Home Automation - RadioShack Plug & Power
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Critical Mass
03-22-09, 07:34 AM
I have several RadioShack P&P modules in my home, and in fact my alarm clock is a Plug & Power timer/clock!
My "switch" module to control my back porch light stopped functioning, and when I went to RS to buy a new one, the "salesman" (yes, I use that word loosely) claimed to have been employed there a year, and had no idea what Plug & Power was, although I know they carried the system since at least the mid-90's.
What can I do? I know they must be available somewhere! Thanks!
My "switch" module to control my back porch light stopped functioning, and when I went to RS to buy a new one, the "salesman" (yes, I use that word loosely) claimed to have been employed there a year, and had no idea what Plug & Power was, although I know they carried the system since at least the mid-90's.
What can I do? I know they must be available somewhere! Thanks!
furd
03-22-09, 08:30 PM
Radio Shack's P&P modules were based on the old X-10 technology. Any X-10 module or controller should work just fine. The newer protocol (Insteon) probably won't work.
dougm
03-27-09, 02:03 PM
Actually, some of the Insteon devices transmit and receive X10 as well, but that would be the more expensive way to go.
Search the internet for "X10". There are many sources... Sometimes some of the X10 products show up in the big box home improvement stores from time to time too.
Doug M.
Search the internet for "X10". There are many sources... Sometimes some of the X10 products show up in the big box home improvement stores from time to time too.
Doug M.
carter5081
04-25-09, 07:41 PM
Yes. Plug n power is the same as X-10. X-10.com has all the products you will need at a decent price.
zoneout
05-10-09, 06:44 AM
If you want the best deals for x10 devices go look on ebay.
TeleFragger
06-01-09, 09:25 AM
well i still use x-10 in my house... 90% of my automation is x-10.. the other % is z-wave... i like z-wave alot better, however it is not cheap..
now on your issue..
You may have the typical power line noise issue that always causes x-10 issues...
they sell a x10 power line transmitter and receiver... usually $100-$150 for both parts...
however you can always start flickin breakers off to find the culprit..
example... I too have the x-10 mini timer (alarm clock and x-10 controller)...
works great... however i plugged a ups (smart apc 1000) in recently and realized my x10 is starting to act up again.. so going to put a filter on the ups....
my x10 mini timer plugs into an outlet... the lamp on the desk it controls is also on the same outlet.. so noise on the power line can even kill that single outlet.. you would think it would work but not really..
so you may have bad hardware but you may not...
also what else do you have for the x10?
example.. my x10 was somewhat reliable.. but became 90% reliable once I put a repeater coupler in...
XPCR
X10 PRO Signal Amplifier Coupler Repeater (XPCR) - eBay (item 110297438525 end time Jun-04-09 19:09:11 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-PRO-Signal-Amplifier-Coupler-Repeater-XPCR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a1Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem19ae3d593dQQitemZ110297438525QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0QQsalenotsupported)
like that one..
now for the other 10% reliablity.. it was tracking down what on the power line was sucking up the signal..... once i got all that stuff unplugged (isobar 6 outlet power strip, another apc 1000) I was good to go....
hope that helps some...
the coupler repeater... takes a signal say on panel section A... takes it in and rebroadcasts it back out on A and B.... bridging the electrical box phases for a better signal...
now on your issue..
You may have the typical power line noise issue that always causes x-10 issues...
they sell a x10 power line transmitter and receiver... usually $100-$150 for both parts...
however you can always start flickin breakers off to find the culprit..
example... I too have the x-10 mini timer (alarm clock and x-10 controller)...
works great... however i plugged a ups (smart apc 1000) in recently and realized my x10 is starting to act up again.. so going to put a filter on the ups....
my x10 mini timer plugs into an outlet... the lamp on the desk it controls is also on the same outlet.. so noise on the power line can even kill that single outlet.. you would think it would work but not really..
so you may have bad hardware but you may not...
also what else do you have for the x10?
example.. my x10 was somewhat reliable.. but became 90% reliable once I put a repeater coupler in...
XPCR
X10 PRO Signal Amplifier Coupler Repeater (XPCR) - eBay (item 110297438525 end time Jun-04-09 19:09:11 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-PRO-Signal-Amplifier-Coupler-Repeater-XPCR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a1Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem19ae3d593dQQitemZ110297438525QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0QQsalenotsupported)
like that one..
now for the other 10% reliablity.. it was tracking down what on the power line was sucking up the signal..... once i got all that stuff unplugged (isobar 6 outlet power strip, another apc 1000) I was good to go....
hope that helps some...
the coupler repeater... takes a signal say on panel section A... takes it in and rebroadcasts it back out on A and B.... bridging the electrical box phases for a better signal...