1. Home
  2. CCTV, Alarms and other Physical Security
  3. X10 Commands From A PC?

X10 Commands From A PC?

I've got an Insteon interface module that will relay commands from a PC to the AC wiring.

Using mControl, I can make it turn X10 devices on and off.

But all I really want to do is issue an "All Units Off" command every twenty minutes or so during the daytime or, lacking that, turn a single X10 device off.

The agenda is that it seems like somewhere in the area somebody's got X10 devices on the same letter-designated network that we do and keeps issuing an "On" command that turns one of or floodlights on during the daytime.

We *could* change the letter on our system - but that would involve quite a bit of work getting to the area where our X10 modules are located.

mControl seems like overkill for this. Does anybody know of something leaner/meaner?

Reply to
(PeteCresswell)
Loading thread data ...

You could try this question on comp.home.automation.

My first thought was that you need an X-10 signal blocker/coupler installed in your main CB Box.

Reply to
Frank Olson

Sounds like a good plan.

Reply to
G. Morgan

Hi Pete, I don't know what "mControl is so I don't know if my suggestion will work with that device.

That one flood light that's turning on, are you controling it with a seperarte X10 module or an Insteon module? If it's an Insteon module, you can erase the X10 code and just program it to accept Insteon codes instead. This would eminate someone elses X10 signal from turning it on.

I'm guessing that you know that it doesn't necessarily have to be someone else in the neighborhood that's causing this to happen. I've learned that with X10, anything is possible. It could be that your refrigerator sends a spike that under certain conditions will cause an X10 module to trip. You can simply try changing the X10 device or change the number code of the X10 device. That could work even if it is coming from a neighbor.

Since it sounds as if you've got a lot of X10 in your home, the suggestion of putting a signal blocker in your main elecrical panel is good and something that you should have done to begin with, once you committed to using the technology. If you think about it, without the blocker, you too are sending signals down the line to other neighbors.

You say that some of your modules would be hard to get to and I'd suggest that as you begin to replace modules make them more accessable and that you use Insteon modules which can be programed for both X10 and Insteon code. I don't know how long you've been using the technology but it is far from being flawless and you can count on having more problems as time goes on as more and more electronics are installed in homes.

Reply to
Jim

Cabling-Design.com Forums website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.