Date: 05-07-91 (15:17) Number: 1415 of 1450 To: ALL Refer#: NONE From: LEWIS MOSELEY Read: (N/A) Subj: X-10 info, part 1 Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE Conf: GADGETS (116) Read Type: GENERAL There was some discussion here a while back on X-10 compatable devices. This post contains information that was posted in similar discussions on boards in the Atlanta area. As with all opinions, they should be taken with a grain of salt. Note that prices can vary DRASTICALLY, depending on where you buy. Also, look for sources that offer a refund policy, so you are not stuck with something you don't like and can't use. Sources, Prices, and Descriptions for some of the more "Exotic" X-10 and Compatible Equipment Currently Available: CP-290 Computer Interface and Controller for X-10 (Available for Apple IIc/IIe, Mac, or IBM PC; Must Specify) from HeathKit for $59.99; 47th St. Photo (electronics mail order house in New York City) for $49.99 ** SL-5315-A Exterior Motion Sensor Light Control (Has only 3 House Codes: A,B,C) from HeathKit for $49.97; Home Depot for $49.97 (Occasionally on Sale for less at local Home Depots under Heath / Zenith Name; See 61-2604) ... SL-5321 Sensor Chime from HeathKit for $19.97 (See 61-2688) ... MT-522 Timer / Mini Command Center (V.G. Clock / Good RF Output / Battery Back-Up) from HeathKit for $29.99; from 47th St. Photo for $24.99 ** (See 61-2670) ... BC-284 Universal / Alarm Control Interface; DC/Open/Closure can Activate X-10 Units (Burglar Alarm turns on Ext/Int Lites, for Instance) from HeathKit for $39.99 (See 61-2687) ... UM-506 Universal Control / Sounder / Actuator (Works Good with Alarm Systems, Low-Voltage Solenoid Valves in Lawn Sprink- ler Systems, and as an Annunciator) from HeathKit for $27.95 (See 61-2688) ... MC-460 Mini Command Center (Low RF Output; I don't Recommend it for Long or "Quirky" A.C. Wiring Runs) from HeathKit for $12.99; 47th St. Photo for $11.99 (See 61-2677) ... URC-3000 Command Center / Infra-Red Receiver; (This is a Limited Quasi-Replacement for the old X10-014301 Ultra- Sonic Receiver / Command Center) Manufactured by X-10 for the URC People to be used Singularly or with the URC-5000; from HeathKit for $34.95; Sears for $34.99 ** (There is no Radio Shack Equivalent on the Drawing Board; See URC's "One for All" Products on Page 684 of Sears' 1990 XMAS Catalog "The Great American Wish Book" Item # 57 E 44832). URC-5000 Universal Infra-Red Hand-Held Remote Controller for TV, VCR, Stereo, etc. and X-10 Devices (When used with the URC-3000; Steve: This is a Super-Enhanced Replacement for the old X10-014401 Ultra-Sonic Hand-Held Transmitter; There is no Radio Shack Equivalent for this Unit Currently Planned nor is it Manufactured by the X-10 Folks; See the Sears Reference given above, # 57 E 44831). This may be the Piece' de Resistance for the Couch Potato's Arsenal (Exclusive of Sony's RM-P700E); This unit is book- programmable (you don't have to have the original remote, but what you want to control must be in the book). The URC-3000 is a device in the book. From Sears for $99.99; HeathKit for $79.95; 47th St. for $69.95 ** PM5900 X-10 POWERMID Set Consisting of an ST539 IR Converter / RF Transmitter and an RE549 RF Receiver / IR Converter. Manufactured by X-10 and as far as I know, only available from DAK (# 5728) for $49.90. There is a jack on the RE549 Receiver for an RX569 Infrared Extender; I'm betting that it is a 3-ft. long pair of wires with an IR LED on one end and a Mating plug for the RE549 on the other, so's you can position the Receiver other than directly in front of your equipment (or in case the IR-Controlled Eqpt. is located inside a cabinet). DAK did not have the Extender listed; I assume it's available from X-10 (Fone: 1-800-526-0027) as is perhaps all of the POWERMID eqpt. I'm guessing that the RX569 is identical to a part sup- plied with Radio Shack's 15-1289 Infrared Remote Control Extender (Converts IR to DC, Transmits the DC via your RG-59 or RG-6 Video/RF Coax Distribution System, and then Converts the DC back to IR Signals). I bought several ex- tra of the RS parts by ordering as an RS Part Number. I'll bet that the X-10 POWERMID and the RS 15-1289 IR Extender will work together handsomely. I'll let you know ... 61-2604 Radio Shack's Exterior Motion Sensor Light Control; a far More Versatile Unit than Heath's SL-5315-A altho' not as Sensitive; 16 House Codes, 16 Start Codes; Adjustable "On" Time, Sensor Sensitivity, and PhotoCell Sensitivity; Can send Signals to up to Eight X-10 Groups (4 X 2 Modes); Works Good with SL-5321 for Annunciator or two 61-2688's for Annunciator / Poor Man's Burglar Alarm Combination; $49.95 61-2670 Radio Shack's equivalent to MT-522 for $29.95 (altho' I did once buy Two on sale @ $13.99 **) ... 61-2677 Radio Shack's equivalent to MC-460 for $12.95; Got one for $6.95 on sale once; For Good, Short AC Runs Only ... 61-2687 Radio Shack's equivalent to BC-284 for $19.95 ** 61-2688 Radio Shack's equivalent to UM-506 for $18.95 ** Note: Radio Shack is Probably your best bet for the small modules (under $16.00). They usually go on sale about twice a year at substantial savings, and it's not worth the hassle to return inexpensive "bad" units via mail or UPS. Quality control has been a problem lately with RS modules, tho. About 20% seem to be D.O.A., but are readily replaced by the Shack. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. FOR CONTROLLING FLOURESCENT LIGHTS: Advanced Control Technology (ACT - Formerly Leviton PCC) Manufactures the ACT #6241 Commercial Quality, X-10 Compatible, SPST Non-Dimmable Wall Switch Module (125V @ 20A). It is available from Home Automation Labs (HAL) for a Paltry $52.95 (Choke!). But if you're only going to buy one, Perhaps this Solution is not out of the Question. It's an Attract- ive, "Decora" Style, Paddle Switch Module; This Could Pose a Problem unless the Switch you're Replacing is "Single-Gang". If it is in a Multi-Gang Arrangement (and the other items are not Decora Style), Each Gang of Switches/Outlets would have to be Replaced with its Decora Style Equivalent Together with an Appropriate Decora Wall Plate; This assumes the #6241 Wall Plate is Removable. Should your Kitchen Fixture be Con- trolled by Three-Way Switches, the ACT #6241-3 Costs but $84.95 (Double Choke!!). ACT also Manufactures a #6725 Fixture Relay Switch (125V @ 5A) for a cost of $36.95. It looks Small Enough to Place inside a Light Fixture or perhaps a Deep Electrical Box; It Resembles a Standard X-10 Appliance Module except that it has leads for Wiring it in versus Plugging it in. I'm not Familiar with this unit, so I'm unsure whether it can be locally controlled by a Std. Wall Switch. The usual X-10 Modules can be Acti- vated locally by Switching on a Minimum 60 watt load - then off - then back on again. If the ACT #6725 works similarly, then a Std. Wall Switch in Series between the Module and the Light Fixture Might just Work ... ACT Manufactures a Wall Transmitter/On-Off KeyPad Combination that will Perform Local Control Properly via X-10 Codes but it costs an Additional $70.90 and would make this Solution even more Costly than the Former one. Home Automation Labs is Primarily a Mail Order Outfit, but I think their Tech Support Group at 404- 319-6000 can Answer most Questions about the ACT Modules ... --- Û SLMR 1.05 Û 'Cos I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man. PCRelay:TRP -> #564 RelayNet (tm) 4.10 The Right Place (tm) - Atlanta - 404/476-2607