Re: X10 / C-Bus for new build development

["David Buckley" <db@xxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@yahoogroups.com, "theshawmeister" <iain@n...>
wrote:
> thanks for this, but the issue I'm looking at circumvents X10
> filters on the mains feeds and I think also can't be managed by
> House Codes

The "range" of the X10 mains-bourne signal is limited by, in the
order they usually apply to an installation:

a) Parallel (ie between L and N) capacitance from (for example)
interference supression capacitor in power supplies.  Where present,
these kill the X10 signal stone dead.

b) Length of wiring - wiring has small amount of capacitance, and
this attenuates the 120KHz signal over distance.

c) Filters or transformers - 120KHz will not pass through or across
these.

In non-big-city USA, and in many other sparsely populated areas,
each dwelling is fed by its own transformer, and this isolates one
dweeling from another.  In the UK, it is rare for a house to have
its own transformer, and thus X10 leakage between houses can occur,
and given the much smaller electrical distances involved in flats,
inter-house leakage is almost guaranteed.

Although you say its difficult, if you are contemplating X10 at all
in a block of flats, then filters are almost mandatory; they are DIN
rail mount, rated at 63A, failrly cheap, and fit directly into the
consumer unit, and can be fitted by a comissioning sparkie.

There is not really any serious competition to X10 in price terms.
However, with X10 (and this is a design feature of the X10 powerline
control system) you get what you pay for, and although X10 has its
place, I would not describe it as a reliable home automation
system.  For my own horror story, see http://www.ukha-
archive.com/archives/2003-may/msg00483.html

Alternatively to X10, a "hard wired" system can be considered.
These are "better" than X10, but cost more.  The local favorite
here
is the Clipsal CBus system, but another alternative is EIB, the
European Installation Bus.  Although there are some differences in
philosophy between the two systems, at the end of the day they are
functionally identical, and price similar.  There are other systems,
CEBus springs to mind.

If you are majored on lights, then perhaps Lutron, Polaris or
something similar may suit.


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