. But, the common feed could quite easily be split between the
two sockets to work around this problem.

> I *think* X10 modules only read the
> address at powerup therefore the power would have to be turned off
for
> address changes to be effective anyway. I once changed the address
of a
> module but it wasnt effective until after a power down/up cycle.

Not in my experience. I have a house code dedicated to testing and
always install X10 devices on this housecode to begin with then just
change them later. This same code is also used if I suspect a problem
with a module while I test it. I have never had to power off modules
for the change to take effect.

As an example, when I installed my LD10s, they were all on housecode
A. I changed the address with power on and it took immediate effect.

> Why would
> you want to keep changing addresses anyway? Th eonly time I have
changed an
> adress was when moving a module from Lounge "L" to Kitchen
"K".

I don't constantly change addresses but until the house is completely
automated, I often find I need to change a modules address to make
the whole system more intuitive and ensure local controllers can
access appropriate appliances. There is also the situation I mention
above for my test house code which is reserved purely for
installation and testing of X10 devices.

This is the only X10 module I have seen which does not have simple
instant access to the address dials. Often I would like a way to hide
the dials (a simple panel would suffice) but it struck me as odd that
the WS10 would hide the dials in a relatively inaccessible position.

It was only a minor issue anyway.

> The double outlets on sale in the states only have one half
controlled by
> X10, the other is a normal socket.

IMO even that is preferable to losing the second socket completely. I
would likely have one housecode controlling various "transient
use"
sockets around the house for vacuuming etc rather than individually
address them all causing problems for anything I want to just "plug
and play" so this could easily just use the non-X10 part of such a
socket instead.

Maybe someone ought to develop an X10 trailing extension cable.
Basically 4 LM/AM10s wired together to an extension cord givings us
plenty of "mobile" fixed address sockets :)

Mark.




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Automated Home UK
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
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