How to Control Lamps With X10

X-10 lets you remote control your lamps.

Devices using the X10 protocol let you automate your home. X10 is a mature and robust technology which has been tested over decades of use in homes all across the globe. Although it can support extremely complicated home automation networks, it can also be used to simply switch a lamp or two on and off via remote control. To use it, you simply need a remote control, a transceiver unit and one or more lamp or appliance modules.

Things You'll Need

• X10 lamp module
• X10 transceiver module
• X10 remote control with batteries
• Small flat-bladed screwdriver
• Lamp with incandescent or dimmable CFL bulb

Instructions

1. Insert your small flat-bladed screwdriver into the "house code" switch on each of your modules. Turn each switch to indicate the same house code, which will be a letter between A and P.

2. Turn your remote control's house code switch to the same house code as your modules. Most remotes will have a similar rotary switch to the modules.

3. Plug your transceiver module into a wall outlet and extend its antenna. Because it is relatively large and unsightly, consider hiding it behind a piece of furniture. If you want, you can plug an electrical device into the module which will be remote controlled. If you do this, switch the device on before you plug it into the module.

4. Set your lamp module's "unit code" to a number between 2 and 16. To do this, simply insert your flat-bladed screwdriver into the rotary switch, and rotate it to the appropriate position. For simplicity, consider setting your first module to position "2."

5. Find an outlet near a lamp that you want to control with the X-10 system, and plug your lamp module into it. Switch your lamp on and plug it into the module.

6. Press the two buttons corresponding to position 2 on your remote control. One will increase the brightness of the lamp or turn it on, and the other will dim and turn it off. The buttons for position 1 will turn the device connected to the transceiver module on and off without dimming functionality.

7. Add additional modules to control more devices. Lamp modules will offer dimming functionality and appliance modules, available for two- and three-pin plugs, and also offer on and off functionality. Wall switches and outlets with X-10 functionality built in are also available.

References

• X10 FAQ: Section 1 - General Information