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Post 1 made on Tuesday August 24, 1999 at 19:06
Brian Porter
Historic Forum Post
I have just assembled an X10 system in my apartment and am already nearing 16 devices. Once I hit 16 devices, how do I go about adding more devices?

If I have to use a second house code, do I need another IR543 to control them and then wouldn't a IR command sent to device 3 turn on both device 3's on both house codes?

Please help me out here...
OP | Post 2 made on Tuesday August 24, 1999 at 20:00
Daniel Tonks
Historic Forum Post
Once you hit 16 devices, the only solution is to add another house code (or upgrade to a more expensive automation system). I've learned from the experts that if two IR543s send a signal at the same time to two different house codes, the signals will cancel themselves out - nothing would happen. You can only use one IR543 at a time.
OP | Post 3 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 10:43
Robert (RCI Automation)
Historic Forum Post
Daniel is correct. The X-10 IR command set is not housecode specific. The housecode is set by the IR543 when it receives an X-10 IR signal from any transmitter, including a Pronto.

The RF command set it different though. Both the transmitter (i.e. remote) and the receiver are house code specific. You could plug-in 2 RF transceivers in the same room or different rooms, set them to different housecodes, and use two different RF remotes set to different housecodes. This would allow control of two houscodes in the same room, but using different remotes.

As Daniel mentioned, there are better ways to do this using a home automation controller. A home automation controller monitors the AC power line for X-10 signals. You can program them to "listen" for a specific sequence of X-10 codes and then have them react by turning on lights on any housecode. For example, you might create a button in a Pronto panel with X-10 IR codes 1,2,3 (not followed by on/off/dim/bright). Then set up a macro in the home automation controller to trigger a response when it "hears" 1,2,3 on the power line. Using this type of set up does not restrict the devices to 16. In fact, you can have as many macros as your home automation controller will handle. I use a Pronto and one IR543 to control my HVAC system, over 50 lights and lamps, appliances, irrigation, to querry a weather report, listen to voice mail, and more. This is accomplished with a Stargate home automation controller. In addition to the Pronto, these functions can also be accessed by wireless RF remotes, wall mounted LCD control panels, any using any telephone in the home.


Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]
OP | Post 4 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 10:45
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
X-10's PMC10 Pro Macro Controller will allow you to do more than one housecode. The PMC10 will allow you to use ANY IR code to trigger a X-10 device. It can also be programed to do a scene with any IR code input. It can learn up to 42 IR commands with up to 36 devices in a macro. It can be programmed with up to 160 min. of delay (I think it's 160) between the last events in a scene. You could use ANY IR codes, one from a brand you don't have, or use the pause to pause the DVD and trigger a intermission scene. If you would like more info. Call X-10's fax on demand service @(813) 265-1420. This piece will replace many peoples IR543 as soon as they find out about it!

Chris Couture

OP | Post 5 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 10:50
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
O' by the way, the PMC10 should only cost around $140.00 - $175.00. Thats about 10 times less than most less expensive home automation systems!
OP | Post 6 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 11:18
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
Opp's, i can't get it all together this morning.

The Mailbox number is "1" and the Document number is "73". You will be asked your Fax number, enter it and the instructions for the PMC10 will be faxed to you in a few. You will soon sell your IR543!

Chris Couture
OP | Post 7 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 14:24
Ed Maurus
Historic Forum Post
Do you have lights that turn on at the same time each evening? If so you could set them all to the same code to free some address' up.
OP | Post 8 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 14:33
Brian Porter
Historic Forum Post
Yeah I do have some effects lighting which I basically do not need discrete control over. before I invested anymore into the system, I will consolidate those devices.
OP | Post 9 made on Wednesday August 25, 1999 at 17:21
Robert (RCI Automation)
Historic Forum Post
You might want to hang on to your IR543 because the PMC10 described is not meant to replace the IR543. The PCMC10 can learn 27 IR codes from your exiting remotes, that will trigger up to 42 macros. The macros can send unit codes on all 16 housecodes (a nice feature). This is a good product to supplement the IR543, although may not be necessary if you are using the Lighting Scene features of the PCS switches and modules. Lighting Scenes function the same as a macro but they are maintained in the switches memory and do not require an external macro handler. The PMC10 does not have any scheduling capability. The macros are triggered by an IR or X-10 power line signal.

The IR543 has almost the same amount of IR code capability as the PMC10. The IR543 has 16 unit codes, on, off, dim, bright, all on, and all off. That adds up to 22 separate IR codes that it can send. If you only used the PMC10, and wanted direct control of 16 separate X-10 modules, you would use up a lot of its capacity emulating what the IR543 does.

In summary, the PMC10 is beneficial if you want to supplement a IR543, and trigger macros involving other housecodes. It has no scheduling capabilities or conditional logic so it really can't be compared to a home automation controller. If you are interested in creating macros without purchasing an external macro handler (like the PMC10), you might look into purchasing PCS light switches and lamp modules. These products allow you to create up to 16 lighting scenes (i.e. macros) where you can program not only the exact brightness level of each light, but even how fast the light ramps up to that level. All the programmed functions are maintained in the PCS products non-volatile memory. We are an authorized PCS product dealer if you would like more information on these products.

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]


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