Tips for X10 Installation

In order to have the most flexibility with this program, it's best if you set up the majority of motion sensors on separate codes from the switches they control and link them via macros instead.  This way, one motion sensor can control a variety of macros at different times of the day, without directly affecting the switch.  You can still control any number of macros with a motion sensor even if it is set up on the same code as the switch, however the program will not be able to prevent the switch from being activated since it's directly linked with the motion sensor. 

One downside of putting the sensor and switch on separate unit codes is that when Home Domination is not running, the switch will not be controlled by the motion sensor since the macros that are linking them are not running.  As long as you don't mind leaving your computer and Home Domination running, this shouldn't be a big problem.  Another problem is that an extra unit code will be used, and you may have limited number of unit codes available.  One way around this problem is to use multiple house codes.  Keep in mind that if you're in an urban area, you may have neighbors who use X10.  If you're concerned about what house codes to use, you can run Home Domination for a while to see if it logs anything.  Any code it receives through the wire are logged.  If any come through, avoid those house codes.

It usually works best to put all your motion sensors on one house code, and all your switches on another house code.  Then set up your remotes so they use the house code where the switches are set up.  That way you can control your switches with your remote.  If you have less than 16 motion sensors and switches, one house code will be fine, but as you expand your system, you may want to move your sensors to another house code.

Once you get started with this, you may be tempted to buy about a 100 motion sensors and put them all over the house so you'll pretty much know when every movement takes place.  That sounds like a lot of fun, but from my experience, the X10 signals from these devices can tend to clobber each other when they send them at the same time, so that may be a bit excessive.  In general, you should try to place your motion sensors far enough apart that it's not likely they'll both send signals at the same time.

 

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