Re: No more X10 at Radio Shack?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:20:11 GMT, "Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx> wrote in
message  <vbkbh.119991$Fi1.97240@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>"Marc_F_Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:jlhrm2ld0vta1b0qr34ach68cqmu488g9j@xxxxxxxxxx
>> On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:41:51 GMT, "Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx> wrote in
>> message  <3NYah.115414$Fi1.103737@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>>
>> >X10 can be a cost-effective and very reliable system for those who care
>to
>> >put in some effort.
>> >
>> >Actually, it is probably better that retail channels drop it because
>> >that will get rid of many of the impulse buyers who are disappointed
>> >when it
>> >doesn't work 100% right out of the box.  You know the ones - their VCRs
>> >flashed 12:00 for years until manufacturers included automatic clock
>> >setting.
>>
>> This is a not an apt comparison in my opinion. A person does not need an
>> electrician to program a VCR, but in most jurisdictions in the US, a
>> person must either have the knowledge, manual skills, tools *and*
>> authorization to do electrical AC work themselves, or hire a licensed
>> electrician who may also need to be bonded and(or) show proof of paying
>> fees/taxes in the local  jurisdiction.
>>
>> What proportion of folks are competent enough to accurately construct a
>> schematic diagram of their home's AC wiring and then reconfigure the main
>> entrance panel to put all X-10 on one phase safely and in accordance with
>> codes?
>
>That was exactly my point.  The folks who can't do that are the ones most
>likely to walk into the local Radio Shack and pick up that gee wiz
>automation kit consisting of a controller and a few plug-in modules.  Then
>they plug it in as shown on the box, and it doesn't work.  So they either
>take it back to the store or rant here and elsewhere that X10 is junk.
>Those that buy from the more respected automaton channels like Worthington
>or SmartHome probably have some clue as to what they are doing.

Jeff,

I'm confident that we are in complete agreement with the basic facts
including the reality that some X-10 components *are* unreliable/junk
compared to their non-automated generic counterparts (the SR-227 comes to
mind).

My broader point (as usual) is that when we post here, the effect is to make
a recommendation and that it is helpful to simultaneously provide the
boundaries/limitations/circumstances/parameters over which the
recommendations pertain in a non-hyperbolic way. This is part of why I
suggest that a first step in making an X-10 system dependable is to develop
a circuit diagram for the home's AC wiring. This provides a
higher-than-usual threshold for the decision to install X-10 and presumably
w/should result in a higher proportion of 'successful' installations.

Keep up the nifty work!

Thanks ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org