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| November newsletter: the X10 Files Protecting your Investment
It's amazing how much you can do with something as simple as X10. Sometimes when I consult with people I'm asked questions which, in effect, unmask the notion that X10 might not be "worthy" of an upscale installation. The truth is that, yes, you can do a cheapie job with X10. But cheapie and inexpensive are not necessarily the same thing. Even saying that there are comparatively pricey X10 devices on the market doesn't mean that it's really all that expensive when you consider just how much this one simple protocol can do for you. And if you have a lot of nice X10 switches (i.e. PCS or some of the better Leviton) you'll be wise to take steps to protect them from power surges. See, unlike your computer or DVD player, you can't just plug your X10 devices into a standard surge protector. Oopsy! Surge protectors block X10 signals! (no, I'm not a dork for saying oopsy). But spikes and surges present serious threats to you if you've invested $30 to $100 apiece for your switches. Probably the best thing you can do if you want to protect your stuff is to install a whole-house surge protector at the breaker box. If you look at the image below (you need to be online) you can see to the right of the breaker panel such a device from Leviton.
As I will always say without reservation, I'm no electrician, though I can do what I have to in a pinch. In this case, I hired my industrial electrician brother for free (the price was just about right). You can click here to see how this thing connects in your panel. I'd recommend you use someone who knows what they're doing if you aren't familiar with the innards of a breaker box. The obvious point of having one of these is that you can rest a little easier knowing that surges/spikes should be stopped before they even enter your home. And troubleshooting X10 problems will be a little easier if you don't toast your devices. One other thing you can do to improve performance is to install a coupler/repeater. Because X10 signals sometimes have to cross from one "leg" to the other in order to get where they need to go (i.e. from a controller to the device), they might have to travel as far as the power company's transformer before they can do so - then they have to make the return trip to your home and seek out the module or switch. The signal can attenuate so much in that long trip that - well, things just might not work quite right. The coupler will help the signal cross over at the breaker box so that it never has to leave the home. And many couplers will also act as repeaters, effectively boosting the X10 signal to noise ratio. It's a simple thing to do to maximize the effectiveness of your X10 design. In the below photo, you'll see that mine simply rests inside the panel itself (it's the small black box at the bottom) & simply connects to either side of a circuit breaker).
One last thing that could possibly cause problems for you: occasionally computers, TV's, or other appliances will emit "noise" on the line that drowns out your X10 signal. While you could purchase some X10 troubleshooting equipment, you might also simply try installing a noise filter at the offending device. Of course if you don't know where the problem is coming from, it's a hit-or-miss thing until you isolate the offender. Simply unplug things one at a time until the problem goes away. Now, if I can just make this plug: In my ebook Integrating the Smart Home and its Owner I talk more about X10 & how to make it work well for you. Also, I dig into how X10's usefulness can be amplified by integrating it into a design that incorporates a number of other common protocols. To sum things up, if you take a few recommended steps, you can enjoy many of the same features as lighting systems which cost thousands. In fact, X10's flexibility will allow your design to grow with time and your own needs. As just one example,while it's primarily used for lighting control, consider just how useful X10 can be in your security design. After all, effective lighting is one of the more useful deterrents when it comes to protecting your home. It just makes more sense to stop the crook before he starts than after. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!
Till next time, Andy Jackson,
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