Re: Re: Newbie Install

[Stuart Grimshaw <stuart.grimshaw@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Ok - so am I right in guessing that the inital x10 installation does
> not need any major wiring done?  Just changing the sockets and light
> switches?

erm, depends.

The starter kits you buy give you plug in modules for controlling
lamps or other plug in appliances., you need to re-wire to use the
switches. I started with one of these kits
http://www.laser.com/?laserlink=SGX006
and used it to control my Xmas
tree lights and a lamp for when were away for the weekend.

> what is the x10 din rail?

DIN rail modules are used in conjunction with the light switches.
Basically, There are two kinds of x10 modules, the plug in ones (AM12U
& LM12U) and the DIN rail ones (AD11U & LD11U)

The DIN rail modules have more features than the plug in modules, but
still fall some way short of the C-Bus & Lutron solutions (but that's
reflected in the price)

To use the DIN rail modules, all sockets, lights & switches all have
to be rewired back to a central point, which in an existing ring main
wired house is expensive and time consuming.

Having said all that, there are some new X10 modules in the pipeline
that offer more high end featues such as scenes, no news on
availability cost etc though (Is that right?)

--
-S