Starting Fresh With X10

[apny]

I am doing a complete dormer and and almost new rewire of my house. I am using x10 switches.

I had the best practices of assigning house codes by letters of the room and then numbers for each switch...

I.E. Kitchen light 1 would be K1, Dining Room would be D1.


Is this the best way to do this for ease of use and compatibility. I am not to deep into it right now so I can go back but I want to do it right the first time.

Thanks

[JimMcGowanInlet]

That sounds like an interesting way. I was also looking for a way to configure them. I doubt you'd ever have more than 16 devices per room. I was considering assigning by device type but I like your method better.

[jlipsit]

--------------:idea: What you may want to consider :idea: ---------------

I still have some of those cheap X-10 consoles near the bed or kitchen when it is not easy to talk to HAL:

X-10 Controller (http://www.smarthome.com/4020.html)

These only work on one house code at a time. Therefore I put all my indoor lights in the same house code. That makes it so I can control all my lights from the same controller. If you have them spread out on each housecode then you will not be able to do this easily. Just a thought....

[electro*junkie]

Nice idea. It's always good to have a little method to the madness! I have to agree with Jim though, I think your main challenge will be with how you want to control your devices. For me, the logical assignment for each device is irrelevant as long as it works the way I want it to. An easy way to keep up with everything might be to put each device and it's address in a spreadsheet and print it out. You can even shrink the document down to credit card size and throw it in your wallet. If you have any architecture or drawing software you can even print out a floor plan of your home and label each device in it's location. This way you won't have to remember any assignments, but all the information is close by and easy to get to. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

- Chad

[AutomatedOutlet]

Yes, I agree - by room works well. Keep in mind, over time, you'll be changing devices in various rooms. You need to have a good way to keep track of stuff and also you may want to set up some commands that effect whole rooms. It's a lot easier if the room is on one housecode.

[wildbillmonte]

The only problem with assigning each room its own House code is CONTROL. For every house code you have, you must have a controller. And a remote probably. If primary control is going to be PC based, it is not an issue, but all those remotes sittin around would get confusin :lol:

[AutomatedOutlet]

Yes, that's true sort of. There are controllers that will work across multiple housecodes though. In most rooms in my house I have at least 3 to 8 x10 controlled things. I'm frequently using have a house code is a room anyway.

Another thing to keep in mind, at least in my house, is simplicity for the other people in the house. I do keep a palmpad controller in most of the rooms. They're cheap and easy to use for the other people in the house. My wife will put up with all of my gadgets if I keep it simple!

[rehbergr]

I assinged 4 house codes to each floor of the house and left the first 4 house codes for miscelaneous. I am still working out the details and will add more detail and possibly multiple functions on a house code as time goes on.

A - Testing
B
C
D - Misc. Sensors
E - Basement Lights
F
G
H - Basement Sensors
I - First Floor Lights
J
J
L - First Floor Sensors
M - Second Floor Lights
N
O
P - Second Floor Sensors

[ToddG]

I like to group my devices by function when assigning house codes. For example, House Code B is for lights starting from one end of the house to another. House Code F is for Sensors. By keeping sensors on seperate house codes and alternating their unit assignments with non assigned unit number addresses, my powerline seems will be less prone to phantom signals. Code J is for audio and other appliances. Code M is for Irrigation. I have a few 3-button stick-on wireless wall switches around the house. For example, a wall switch next to the bed will control the bed, bath and hall lights if I don't feel like talking to HAL. I don't think there are any hard & fast rules, this is just how I like to do it. My two main goals are Convenience and Powerline stability. This type of organization seems to work well for me.

[AutomatedOutlet]

Hi Todd,

The problem with that is if you add a light or other device somewhere in the middle after your initial installation, your numbering plan is all messed up. That happens all the time to me. I'm constantly adding stuff on. I just generally do it by room but I do combine some rooms. Each bathroom certainly doesn't need it's own housecode.

When I set my up I also skipped unit code 1 for each housecode because I didn't want to hear that click on the transceiver when that housecode is activated. That problem is now eliminated with my new whole house transceiver though. Now I have a lot of new units codes I can add!