X10 Upgrade

[AndyMA]

Sounds like "insteon" might be a good solution. All I want to do is turn those 4 flood lights on/off from a switch in the house AND from a switch in the shed like a standard 3-way wired setup. The challenge is that the house and shed have separate power systems (each has its own electric company power meter and circuit breaker panel). I assume that's why the previous owner installed the X10? :confused3: The X10 in the house is the transmitter (aka controller) that sends an on/off signal to the shed switch (aka responder) that actually turns the 4 flood lights on/off. I also assume the on/off signal travels from the house transmitter/controller -> house circuit breaker panel -> power company's transformer -> shed circuit breaker panel -> shed switch/responder which turns the lights on/off. :confused2:

Smarthome.com sent an email recommending a device called SwitchLinc Relay 2477S Remote Control On Off Switch White | Smarthome but, since I'm not a licensed electrician, its owner's manual is virtually incomprehensible to me http://cache-m2.smarthome.com/manuals/2477s.pdf. Would I need to purchase two of the 2477S devices?


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Having used X10 since the late 70's and currently Insteon & ZWave it's very hard to believe the X10 signal which uses the power line as a carrier can pass through a transformer. It can't usually make it through a sub panel without a bridge. The Issy 994i has an X10 transmitter available.

Andy

 

[MossRoad]

Sounds like "insteon" might be a good solution. All I want to do is turn those 4 flood lights on/off from a switch in the house AND from a switch in the shed like a standard 3-way wired setup. The challenge is that the house and shed have separate power systems (each has its own electric company power meter and circuit breaker panel). I assume that's why the previous owner installed the X10? :confused3: The X10 in the house is the transmitter (aka controller) that sends an on/off signal to the shed switch (aka responder) that actually turns the 4 flood lights on/off. I also assume the on/off signal travels from the house transmitter/controller -> house circuit breaker panel -> power company's transformer -> shed circuit breaker panel -> shed switch/responder which turns the lights on/off. :confused2:

Smarthome.com sent an email recommending a device called SwitchLinc Relay 2477S Remote Control On Off Switch White | Smarthome but, since I'm not a licensed electrician, its owner's manual is virtually incomprehensible to me http://cache-m2.smarthome.com/manuals/2477s.pdf. Would I need to purchase two of the 2477S devices?





Ditto that ... I like Amazon but like my privacy much more. Alexa will NEVER be invited into our home! :thumbdown:

As others have mentioned.... I'm surprised your X10 stuff will work between buildings in separate meters. Are you sure the X10 controller you were using wasn't using RF to signal a receiver in the other building?

Just out of curiosity, do you know which controller model and receiver model you're using with the X10?

 

[dog13]

The 2477s is a dual band device, it has RF capability as well as powerline. Depending on distance, that can be a good option for the outbuilding on a separate power feed. I have some of the 2477s in my config, and agree the manual can be a little daunting as it covers pretty much every electrical configuration you could encounter when installing the device....

To make it work like a 3 way switch between the house and the outbuilding the part that isn't clear in the manual is the house 2477 would not have a load directly attached to it as the load will be triggered remotely via signal to the switch in the outbuilding. Under that scenario you'd wire the house 2477 for hot/neutral/ground and cap the load wire. The outbuilding would then be wired as a normal switch with the lights attached to the load. Then configure the 2477s as controller and responder. If you have a hub you can also set schedules so they come on/off relative to the sun or in response to other sensors (ie motion activated).

....I don't doubt the recording capability of the echos - that's part of why it's in the kitchen where it can listen to us argue about what to make for dinner and keep track of the groceries. I did do some packet analysis for fun on the echo, and mine is quiet from a network perspective when it's not interacted with. No idea though if there are any keywords which might make it start tracking (like the old Carnivore email monitor!)

 

[Diggin It]

^^ There are supposed to be keywords and they claim it only retains a few seconds of voice, but I've read of cases where things were subpoenaed in legal matters. I'll never have one that's for sure.

 

[dog13]

There is onboard buffer caching of voice info which i believe was recovered via a forensic tool as part of an investigation. Had not seen reports of transmission of the data, but i don't doubt the capability exists and would not be surprised if it couldn't be activated with the right warrant/security letter/agency (maybe via specific firmware auto update)....
The "always on" digital assistants (google now, Siri) have make me more nervous as the phone is always with me, and always tracking location as well.

 

[Diggin It]

We're getting off the X-10 thing, but I have location services on my phones turned off. I can turn it on if need be, but I never have to.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, you can minimize what location data is available to apps by turning off location services, but you can't turn off ping logging of your phone as long as it's showing you have cell service available. You can turn off your cell service, but as soon as you turn it on, you're location is logged again by the carrier.

 

[rekees4300]

I still have a pile of X-10 stuff. It's been turning on 10 or so outside lights via a sundowner now for decades. At bedtime, I give a command to shut them down.

I would go with a Z-Wave system. I have not so far on account of cost and I don't understand that gateway stuff.

I don't know anything about Z-Wave except that it MAY be a viable protocol alternative to Insteon? Home Automation Languages: Z-wave vs Zigbee vs Insteon

 

[rekees4300]

Having used X10 since the late 70's and currently Insteon & ZWave it's very hard to believe the X10 signal which uses the power line as a carrier can pass through a transformer. It can't usually make it through a sub panel without a bridge. The Issy 994i has an X10 transmitter available.

Andy

I'm not an electrician. The signal may be going through a "sub panel" in the back yard instead of the transformer? :confused3: All I know is that the X10 has been working for 18 years until a few months ago when the flood lights started mysteriously turning themselves on. I'm going to replace X10 with either Insteon or Z-Wave.

 

[rekees4300]

As others have mentioned.... I'm surprised your X10 stuff will work between buildings in separate meters. Are you sure the X10 controller you were using wasn't using RF to signal a receiver in the other building?

Just out of curiosity, do you know which controller model and receiver model you're using with the X10?

I'm sure it's not RF. The shed doesn't like RF since it 150 feet from house and has double metal walls. The controller in the house is Leviton Cat. No. 6319-1W. Don't know the shed responder number. Contacted Leviton about the 6319-1W they said it has been DISCONTINUED and they do not make a replacement.