X10 Community Forum

💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: adamsdaddy on November 16, 2010, 08:00:00 PM

Title: XPT as a companion switch on a 3-way system
Post by: adamsdaddy on November 16, 2010, 08:00:00 PM
I got my first set of wall switches installed.  I got 1 non dimming decorator switch and 1 dimming decorator switch.  My first impression is the decorator switch is just a cute way to cover a normal dimming switch.  I like the non dimming switch.  The contact was easy, quick and reliable.  They both mounted tightly in the box without any problems.  Looking online ( I wish I knew where ) I saw an advertisement for more switches but this one had an XPT setup as the companion switch.  How exactly would this work?  I have never seen nor used an XPT switch.  The one in the ad had 1 on/off toggle and one bright/dim toggle.  Can someone explain to me how this would tie into the master 3-way switch.  I understand that the XPT only sends signals without some sort of physical switch.  What I want to do is get a 3 toggle XPT switch and have the 1st button be the companion switch to the 3-way connection and have the other 2 switches turn on/off other lights in the house (so I don't have to walk all the way into the kitchen to turn off the light I left on ).  Would someone mind explaining to me how this works and if my setup is possible with the XPT as a companion switch to a non dimming 3-way switch.  My concern is my children occasionally plug in items without a noise filter and it occasionally messes up my connection.  With the non dimming switch I can physically turn off a light that x10 may or may not turn off.  I need to KNOW that a light can be turned on/off when the x10 messes up. 

And as always, thanks in advance for your help.  You guys are awsome at helping me work through my x10 problems.

 
Title: Re: XPT as a companion switch on a 3-way system
Post by: dave w on November 16, 2010, 08:26:30 PM
Would someone mind explaining to me how this works and if my setup is possible with the XPT as a companion switch to a non dimming 3-way switch.  My concern is my children occasionally plug in items without a noise filter and it occasionally messes up my connection.   
The XPT can't be a true companion switch, in the sense that the companion switch has the ability to control the 3-way master switch even if X10 commands can't get through. The XPT rocker is simply set to the same HCUC as the light switch in question so it controls the light like a separate X10 controller would (like Palm Pad, Maxi Controller, Slim Line switch,  etc)