Difference between revisions of "X10"

Revision as of 03:07, 15 June 2008

X10 devices are controlled by the LinuxMCE system using a CM11A module connected to the core's serial port. This module gets plugged into an electrical wall outlet to send X10 signals throughout the power lines of the house.

Examples of dealers for X10 devices include:

• X10.com
• Smarthome

Modifications needed to make X10 climate and security devices work (as of version 0710) - 6-14-2008

I submitted these changes on 6-14-2008 to the mantis bug reporting system for inclusion in a future release Out of the box in LMCE 0710, the CM11A works well controlling lights. However, there are tons of cheap X10 motion sensors (for security systems), wall outlets (as a climate device if its controlling an Air Conditioner for example)

1) Edit the CM11A Device Template

• First, log into the web admin by typing the ip aaddress 192.168.80.1 into a web browser.
• Go to Advanced->Configuration->Device Templates
• Select "Interfaces" from the Device Category, then hit the Apply Filter button
• Under the Device Template dropdown, select CM11A and hit the Pick Device Template button.

Here, we are going to make a simple change to the Device template of the CM11A.

• The Device Category field is usually set to "Interfaces - Lighting Interface #81"

We are going to change it to "Interfaces - Specialized #97" (Don't worry, lighting will still work. This just tells LMCE that its not specific to any system really)

• Scroll to the bottom and hit the Save button.

2) Edit the X10 Outlet(On/Off) Climate Device

The other change I recommend is to fix the broken (As of LMCE 0710) X10 Outlet(On/Off) device template that is in the Climate devices.

• Go to Advanced->Configuration->Device Templates
• Select "Climate Device<Environment" from the Device Category, then hit the Apply Filter button
• Under the Device Template dropdown, select X10 Outlet(On/Off), then hit the Pick Device Template button

Here, we need to make several changes to make this device work properly.

• First, towards the top you will see a section "This device is controlled via" area, and it will be blank.
• Hit the "Add a new controlled via category device" and pick "Interfaces - Specialized #97", then hit the save button.
• Next, move down to the Device Data section. We need to add a field to this for X10 to work.
• In the Add new parameter dropdown, select "Port/Channel Number, then hit the Add button.
• You will now see the new field in your device data. Now we need to fill a few things out for that device data entry.

-Under comments, write "House/Unit Code" -Under Default Value, write "A1" -Check the Allowed to Modify checkbox

• Next, we must add commands for this device, so go to the Commands section right below the Device Data section.
• You will see that there is "Thermostat Commands" listed, and the checkbox isn't checked. Leave it that way.
• You will also see a dropdown labled "Manually add command group". Find the listing for "On/Off", then hit Add.
• You should now notice that under commands, you have On/Off listed, and it has a checkbox that is checked.
• Do a reload router, and you are done!

You have now made it so your CM11A can not only control lights, but climate devices via X10 wall outlets, and motion sensors for security. Please see the bottom of this page for instructions on setting up motion detectors and Wall Outlets, i will add instructions now.

Also, don't let anyone talk you into adding X10 wall outlets as switches under the Lighting category. Yes, they will still work, BUT, auto generated scenarios might turn your wall outlets off when you don't want them to. For example, if I had my Air Conditioner plugged into an X10 wall outlet in my living room, and started a movie, LMCE would treat it as a light and turn it off, which would not be the desired behavior. There are many other auto-generated scenarios that control lights automatically (Security modes, security events, etc), so having the outlet properly setup under Climate (as we have just done) eliminates these types of problems.

Configuring control module CM11A:

• Log into the administration page (http://127.0.0.1 on the Core system or http://dcerouter from another system)
• On the left, in "Device" section click on "Interface" then on "Add Device".
• Select "CM11A" in "Device Template" and then click on "Pick device Template"
• A new popup appears then select the COM port which is connected interface CM11A. (COM1 = / dev/ttyS0 and COM2 = / dev/ttyS1 etc.), Also put the location where is located the interface CM11A.
• Update and quick reload the router. You can then add lights as 'children' of this device.
• Expanded information can be found at http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/CM11

Configuring LW12 modules:

In the "Device" section click on "Lights" then on "Add Device" window appears. Putting "Pluto" in "Manufacturer" and "Lighting Device <Environment" in "Device Category" Select "Light Switch (dimmable)" in "Device Template" menu and click on "Pick device Template" a new popup appears put in "Port / Channel Number address" X10 module (ex: type A1 for House A and Unit 1) and select its room location before save. Add all modules of the house by clicking on "Add Device". Noted that it is possible to type directly ID in "Do you know the ID of the device template? Just type it below and click Go" (38 in our example then "Go" to avoid the drop-down list of "Device Template", the right profile is automatically selected in "Device Template" then click on "Pick device template."

Configuring AM12 modules:

Use the same procedure as LW12 modules but use "Light Switch (on/off)" instead "Light Switch (dimmable)" in "Device Template" menu

Adding an X10 wall outlet (added 6-14-2008)

• Ensure your CM11A Device template has been modified as above, and installed
• In the web admin, click on Climate in the left pane

This screen will allow you to install climate devices.

• Click the Add Device button
• In the new "Pick Device Template" window that appears, select "X10 Outlet(On/Off) from the Device Template dropdown. Click the Pick Device Template button
• You will see that on the climate page, you now have a new climate device!
• Give it a name (X10 Outlet(On/Off) is not very descriptive). In my case, i put "Living Room - South wall outlet"
• Select a room
• Ensure in the "Controlled By" column, it lists CM11A. If not, change it to CM11A
• For the Port/Channel number, put your X10 code in the format of A1, A2, A3 etc etc...
• Hit the Update button

Now you can quick reload your router, and the device will work! No automatic scenarios are generated, so use the floorplan to control the outlet. If you want buttons to appear under Climate on your orbiters, just go to Climate Scenarios on the left pane in the web admin. Here you can add On and Off buttons to control your new device. Your X10 outlet is also available for any kind of events/responding to events, so use your imagination!

Adding an X10 Motion Sensor (tested with MS16A and MS13) (added 6-14-2008)

• Ensure your CM11A Device template has been modified as above, and installed
• Ensure that you have some kind of X10 wireless transceiver to pull in the wireless signal(like the TM751)
• Set up your motion detector, install batteries and set the house/unit code.
• Ensure that the house code on the wireless tranceiver matches what was set on the motion detector

(most X10 wireless transceivers work with one housecode at a time - basically good for 16 devices)

• Now, on the left pane in the web admin, select "Security" (under devices)
• Hit the Add Device button
• In the device template picker, select "Motion Detector" from the Device Template dropdown, then hit the Pick Device Template button
• Now you should have a new security device listed.
• Change the name to something more descriptive than "Motion Detector"
• Assign it a room
• Ensure the Controlled By entry is set to CM11A. If not, change it.
• Enter the House/Unit code in the Port/Channel number field, in the format of A1, A2, C4, etc...
• For EK_AlertType, you can control what kind of events the motion detector will fire off. Use:

    1 for security alerts
    2 for Fire alerts
    3 for Air Quality alerts
    4 for Movement alerts
    5 for Information alerts
    6 for Doorbell alerts

Reload your router and now your X10 sensors will fire security events! Now to test it out... You can either use the actual sensor, or any type of X10 wireless remote to test alarm trips. If using an external X10 remote, just use the remote as if you were controlling a light with the same House/Unit code you set your motion detector to. On your orbiter, hit the security button, enter your pin and click At Home Secure. Now, since you are "Armed", your security events will now be process by the system. Have fun!