New X10 modules? - ebay from hong kong

Malarcy · #1 November 28th, 2005, 05:28 PM

Don't know anything about these but they have cropped up a couple of time on ebay searches - anyone got any info/clues/ideas or horror stories.

They look good - I might just take a punt on the touchscreen rf/ir controller for 30 odd quid.....

http://stores.ebay.com/Automation-at-Home

Their modules are described as x10 (2)

X10² vs X10

X10 = Orginal X10 module make by X10 factory

X10² = Our new! X10 2nd generation module

X10² Module	X10 Module
Soft Start/Stop Improved Casing Remembers Dim Level for scene setting ON/OFF button Max 600W Picks up X10 signal down to 25mV Electronic Code Setting Build-in Noise Filter 4.5V X10 Signal Indicator LED	No Soft Start/Stop Standard Casing Does not Remembers Dim Level for scene setting No ON/OFF button Max 300W Picks up X10 signal down to 100mV Code wheels No Build-in Noise Filter 3.0V X10 Signal No Indicator LED

Malarcy

Jim'll · #2 November 28th, 2005, 06:07 PM

They look cool. I have sent for info on no neutral wall switch.

Malarcy · #3 November 28th, 2005, 06:12 PM

Found a little more on possible manufacturer.

http://www.x10bus.com

The site is slow but they have some cool looking stuff.

Malarcy

rirvine · #4 November 28th, 2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malarcy

Found a little more on possible manufacturer.
http://www.x10bus.com
The site is slow but they have some cool looking stuff.

x10bus in China are manufactures of these devices.
A few things to keep in mind:
The local X10 distributor in Australia imported these for a little while, they don't any more. The reason "too many returns due to faults".
The Dimming Micromodule (that they don't have in the ebay store as of this post) has no local dimming control! Eg You can dim it via X10, but you can't dim it at the wall switch.

Get some to test first before ordering big.

According to the picture, they are CE certified (they have the logo). I would be EXTREMELY surprised if they were really CE certified.

Ross.

Malarcy · #5 November 28th, 2005, 06:52 PM

Ross,

Thanks for the background - I saw the CE mark as well - but as you say - what's the real chances - I guess no UK distributor is selling them for a reason!

That said - the RF transmitter can't burn my house down - so I may just take a chance - worst case it's 40 quid of junk - I'll stay in a couple of evening instead of boring everyone in the pub about my ha habbit.

Malarcy

stipus · #6 November 28th, 2005, 07:52 PM

The problem with all these modules, is that they don't send their status when controlled locally.

I don't understand how you can *really* use these modules with HomeSeer. I prefer standard 2-way micro-modules, even if they are more expensive. At least I have an accurate status of what's on or off in the house.

stipus

MichaelD · #7 November 28th, 2005, 07:53 PM

We really need someone to order a few of these, they look much better than the current UK switches

Jim'll · #8 November 29th, 2005, 10:51 AM

http://x10-hk.com/store/index.php?cP...0ca96467dc7347

Another store in hong kong selling these!

Jim'll · #9 November 29th, 2005, 10:58 AM

The switches look like they are momentary switches with a micro module attached

Malarcy · #10 November 29th, 2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stipus

The problem with all these modules, is that they don't send their status when controlled locally.

I don't understand how you can *really* use these modules with HomeSeer. I prefer standard 2-way micro-modules, even if they are more expensive. At least I have an accurate status of what's on or off in the house.

stipus

I don't have any 2 way modules, it's not a real issue for me since in my case the HA doesn't really need to know how it was - just how I want it to be - like - it's 8:30 am everyone has left the house - turn it all off.

More useful to me is a local on switch - WAF low when I have to explain - turn it off and on to make it come on (forget using a remote or voice) - if I can point to a switch to press it will be a winner.

I have had a mail back from the ebay seller - he says:

For Lamp\Appliance Plug-in Module , One\Two Load Micro Module , One\Double button wall switch , those have CE cert.

Anyone know if there is a way to check the CE status - the x10bus web site has mention of CE certification - but I have got to ask myself, why aren;t any of the uk distributors stocking them?

Malarcy

Malarcy · #11 November 29th, 2005, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesclabon

http://x10-hk.com/store/index.php?cP...0ca96467dc7347

Another store in hong kong selling these!

May be a coincidence but the "author" of the site above is listed as Kevin Lo and the ebay id of the guy selling them is KevinLo_hk

Malarcy

stipus · #12 November 29th, 2005, 06:47 PM

Malarcy,

I understand your point, but this means you cannot check anything in your event conditions. I mean you cannot program "IF device C1 is ON THEN..." as homeseer doesn't have any clue if the device is on or off.

For example, how can you switch off a light after it has been ON for more than one hour ?

I really prefer 2 way modules. They have immediate local control (very high WAF), and they send their status to homeseer each time the local button has been toggled.

I can also check the hs status page and get a real status of what's ON or OFF in my house.

stipus

Jim'll · #13 November 29th, 2005, 07:13 PM

I agree that it is best to have status response although there is a greater cost issue.
I went down the Zwave route and now have 32 nodes. However due to the flaky USB device or driver, the status does not work reliably. Hopefully this will improve.
Apart from the status response being flaky Unlike X10 when I send a command to a Z-wave device it always gets there 100% so the status is correct in HS anyway.

I now just have two Lights left in my house that are not on the system and are non critical so I may send of and get a couple of the switches to give them a go.

slayer · #14 November 30th, 2005, 04:05 AM

Jim,

Just a quick question off topic.....
I see you are from England and are using a lot of Z wave equipment. Where are you getting your z wave equipment from???
Regards
LiamK

Jim'll · #15 November 30th, 2005, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slayer

Jim,

Just a quick question off topic.....
I see you are from England and are using a lot of Z wave equipment. Where are you getting your z wave equipment from???
Regards
LiamK

You can get them from automated outlet in US
http://www.automatedoutlet.com/home.php?cat=121
Or http://store.youautomateit.com/zwave.html
And in the Uk lets automate stock them
http://www.letsautomate.com/11109.cf...TOKEN=33001698

I have modified mine so that I can use them on the main lights with a momentary switch as well as lamps etc.

Malarcy · #16 December 2nd, 2005, 11:01 AM

Going to take a punt on a couple of the plugin modules - just got an email from the seller in HK with a PDF copy of the CE certification - apparently issued by a company that really exisits and really does CE certification (Bay Area Compliance Lab http://www.baclcorp.com/) - if it's not real it's an elaborate setup - so slowly does it - I'll see what the plugin modules are like and then post the results - worst case they are just rubbish and I will have spent January's toy budget.

Malarcy

Kevin Lo · #17 December 2nd, 2005, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malarcy

May be a coincidence but the "author" of the site above is listed as Kevin Lo and the ebay id of the guy selling them is KevinLo_hk

Malarcy

You don't need to guest WHO AM I ?

Kevin Lo = http://www.automation-at-home = http://stores.ebay.com/automation-at-hom = http://x10-hk.com/store/

Yes , I am starting for sell X10 product , especially on Dimmer Wall Switch (2 Wire)
If anyone have question , welcome for discuss here or send a message to me.

For the CE cert. I got the copy from the factory. Plug-in Module (RF Transceiver / Lamp / Appliance) have CE cert. Micro Module + Wall Switch also have CE cert.

Kevin Lo · #18 December 3rd, 2005, 12:02 AM

Because I am new for selling to UK , I got one big question ?

In Hong Kong , the backbox of wall switch have Live and Neutral connection , but how about in UK ? Did the backbox have neutral connection or not ?

Thanks

Kevin Lo
======================
www.automation-at-home.com
======================

Kevin Lo · #19 December 3rd, 2005, 01:20 AM

I also have a RF Computer Interface (RF 433.92MHz , RS232) , but the function of software come with the interface is very limited. (Only ON/OFF X10 device , no event , no macros.....) But I got this hardware's communication protocol , it should develop a API / Driver for other 3rd Party Home Automation Program.

Can anyone intro. some Home Automation Program for me to try ?

Thanks all.

Malarcy · #20 December 3rd, 2005, 05:22 AM

Welcome Kevin,

To answer your questions - in the UK almost all wall switches have no neutral - thus any new module on the market that doesn't require neutral is interesting to us.

As to home automation software - there are a few but there is one that stands out - mainly for the quality of the software and the size of the very active user forums. - it's HOMESEER - www.homeseer.com

Just a word of caution - these forums are the user community - the homeseer guys hang out here as well and the forums are provided by homeseer - there is a "best practice" posting somewhere, but basically since you have a commercial interest you have to avoid trying to sell stuff all the time.

You are not on your own here a number of suppliers and manufacturers also contribute regularly and their input is always welcome.

Anyway - as I said in my posting and in the private mails we have exchanged, these products sound good and I will be contacting you regarding getting some shipped.

Malarcy