Newbie question - Marmitek X10 Appliance Module

[jaffab]

Hi all,

Well after moving into my new house, I have decided to automate the house. Whilst I appreciate that running a full network would provide a better solution, the Wife wont let me dig up all the carpets or chase through the walls, so it looks like it will be X10 for me.

Anyway, to test everything is going to go as I hope, I have purchase a couple of test devices, a PC controller (to connect to my always on home server), and a Marmitek X10 Appliance Module AW12 (Micro Module)

But I have a few questions on the Marmitek MicroModule. I can see the live and nateral points, and the switch point. Whilst this seems all clear to me for say a light switch, not sure about the main part of it - applicance control.

I was thinking of the Micromodules as they go behind the existing face plates, so there are no bulky boxes on display. But, not sure of the wiring. I could just pass the cables through the Micromodule, and I would assume that would work... to a degree.

But with a standard say twin outlet, it means that if the faceplate switch is off, the micromodule wont work as whilst it switches the power through, the switch on the faceplate will stop the power to the device. And unlike the light switch, the faceplate switch cannot be wired to override the micromodule (or can it)?

Am I missing something here?

What is the best way of controlling applicances (table lamps, heated towel rails, extractor fans, etc etc etc) with the abilty for easy override, and with the minimum of disruption.

URL to the Micro modules is...

http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/marmi...le-p-1007.html

Many thanks in adnace

Jaffa

[milkattable2]

Jaffa,

You’re correct a dual gang switched socket would not be able to control the AW12 micro modules.... Installing these behind the socket would work, but the switches on the sockets would only switch the outputs off or on only if the AW12 was in a on state already. I'm not aware of any faceplates that have momentary type switches that could be wired to these modules.

As far as controlling different items, then I went for a mix of plug in type modules, faceplates and micro modules. Some of the plug in types have local on-off buttons on them and others don't. http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/appli...le-p-1181.html For the control of other items such as some lamps etc that have hard to reach modules & plugs, then I just rely on RF control. One of these for example http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/marmi...on-p-1015.html with any of these http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/home-...c-140_111.html


Hope that helps.

Regards
Steve.

[toscal]

milkattable2 is correct but you can also use a normal switch to control these micro modules as well.
The only way is to get non-switched sockets and install the modules behind these.

[mrichmond007]

One thing I would like to add to this having recently installed a variety of X10 modules and items in my home, be very wary of the CM15pro as a PC controller. I have one but have since found that there is a very limited number software packages that support this currently. If fact as far as i can find it is just supported byt he Activehome software. if you want to use other applications (such as the very excellent HouseBot http://www.housebot.com/) then you cannot do so without another interface.

I used an RFXCOM transmitter to get round this which transmits the x10 commands to the CM15Pro from the PC.

It all works well now though, apart from a couple hiccups due addresses close together. Also I would check out the modules at http://x10-hk.com/store/product_info...products_id=72 as they can also use existing rocker switches without the neutral wire being present.

Good luck with it!

Martin

[toscal]

Homeseer also supports the Cm15 pro as a plug in.