I am using X10 to control a bunch of things on my fish tank – using an AquaController II. I have a need to be able to control a few devices as a group as well as individually. Something like – “if its day turn these three pumps on and off” (here is the code it may make more sense to some):
If Sun 045/-045 Then F1 ON
OSC 020/020 ON/OFF Then F2 ON
OSC 020/020 ON/OFF Then F3 OFF
RND 010/020 ON/OFF Then F4 ON

I have 2 options:
1 – hook each device to an appliance module for individual control then hook the group of devices up to a power strip and hook the power strip up to an appliance module.
- or –
2 – hook each device to an appliance module then plug each appliance module into an X10 controlled outlet. all the outlets for the groups would have the same X10 address.

I would rather do the second option but am not sure if it is possible/reliable. Is there anything in the X10 protocol that would preclude the same address being used by multiple devices? I have to buy everything I need so I don’t have anything I can use to test this.

Thanks,

You can have as many devices as you want sharing the same address, so if you can get the timing correct either of your methods would work. You could also use a scene capable appliance module, but unfortunately the only one available is the rather expensive ACT RF104. I think doing this with a RLY8-XA (www.appdig.com) may be your best bet, along with an Ocelot to control the programming. We are starting to sell a lot of the to Aquarium users. HAs a lot of other capabilities useful to your hobby.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Thanks. I already have a dedicated controller for the tank - an AquaController II. It has a lot of feature dedicated to aquariums - pH, ORP, temp monitoring.

Thanks again,
Kirk

Still a lot cleaner than a bunch of appliance modules, but the appliance modules would work.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com