Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jatracy]

Is there a tutorial that describes the basic principles that are required for an average home user to operate an X10 system?

I have seen links to phase coupling tutorials, lots of discussion about powerline noise, discussions about signal absorption in devices, discussions about powerline overload.

My point is, has anyone gathered all this information into a single place (web site, document, ...) that a new user can reference to get all the basic knowledge required?

I have been at this for roughly 4 weeks now and really I don't know what is around the corner in terms of problems that I will have to overcome to get X10 working reliably.

Thanks!

[Tuicemen]

Yes check out http://kbase.x10.com

[jatracy]

What I am referring to is somewhere we could point new users to that would help them to understand what the issues are and how to go about determining what issues they really have.

Something that sort of flattens the learning curve!

I new user is not typically going to know about phase coupling, signal boosting, signal absorption/degradation/attenuation, etc.

Typically, what I do, is to come search the forum to see if I can find what I need, but what if the user doesn't know what the problem is?

It would also be nice if something was packaged with the product to let the user know how to solve some of the common issues!

[Tuicemen]

More documentation included with the Hardware is always a good idea. But how many people actually read owner manuals? I think the average beginner just plugs it in and it works. It isn't until they start to expand that they experience issues.

There are posts which were created to help those with AHP problems and are usually found at the top of each forum as a sticky post (keeping it always near the top of the listed threads) As the board has grown to cover more things perhaps a thread in the general forum special for Newbies is the answer. If you'd like to start one I'll sticky it for you. I posted an old write up found here in the Automating your house section. the info is out of date but could be helpful as a starting point!
I think the average beginner just plugs it in and it works. It isn't until they start to expand that they experience issues.

[dave w]

Unfortunately it is difficult to determine what problems you MAY have, until you jump in.

An outstanding , broad based, often quoted,  *technical*  overview is "Uncle Phil"
http://www.act-solutions.com/uncle.htm

[jatracy]

Wow, that took a while to get through all that. Do you really think the average user is going to wade through all that information? I have a BSEE and that was really more information (very well done though) than I was looking for.

I did see a very nice flowchart about troubleshooting X10 though:

[dave w]

Yes, some of Uncle Phil's tutorials are pretty deep. I did say it was a *technical* overview. I suggest the Uncle Phil site because Phil covers a lot of items which simply are not discussed in the other tutorial sites. One example is the wiring of three way switches, which is always problematic.

Try doing a search for "turorial" on this site, I know a couple of the forum members have written tutorials which may be more what you are looking for. I just don't know the URL address to direct you them.