I really can't understand why much of the X-10 equipment is so expensive. If I buy a simple on/off switch from radio shack (don't remeber the style name, just that it has a small push button to switch on and off), it costs me about $10-$12. If I want to buy the equivalent switch (no dimming, no scenes, just straighfroward on/off capability) in a Decora style, it costs at least $50. Since the functionality of both switches is exactly the same, I'm paying about $40 extra for a few extra square inches of plastic. SOmebody is making a bundle on this stuff!

You must be shopping in the wrong place. :)

The low-cost dimming switch that I recommend is the X10Pro XPD3 which is a decora rocker-style switch is sold for $18.59 at the link below.

[Link: homeautomationnet.com]

If you think X-10 stuff is expensive, you should try looking at prices outside the U.S!!!

Cheers, Cam

Larry in TN:
Thanks a lot for the link - that's more like a reasonable price!

I'm also looking for an appliance module that will control a table lamp fitted with a compact fluorescent light. I assume I'll need a module capabl;e of dealing with fluorescent bulbs, but I haven't found one anywhere - any ideas?

I've also been asking about X-10 control of some solar blinds. I need a 3-way switch of some sort. One position to raise the blind, another one to lower it, and a third to stop the lower/raise operation. These blinds will already be motorized and controlled by a switch as described, so just need an X-10 switch of some sort.

Thanks for any help,

Pete

This message was edited by phaworth on 05/29/02 21:48.40.

To control flourescent, you need an appliance module. These don't dim -- just on and off. X10 isn't too bad, particularly if you just want to control some lamps. I bought an IR543 (IR to X10) and several lamp modules for somewhere around $30. The real problem is that, once you start down the X10 road, then you'll want to control everything. For instance, I have my washer set to come on at about 4:30pm so that I can put a load of clothes in the washer in the morning and they'll be done when I get home. Then I put them in the dryer. This way, I do a load of clothes per night. The sky's the limit.

This is what you want for your blinds:
[Link: smarthome.com]
This contains four of the above plus:
[Link: smarthome.com]

Hope this helps!

This message was edited by paulhubbard on 05/30/02 12:18.18.

Also check out:
http://www.worthdist.com/

We beat worthdist on items we have in common. As far as the SmartHome link above, their price $34 ours $15, but of course they do put out a nice catalog. Try [Link: homeautomationnet.com]

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

To Bill:
I wasn't suggesting the SmartHome was the only source, But they do give great descriptions and application ideas.

Thanks Paul, I know you buy from us, and did not mean anything negative. SmartHome does have a good site, I wish we could afford to put the money into ours that they put into theirs, nice catalog also. But the customer certainly pays for it all. I was just pointing this out.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Your site has the necessary "equipment" to be as good, if not better than theirs. It's the layout that makes your site hard to navigate.

I would never think to look for a light switch on a Receivers page, nor would I even have a guess at what goes on a Platform page. You've got to "dumb down"; think like a newbie customer. And put the menu code near the top of the HTML; it really bugs me that the menu at the top of the page is the last thing to load.

If you really feel you need outside help for design suggestions I'd be glad to help you out. We can barter for my fee.

Smarthome definitely has a newbie friendly, very informative website. And they do have a nice catalogue (I have one on my desk right now). Their website is one of my favorites for X-10 gadget "window shopping". And to be "fair" to Smarthome, I would like to mention that they can "price match" similar items found in competitors' websites. Bill's www.homeautomationnet.com definitely has one of the lowest prices out there.

This message was edited by joey2002 on 05/30/02 18:50.27.

SmartHome does try to get out of the Price Match offer by assigning their part numbers to everything and having things that are made slightly different like the IR543 in white (their 40404).

Mrat, thanks for the offer I may take you up on it are you in the web design business? For right now, I am thinking of just building an comprehensive index page, like some catalogs have in the back so you can find things that way. Even SmartHomes catalog bugs me in this respect, you have to look at very broad index in the front instead of being able to go to the page you want fast.

Thanks
Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

I'll email you.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I didn't see anything directly related to the appliance module to control my fluroescent light table lamp. Can I just use a normal appliance module for that? The descriptions of them all seem to specifically mention incandescent lights.

On the blind thing. I see the unit that is being suggested but I'm still not sure how this works for me. The description talks about a single (or continuous) contact closure, but it seem to me that I have two contact closures involved, one to lower the blind and one to raise it. I'm pretty ignorant about electronics and switches so it's likely I'm just not understanding this right.

Thanks,

Pete