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[Brian H]

Where are you reading the voltage? The XM13A has TWO outputs. One switched and one always ON.
If you are measuring the voltage between the switched supply wire and the constant supply wire.
When you turn it On. The voltage between the switched and unswitched wires will be zero volts.
When you turn it Off you will read the 12 volts. Making Off look like On and On look like Off.  

So between the common ground wire {maybe a shield around the two voltage wires} one should always be 12 volts and the other wire to common should switch On and Off 12 volts.

If there is no load on the switched 12 volt wire. Your meter may not go to zero volts when Off. The switching transistors leagage. Maybe enough to have your high impedance meter reading some voltage but you should see a difference On and Off.
The supply is not regulated. So the output maybe higher with smaller loads and lower with heavier loads. My XM14A from a Ninja Base. Is about 25.2 volts unloaded and drops to the 12 volts when loaded to its rated 200 mA.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/XM13A

[peg-leg]

Hi I'm trying to do the same thing to actually control my fireplace. I'm very confused by something. When I hook a multimeter up to the xm13a's wires, and check for voltage, when I send an ON command there is zero voltage, when I send and OFF command there is 15 volts. Why is the operating backwards from what I'd expect? Why is on off and off on?

Thanks.

Note sure.  Could you possibly have the leads reversed?   You be better of using an appliance module to turn a fireplace on and off.  Otherwise you're using a camera function to control it.

[Brian H]

Shake; The XM13A has Three Connections .
The two insulated wires in the cable and the outside shield.
Both power leads are referenced to the Shield.

If you are measuring the voltage between the two wires. When you turn it On. Both wires are +12 volts and the reading will be zero.
Try reading from one wire to the shield and then the other wire to the shield. One will always be +12 volts the other one will switch On and Off with the X10 commands. If you are using a meter to measure the voltages. The switched +12 volts may not go to 0 volts when Off. If it is only loaded by a meter.