Specifications

Chapter Eleven: X-10 Home Automation Programming

This chapter explains the programmable options for the system’s home automation

features. The Home Automation module is an add-on optional extra that you can install

inside the panel’s plastic housing.

11.1: X-10 Overview

The control panel’s home automation feature employs the X-10 protocol and this enables

compatibility with a wide variety of readily available home automation products.

Before you can start programming the system’s Home Automation features, you should

be familiar with the basic concept behind X-10 automation.

X-10 is a protocol that enables you to send commands and other data over regular

existing power lines. This means that, using an X-10 transmitter (the panel’s Home

Automation module), you can send On/Off commands to X-10 receivers (lamp and

appliance modules) that are plugged into electricity outlets around the home. From here

on, we shall refer to these X-10 receivers as “HA units”.

Each HA unit has two codes that are used for identification. These codes are known as

the House code and the Unit code and are usually defined by adjusting the dials that

appear on the X-10 unit. In Figure 11.1, the HA unit is set to House A, Unit 3.

Figure 11.1: HA Unit Dials

The control panel supports sixteen HA units on one House code. To ensure that the

Home Automation features function correctly, you must abide by the following guidelines.

x The House code must be the same on each HA unit.

x The House code on the HA units must be identical to the House code

programmed in the panel’s memory – see section 11.3: House Code.

11.2: HA Units

The following sections explain the programming options available for HA units.

11.2.1: Scheduling

Scheduling allows you to program the panel to send On/Off commands to an HA unit at

specific times. The Scheduling section of Home Automation programming is identical to

that described in Chapter Six: X-10 Home Automation Control. For further information on

programming the On Time, Off Time and Schedule for each HA unit, see section 6.4:

Scheduling.