X10

[Detritivore]

what is this issue about X10 and lights that i keep hearing about?

-thakns

[nyfireman3097]

i believe its a contoller
Nick

[Detritivore]

x10 is not a controller. it is the device that certain controllers, such as the aquacontroller, use. i have heard that there are issues where the lighting ballast causes interferes with the operation of the X10...anyone know?

[moonpod]

electronic ballasts and x10 don't get along.

[Dejan]

x10 is not a controller. it is the device that certain controllers, such as the aquacontroller, use. i have heard that there are issues where the lighting ballast causes interferes with the operation of the X10...anyone know?

X10 is a protocol and electrical solution for communication over mains lines.
It works on principle when amplitude of power line goes thru 0 position and then communication could occur.. It is not intended for fast speed communications, but still speed is far enough for controlling simple devices such as power on/of or devices for measuring simple data as temperature and so on..
Good of this is that you do not need additional communication (wire)lines.. Simple add new device with own number and communicate with device over mains line..
In this way your controller had to know how to communicate over X10 to reach all other X10 devices..

[mikester]

Some devices put noise on the line that interferes with X10 signals and have to be isolated using noise filters. There is also a problem with using X10 across phases, which sometimes requires a phase coupler to be installed either at the breaker panel or somewhere where there is a 220v outlet (like your clothes dryer). These are the most common problems that people have.

It's really hit or miss. I have been lucky enough to have X10 work flawlessly for me with no special noise filters or couplers. Other people have had to tweak it to get it to work, and still others have given up in frustration. It's not perfect, but it's a decent, relatively inexpensive way to control devices for most people.

[Dejan]

Some devices put noise on the line that interferes with X10 signals and have to be isolated using noise filters. There is also a problem with using X10 across phases, which sometimes requires a phase coupler to be installed either at the breaker panel or somewhere where there is a 220v outlet (like your clothes dryer). These are the most common problems that people have.

It's really hit or miss. I have been lucky enough to have X10 work flawlessly for me with no special noise filters or couplers. Other people have had to tweak it to get it to work, and still others have given up in frustration. It's not perfect, but it's a decent, relatively inexpensive way to control devices for most people.

Yes but at the end.. probably almost all equipment for you tank is on one place only few meters in radius.. Normal telephone cable with twisted pair connection between devices is far more noise independent, better, fastest and cheaper solution than all those X10 modules.. If those devices have coupled communication ports also problems with phases could be solved easy..

[Detritivore]

what if i dont use an electronic ballast?

[moonpod]

Electronic ballasts are the most notorious, but a variety of electronic devices can generate enough "noise" to be problematic. Also if you have a lot of ambient electrical noise in your house or close neighbors you can have issues. My house must not be that well isolated b/c my neighbors plasma screen made the x10 in my house go buggy.

[Orion76]

X10 is great, I use it with my AquaController.

I do not feel comfortable using it for mission critical equipment, such as the chiller, though.