The Home Automation Store Blog

It’s Sunday afternoon and time for some football. The weather out is nice and warm and it’s a great day for grilling up some burgers and hotdogs.  Football and grilling, this is my favorite time of the year.  The excitement of not knowing what’s going to happen in the game and the smell of BBQ makes for a great day. 

The problem is that there’s no cable tv connection in my backyard where I house my grill and the nearest TV is about 50 ft. away and I can’t see it with the glare of the sun on the windows..  I guess I could go out and get a coaxial splitter and a new cable, but I’d have to run the cable outside and risk the kids tripping over it, the cable getting smashed by the door, and, well, tripping over it myself with the many trips I take going inside and outside while grilling.  Or, I could get the ‘ole X10 wireless audio/video receiver and get cable TV in my backyard without the hassle and dangers of running cables outside. 

The X10 VK82A Audio/Video sender & receiver allows me to man the grill and watch football out back without the need for running that annoying coaxial cable. 

I can use my existing cable remote to change games during commercials too.  The VK82A gives me a nice, sharp picture with great audio quality.  Yes, it makes enjoying days like this a lot easier. 

You can turn your head for one second and they could be gone. We hear stories all the time about children wandering off away from their parents and coming into harms way. When children are unsupervised they are susceptible to drowning, car accidents, locking themselves in cars, and many other dangers. Even the most diligently supervised child is susceptible to harm and tragedy. But with proper home security measures in place you can immediately be aware if your child wanders in the wrong part of your home or outside.

Protector Plus is a great home security system and does wonders in terms of keeping children secure. It can chime or emit an alarm if your child goes beyond the perimeters you establish.

Here are just a few examples of how Protector Plus can keep your children safe.

• By adding the door/window sensor to a toddler gate, you will become aware if it is knocked down or moved incorrectly.
• It is also useful to add to pool gates and backyard fences to alert of other possible child endangering situations.
• And for the teenagers who thinks they can sneak out late at night, apply a door/window sensor to there exit spots.
• Add a motion detector to the cleaning supply or dangerous materials cabinet during certain times of the day to assure that your little one doesn’t get into any harmful chemicals.

In addition to protecting your children, you can also use Protector Plus to protect your pets.

Protector Plus can also notify you and up to three friends if your child should come into harms way while with the nanny or baby sitter while you are at work or away from home.

Ever wonder what’s going on in and around your home while trying to relax on a much needed vacation. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing but we can’t help but to worry about our home and possessions. We worry about burglars, fires, weather, and wasting electricity, among other things. If you’re lucky you’ll have a neighbor you can trust that you can call to check in on things for you, but most of us don’t.

Today’s technologies can relieve, if not eliminate, the need to worry so much while far away from home. Today’s home automation options are like the things we saw in science fiction movies when we were kids but are very real today. They enable us to control, automate, and monitor our home from virtually anywhere in the world.

Imagine seeing what’s going on in your backyard at night while vacationing in Hawaii. Imagine the relief of knowing that the storm that blew through your community the night before didn’t cause damage to your home. And if anything ever does happen to your home while you’re away, your home can alert you to let you know.

All of these things are possible and much more affordable than you think. With the advancements in X10 technology and home automation, now anyone can have the luxury of keeping an eye on their assets, no matter how far away from their home they are, via an internet connection and a software tool.

One useful software tool is Vanguard, which was developed specifically for X10 products so it works perfectly with x10 cameras, modules, and transceivers. Vanguard allows you to view and control x10 cameras at home via the internet. You can even pan and tilt your cameras to sweep across your yard or inside your house. It’s pretty neat what you can do with it. Most importantly is that it brings a sense of comfort knowing that you can keep an eye on your assets while away on vacation, which is supposed to be time to relax.

Tired of waiting with your hand in the shower for hot water to arrive and running gallons of water down the drain while you wait?

With the Chilipepper Hot Water Demand system and a couple of X10 modules from the Home Automation Store you can substantially reduce the waiting time and eliminate completely the wasteful running of water down the drain. A family of four can save over 10,000 gallons of water per year.

The Chilipepper is a small powerful pump that mounts under the sink furthest from the water heater. When you desire hot water, you push the start button and the pump speeds the hot water from your water heater to your fixture. The cooled off hot water in the pipes from the last use is returned to the water heater inlet through the cold water pipes.

When hot water arrives at the pump an internal temperature sensor shuts the pump off. Now when you turn on the faucet or shower you have instant hot water and you didn’t run any water down the drain.

Any fixtures located on the same main hot water piping run to the furthest sink will also benefit from the hot water demand system.

The Chilipepper comes with a push button and a 6ft control wire. This is fine if you only want to control the pump from the sink where it is installed, but if you want to turn it on from other areas like a second or third bathroom or the kitchen sink, you either need to run a lot of wires or you can use X10 remote controls and forget about running wires.

In fact, in my home, my wife would not let me drill a hole in the bathroom cabinet to install the button so I use X10 remotes even in the master bath where my Chilipepper is located. I have a wireless remote on the nightstand next to the alarm clock. By the time I get to the bathroom sink the hot water is waiting for me.

Using the X10 modules is super easy. You use an X10 UM506 remote receiver to provide the Chilipepper with the momentary contact closure it needs. Just wire the control wires to the two terminals on the UM506 and set it to momentary.

Now you can use any of the X10 plug-in remote switches to control your Chilipepper. Just plug the remote switch in a nearby outlet and you’re done. You will get fast hot water at the touch of a button!

Wireless operation is easy too. The UM506 can be activated by a TM751 wireless module. Plug the TM751 into any outlet and you can then use any of the X10 wireless switches to control your hot water from anywhere in your home. In fact, you can use X10 timers and motion detectors in the same way.

Since the Chilipepper only runs for a few seconds at a time, and only when you want hot water, it uses very little electricity to run. A typical family of 4 uses less than $2.00 per year in electricity to run the pump.

The Chilipepper pump retails for $179.99 plus shipping making it a very inexpensive home improvement product.

TM751 – the wireless Transceiver Module is only  $9.99.

UM506 – the Universal Module is only $14.99

The system is easy to install, connecting to your existing plumbing with hoses. You don’t even need to turn off the water to the house, just the supply valves under the sink. Add a couple of X10 modules and you are ready to go!

Go green and begin saving thousands of gallons of water per year, reduce your carbon footprint, and feel good every time you use your hot water!

Starter kits are great.  They allow someone unfamiliar with these different Home Automation technologies to get up and running in a matter of minutes without having to know, individually, what it is you need to get started.  They can also provide a pretty good bundled deal on multiple items.

Lets get down to the facts.  Here are some starter kits and packages worth mentioning for X10 and  Z-Wave (Z Wave).

X10————————————————————————————

The CK18A -  This X10 deal comes packed with some essential items to get your feet wet in home automation.  It comes with a Wireless Hand Remote (HR12A), Wireless transceiver (TM751), Lamp Module (LM465) and even a serial computer interface (CM17A).  Free software is included in this bundle to utilize the interface.  This package deal comes with everything you need to experience many different aspects of home automation.  Control your lamps via a wireless remote, turn on and off your home stereo or a similar appliance, put your computer to work and control these items via the software, and many other uses all from this simple package.

(For additional starter packages and discounted bundles, head over to www.X10PackagedDeals.com, they have a wide variety of kits and X10 specials)

Z-Wave——————————————————————————-

Zwave has many different starter kits to choose from.  They range from a small selection of lamp modules and a controller to whole house packages.  The basic package comes with the HA07WD Deluxe Z Wave Remote and 2 HA03WD Z-Wave Lamp modules.  Pretty good value for your buck here.  If you are new to Z Wave and want to see what it has to offer, these are great packages to pick up.  (In fact, even if you are just looking to add to your already established Z-Wave network, this is a good way to get a bundled discounted deal)

The XPT.  It’s one of a kind for X10 equipment.  It is X10’s only in wall Keypad option, but it is actually quite robust.

The XPT is simply an in wall controller that transmits X10 signals directly through your homes wiring to all of your X10 components.  The benefit of it is that it taps right into the power line and does not require any type of transceiver as wireless controllers do.  It is also in a stationary place on your wall and its looks are very professional.  It may require a little more know-how when it comes to wiring.  It may even require installation by a professional if you are not comfortable; but once incorporated into your home, it can prove itself as a great piece of X10 hardware and a valuable part of your X10 system.

What makes the unit unique are the different keypads available for it.  They have anywhere from 1-4 button (up to four different X10 transmittable codes) keypads and some also provide additional features, like ALL ON/OFF or dimming capabilities.

If you have an available place on your wall, a switch not being used or are comfortable running wire, check out the in wall XPT transmitter unit.

We have the newest version of the XPT unit (version A) available  HERE.

You can also check out and view all the different keypads available for the unit by following the links below:
White Versions:
* XP1 1 button, 1 Address, ON / OFF
* XP1A 1 button, 1 Address, All Lights ON, All Units OFF
* XP2 2 button, 2 Address, ON / OFF
* XP2D 2 button, 1 Address, ON / OFF, Brighten / Dim
* XP4 4 button, 4 Address, ON / OFF
* XP4D 4 button, 3 Address, ON / OFF, Brighten / Dim
* XP4A 4 button, 3 Address, ON / OFF, All Lights ON / All Units OFF

Ivory Versions:
* XP1 1 button, 1 Address, ON / OFF IVORY
* XP1A 1 button, 1 Address, All Lights ON, All Units OFF IVORY
* XP2 2 button, 2 Address, ON / OFF IVORY
* XP2D 2 button, 1 Address, ON / OFF, Brighten / Dim IVORY
* XP4 4 button, 4 Address, ON / OFF IVORY
* XP4D 4 button, 3 Address, ON / OFF, Brighten / Dim IVORY
* XP4A 4 button, 3 Address, ON / OFF, All Lights ON / All Units OFF

As most of you will know, X10 communicates over your homes existing power lines.  The X10 signal is transmitted by an X10 transmitter over that existing line and is picked up by X10 receivers installed somewhere else in the home.  This system works very well and also makes it so there is no additional wiring necessary.  Sometimes, outside influences can diminish the X10 signal running along the line.  Some appliances and lighting can produce ‘noise’ on the line, scrambling that X10 signal.  The ‘noise’ is really just a static signal produced by some devices (like fluorescent lighting or Vacuum Systems) that sits on the power lines near the offending device.

You can think of it like a clog in a drain.  The water is the X10 signal and it is trying to get through the drain.  Normally, it can pass through just fine, but if there is a clog (noise) it gets stopped up and does not reach its destination.  Just like with plumbing, in the X10 world there are ways you can combat this.

There are a few problems you could be having, and we will try to run through a couple common fixes for those problems.

NOISE ON THE LINE:  As described above
Well/Pool Pumps, Electric Motors, Vacuum Systems, Fluorescent Lights (Tube or Bulbs), Low Voltage Lighting. Typically these devices would have an electronic power supply or control board producing the line noise.

You will need to know which of these devices is causing the noise.  You can systematically turn these units on and off.  If you turn one of them off and your X10 signal improves, you know that unit is the offending device.

X10 produces two devices to combat the noise produced by those devices.  You can look into the XPNR for normal devices or XPF for larger appliances (20 amp max).  For even easier installation that does not require wiring, look into the XPPF.  This is a simple plug in filter used on the offending plug-in device.

PHASE ISSUES: Signal not reaching X10 devices on a different phase of the house
Sometimes, the problem could actually be the wiring itself, not just interference on that line.  Most homes are split into two different phases.  These are represented in your electrical panel with two different rows of breakers.  Though rare, the X10 signal can have a hard time jumping to the other phase of the home.  An easy check for this issue is to turn on an appliances that uses both phases (like an electric dryer) that are 220v devices.  When this is unit is turned on it opens that pathway between the two phases and the X10 signal should not have a problem passing to the other phase.  If your X10 system works better when these devices are on then you most likely are dealing with a phase issue.

X10 produces the XPCR unit to combat this.  This device wires right up to your electrical panel and physically bridges those two phases.  It listens for an X10 signal and once heard, will repeat that signal down the other phase of the home.

If you feel your system is running sporadically and you are only connecting sometimes, it is most likely due to one of the the issues above.  If these suggestions fix your X10 woes, let us and others know by commenting  below!

We have received new product from GE (General Electric).  They have Z-wave products; we have tested them out and found the quality to be fantastic.

They are now available in our store.  To be clear, those units can be used with any other Z-Wave capable unit.  For example, we do also sell Wayne Dalton made Z-Wave units.  As they both are Z-wave capable, they are both compatible with each other!

Do you like the Z-Wave Wayne Dalton remotes better, but already have Z-Wave GE switches?  No problem, they will work just fine together.

That is one of the great benefits of Z-Wave devices!

Check out these new GE Devices HERE

Quite simply X10 is a communication protocol that allows other X10 devices to communicate over the electrical wiring (power line) of your home or business. The great thing about X10 is that it sends all of its communication over the wiring that is already in your home so no rewiring is required. For example you simple replace your current light switch with a WS467 Wall Switch replacement switch or plug your lamp into a LM465 Lamp Module.

When you want to control your X10 enables light switch you simply press the on/off or dim/bright switch on your controller and the X10 device responds. You can independently control up to 256 devices in your home. In order to do this a device is assigned a house and a unit code. If you want to control the WS467 Wall Switch in the bedroom than you would for example set the house and unit code to C3 than you would take the HR12A PalmPad Remote Control and set it to house code C and then press the 3 button either on or off.

X10 devices are categorized as either receivers, transmitters or transceivers. A receiver is a device which receives a X10 signal from the power line such as a WS467 Wall Switch from a transmitter. A transmitter is a device which sends X10 signals such as a HR12A PalmPad Remote Control to a receiver with the assistance of a transceiver. A transceiver is a device such as a TM751Transceiver Module from a transmitter and then sends those signals across the power line to a receiver.

Look for these symbols on all of our X10 products to determine the device type.