X10 stuff??

[farbs]

Hi Guys,
I've decided I'm going to go down the X10 route for lighting as we don't have any UPB stuff currently available here in Australia:(
Anyway these are what I'm thinking about using and wondering if they will work or has anyone else used them and success or failures with them. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!
A10 devices or LW12

http://www.whomedigital.com.au/prod35.htm

http://www.whomedigital.com.au/category26_1.htm

[jackisidore]

The X10 devices (marmitek) on that site is what I use daily in combination with girder. It works, quality could / should be better.

[farbs]

Any other advice as what is actually being used? And how it is hooked up?
Any body??

[Rob H]

X10 is really only a second best choice (or maybe even third best), especially in countries that use 220V mains electricity since there are very few modules that support status response.

However, you'll need something like a CM11 or CM12 (depending on what's available in Oz) to connect your computer to X10 - it might be worth trying to get hold of the new Marmitek CM15 which also has inbuilt Wireless reception which will speed up motion detection etc. Note that we haven't yet confirmed that this works with Girder, but it sounds as though it should.

[rpalmer68]

I can tell you the LM12's currently DO NOT work correcty with Girder as they won't dim properly.

The LD11 module does work OK as it supports extended commands.

Richard

[farbs]

X10 is really only a second best choice (or maybe even third best), especially in countries that use 220V mains electricity since there are very few modules that support status response.


Thanks,
But what else would you suggest??
C-Bus ridiculously expensive and very guarded over their protocol, and dynalite which although not quite as expensive still up there in price. No Insteon stuff here as yet and don't know when, so our choices here are quite limeted!!
I decided on the x-10 stuff mainly because it's DIY and relatively inexpensive. If you have any other options or Ideas I am all ears.

[jackisidore]

it might be worth trying to get hold of the new Marmitek CM15 which also has inbuilt Wireless reception which will speed up motion detection etc. Note that we haven't yet confirmed that this works with Girder, but it sounds as though it should.

I didn't notice this new interface. My CM11 is very buggy and I'm tempted to order a CM15. Does girder support the wireless reception and transmission?

[farbs]

PLEASE, If anyone has any better suggestions than X10 speak now as I am in the middle of renovations and now is the time!!! As the electrician is there.

[Rob H]

I guess there are a couple of things you can try to help to future proof your renovation.

1) make sure that all light switches have a neutral connection (the electrician will probably do this anyway nowadays) so that any switches/dimmers you install can get power from the mains electricity.

2) Run CAT5 cable alongside the mains (preferably the pink CBus CAT5), to every light switch, socket and ceiling fixture.. You may not use it, but if you need it then it's much cheaper to have it installed now.

Most of the alternatives to X10 are pretty expensive - I'm not sure which products are available in Australia, but it's worth looking at Z-Wave (RF), Rako (RF), Idratek (wired), EIB-KNX (wired and really quite expensive). I would have thought that CBus would have been your best local option though as it's originally from Australia and is considerably cheaper there than it is in the UK.

[farbs]

Thanks for the advice but I've gone out and got a couple of LW12 modules, had them installed behind a light switch, and well I am pretty happy with the results! Admittedly they are only one way so no feed back, but it was just a trial and it works OK. Interfaces with girder so far, haven't played too much with it, but I will also look at the A10 modules because they are supposed to 2 way. Anyway it is turning out to be quite a project so I will try to keep all updated along the way if anyone is interested. Oh yeah I also got a touchtronix touchscreen so once that is set up I will try to post some pic's and let you all know what i think.:)