I've finally gone off in the direction of X-10, and of course the first thing I do is wrong.

I once had some kind of X-10 module that I wanted to use for lighting in the living room.

A wall switch by the front door can kill the power to the living room lights. I'd like to use X-10. A module that I once had had the drawback that killing the power returned it to the OFF state, so if someone hit the light switch by mistake, we had to turn everything on again.

I've decided I like that idea, so I got myself some components -- three AM466s and an MC10A. I got the AM466s because I have CFLs, so I don't think the normal incandescent controllers will work with them, and I don't care about dimming. Here's what I've found, which is probably pretty obvious somewhere in the instructions I didn't read:

The AM466s stay on when power is removed. Is there a different controller that can run a CFL, but will turn off if power is removed? Is my only choice here going incandescent or dimmable fluourescent? Are there dimmable fluorescents for lamp bulb sockets?

The MC10A almost works the way I want. Each On and Off works, and All Off works, but All On does nothing. Huh?

What should I really have? The deal is that if removing the power turns off all the lights, that's easier than walking over to the controller on the table by the couch; then I'd turn the switch back on, so I can turn the lights on from the controller, but more importantly, my remote and phone charger won't be dead overnight.

Nobody has any idea about this?

soo is the switch you are controlling a switchable receptacle? can you explain a little more? i may have some ideas that may help. are you wanting just 1
x-10 controls? you may can get UPB which is alot more reliable than x-10 withOUT a phase coupler...
AS of there being a dimmable CFL.. its on the verge according to phillips.. i use some lutron lighting modules and they recommend phillips bulbs for dimmable purposes.
you can email me if youd like. 3phaseelectrical@gmail.com I hope i can help

"Appliance" controllers like the AM466s do not respond to the "all on" command so nothing happening for all on is OK if you only have AM466 modules connected to your lights.

The newer Smarthome controllers (ApplianceLinc and ICON Appliance Adapter) indicate that they "remember" the ON/OFF state if power is removed and return the device to the last state when power is re-applied. These devices have X-10 address capability so it should be an alternative if you want a unit that can be operated via either the controller or the wall switch.