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  • Author Author: ralphjy
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X10 Resurrected

ralphjy

When I started out in home automation over 30 years, I used X10 modules that I bought first from Radio Shack and later IBM units that I bought from Egghead.  I retired the last of my units just last year.  All of the functionality has been replaced using WiFi and Z-Wave.  I even had the X10 units interfaced to Alexa using an RPi 3 and a CM19A USB to RF transceiver.  Over 10 years ago I also replaced my X10 wireless cameras with IP cameras.

I never actually had an X10 unit fail, although I had several that started to get warm to the touch which was probably the onset of component failure.  Anyway, over 10-15 years of continuous use is probably pushing the lifespan of the electronics - so I've been cycling out the oldest modules (I had bought a bunch of them) and finally decided to stop using them altogether last year.

My son recently sold his condo and bought his first house which is somewhat of a fixer.  The garage needs a total makeover.  The doors need to be replaced, there aren't any automatic openers, and the lighting needs to be rewired.  Unfortunately, in this pandemic era, that isn't something that can be done quickly.  My sister-in-law recently got a quote for a single garage door replacement with an 18 week lead time.

Anyway, that leaves my son with a lighting problem that he doesn't want to invest much time or money on since he's going to have everything redone at some point.  So, I figured that with a couple of 4 foot LED shop lights and some old X10 units that I could give him a temporary fix for under $20.

Here are the X10 units I decided to use:

  • TM751 RF transceiver (also has a switched outlet)
  • LM465 Lamp module
  • MS12A Motion detector
  • HR12A Wireless remote
  • RW724 Wireless wall switch

image

And a quick test after inserting batteries.  The pleasing "thunk" as the relay energizes...

Now, just have to wait for Amazon to deliver the LED lights tomorrow.  Hope the delivery is on time because we have snow in the forecast for this weekend Worried.

  • in reply to mp2100

    I had the same problem with sockets on split phases in my previous house.  Whenever I used a 2 phase appliance (oven or dryer), everything worked great Laughing.  I never got around to installing a phase coupler in the breaker panel - I solved the problem by using wireless transceivers on both phases.

    I am currently using a combination of various WiFi and Z-Wave switches from different manufacturers - all run through the Alexa app.

  • Only last month, I put my last x10 switches into the electronics recycle bins that our county provides.  They worked well, but there was some separation in my electrical box, so only the outlets that were wired to one side of my house's box would receive the on/of signal from my controller.  Weird.  

    After x10, I tried wifi Wemo for a while but at the time, it was very unreliable.  I'm using the Lutron system now for automation of my lights now, it's very reliable, but I do want more features built into the phone app to give me more flexible timing options.

  • in reply to genebren

    Radio Shack was a fun place for me as a young hobbyist.  I used to get my free battery every month and used their tube testers to check out tubes that I got on the surplus market.

    They were an OEM for AST Computer which later became AST Research.  I remember my second "big" computer purchase (after the Apple IIe Smile) was an AST Research 80286 (IBM PC clone).  That was built like a tank and I gave it to my Dad after I was done with it.

  • Radio Shack has been many things to many people, but one thing that I recall is that their finished goods were pretty reliable. 10 to 15 years of service is a reliable product.

  • Look on the bright side, if you get snow, you can play outside.