Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!dimacs.rutgers.edu!mips!prls!gordon
From: gordon@prls.UUCP (Gordon Vickers)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: x-10 controllers
Message-ID: <40960@prls.UUCP>
Date: 11 Jul 90 16:52:01 GMT
References: <740.269A7AA3@ofa123.fidonet.org>
Reply-To: gordon@prls.UUCP (Gordon Vickers)
Organization: Philips Research Labs, Sunnyvale, California
Lines: 39

In article <740.269A7AA3@ofa123.fidonet.org> John.Geary@ofa123.fidonet.org (John Geary) writes:
>To any one that can help, I require the pricing on the x-10. From what I can 
>understand from other messages the x-10 will turn on and off appliences. How 
>durable are they? I have a comercial application for them and require a PC to 
>turn them on and off. If any one can help please post a message or call me at 
>266-5312 and ask for John. 
>Thanks in advance.
>

     I have used the X-10 system (at home) for no less than four years
   and have been satisfied with thier performance and reliability.  I would
   not recommend using them for most comercial applications.  The X-10
   system is limited to switching AC loads only and the switching modules
   (if I remember correctly) have a relitively low rating for current (four
   or five Amps I believe). 

     The X-10 control console sends simple, modulated messages over existing
   A.C. power lines.  There is no error detection.  The receiving modules
   have no means of transmitting information back to the control console, so
   all control messages are assumed to have been transmitted, received, and
   decoded without errors.

     In the commercial and industrial environments, these units are not
    likely to be reliable.  Electrical noises on the powerline can 
    interfere with (corrupt) the X-10 messages.  This same randomn noise can 
    also be mistaken by a receiving module as a valid control signals !
    The likelyhood of such errors increases significantly if there are
    other "carrier current" devices within the same building unless these
    devices are seperated from the X-10 components by a power transformer.
    The devices most likely to interfer with the X-10 are: light dimmers,
    certain wireless intercomms, motor speed controllers, and some computers.

       I design systems for remote data collection and equipment control
    in industrial environments.
 
Gordon Vickers 408/991-5370      { ames, sun }!atari!facv01!gordon
Signetics in Sunnyvale,Ca (USA)  or {mips,pyramid|philabs}!prls!gordon
Earth is a complex array of symbiotic relationships: Every extinction, whether
 animal, mineral, vegetable, or cultural hastens our own demise.