🚀 go-pugleaf

In <7283@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>, bender@oobleck.Eng.Sun.COM asked a lot of
questions about the BSR/X-10 control system.  Although the replies and
followups by Bender himself shed more light on the situation, some specific
details, like part numbers, remain unclear.
 
>         - a mini-controller that you can stick by your bed or on a
>                 table

At various points in time, X-10 made (and Radio Shack sold) TWO versions of
the "mini controller".
  - MC260 - had four switches for addressing units.  Below these buttons were
    individual buttons for ON, OFF, DIM, and BRIGHT.  To the left and right
    were large buttons for ALL_LIGHTS_ON, and ALL_LIGHTS_OFF.  To turn
    on module #1, you hit the key for that unit, then the ON key.  Two keys
    to hit.
  - MC460 - had four rocker switches for the devices, with additional
    switches for DIM/BRIGHT and ALL_LIGHTS_ON/ALL_OFF.  To turn on module #1,
    you simply rock forwards the switch for unit 1.  Simple, one key.
Both of these versions had a slide switch that allowed you to shift the
unit numbers up, so you could control twice as many modules.

I prefer the MC460 version of the mini controller for installation next to the
front door, because with one push, the lights go on - less fumbling in the
dark.  In my last apartment, there was a power outlet next to the door, where
you would expect a light switch to be.  I took one of these controllers, cut
off the power cord, and installed a power plug flush in the case, with the
prongs protruding from the back.  This fit neatly on the outlet and gave me the
equivalent of not only a wall-mounted lamp controller, but ALL_OFF and
ALL_LIGHTS_ON, which are nice to have at the front door.

> ... RS really low-balled the mini controller in that they only
> provide control for unit numbers 1-4 OR 5-8, depending on how you
> set a switch (i.e. unit numbers 9-16 can't be controlled by
> this controller!) ...

In a posting dated 20 Oct 86, Robert Rindfuss (rdr@inuxh.UUCP) reported a very
interesting fact about the Radio Shack mini controller (he didn't say which
model).  Not only is it already wired for a 4-position selector switch, but has
one installed!  The only reason why you are limited to the 2 positions is that
the front panel cutout is made for two positions.  Presumably this is a
marketing decision.  If you happen to have the same model as Robert, you could
have exactly what you want by merely enlarging the hole!  He did!

I opened my MC460, vintage 1987, and found neither the extra PC traces nor
closed, or Robert was tinkering around with the MC260 mini controller.  It
does look like the controller chip pins are still available, though, if you
don't mind a larger hacking job.

>                ... and their timer/controller is a toy, and it too
> can only control 1-4 OR 5-8, but you can't specify the range of units
> to control when you program the timer, so it's of marginal utility
> to me.

I haven't heard about this one, but it _might_ just be in the same boat as
the mini controllers.  X-10 has a history of using the same controller chip
in as many designs as possible.  If you are handy with tools, open it up and
let us know what you find.  (Careful, every X-10 unit I have ever opened is
hot-chasis design!)
 
> What I'd like to do is to get a data sheet on the X-10 line of chips
> and perhaps some app notes and build an X-10 controller with a serial
> port (rather than paying Crutchfield $60 for one!) ...

Interface data on the chips, and block diagrams of the modules and controllers
are not too hard to find.  Steve Ciarcia, author of the old "Circuit Cellar"
column in BYTE, and now publisher of "Circuit Cellar Ink", had a couple of
articles in which he gave all the technical details.  Check out the article:
  "Plug-in Remote Control System", by Steve Ciarcia
  Radio Electronics, September 1980, page 47
  Notes:  Gives details on the inside of the X-10 system, including schematics
	of the base station, lamp module, and appliance module.  No buildable
	project, just lotsa nice info.

BUT, be aware that you can't just go out and buy the chips!  Each of the modules
contains a mask-programmed single-chip micro, from General Instrument's PIC
line.  They are custom-made for X-10 USA by GI.  I doubt that you can buy them
alone!  Your best bet is to buy legit X-10 stuff on sale and carve it up IF
you feel compelled to use their chips.

> Anyone know where BSR is located, and
> if they are even the right people to call (are they still in business?
> After their wildly-successfull programmable turntable of a few years
> back, I wonder, although it was a really neat idea).

BSR spun off the home control line several years ago.  It is now a company
called "X-10, USA".  They are very much alive and kicking.  The last address
I have filed for them is:
	X-10 (USA) Inc.
	185A LeGrand Ave.
	Northvale, NJ  07647
	(201) 784-9700
	(800) 526-0027

> I really don't want a pre-built controller with a serial interface, I want
> to incorporate the X-10 circuitry into something that I'm building.

There are all kinds of ways to do this, depending on your budget, requirements,
and courage.  For example:
  o The early main control consoles had an option for an ultrasonic microphone
    (control console model X10-014301).  This could be activated by a remote
    control wand.  If you have one of these models, you can simply hang an
    ultrasonic transducer ($5) on one bit of your computer's output port,
    toggle it at 40 Khz, and have the world's cheapest X-10 computer interface.
    The drawbacks, other than the rarity of this console nowadays, is
    interference from other ultrasonic sources, CPU overhead in your computer,
    and inability to talk to modules other than those set to the console's
    house-code.  See Byte, September 1980, page 314.
  o It is said that the modern full-size consoles are built on the same chip as
    the old ultrasonic model, including the serial input pin.  You can couple
    into that pin with an optoisolator and make a more reliable version of the
  o X-10 noticed the unused input, too.  They eventually hung an IR demodulator
    on it.  Now you can get a control console that can be activated from across
    the controller is set to.  Look at Circuit Cellar Ink, June/July 1989,
    page 11.
  o Obviously, a computer can generate the IR pulses the same way that it
    can make ultrasonic pulses.
  o Some people use relays or CMOS transmission gates to "push the buttons" on
    a carved-up control console.  This is sheer desperation, given the many
    cheaper and safer choices.  On 5 Jan 88, David N. Horn (dh@antique.UUCP)
    reported on the use of optoisolators to short the keyboard matrix.  This
    is much safer, but still a lot of work.
  o Consider a commercial X-10/computer interface.  Although it is not the most
    flexible thing in the world, the one that X-10 USA offers is not a bad deal
    for the price.  A partial listing of past and present commercial interfaces
    is:
	o Heath GD-1530, one-way RS-232 connection at up to 2400 BAUD, retailed
          as for $250 originally, lowered to $99, then discontinued.
	o X-10 Powerhouse Computer Interface CP290, 600 BAUD RS-232, with clock
	  and timer, seen for as low as $20 (DAK's closeout).
	o old (gray) Radio Shack Color Computer Plug'n Power interface, uses
	  the cassette port 
	o newer Radio Shack Color Computer Plug'n Power interface  with 4 direct
	  control switches, interfaces through cassette port
	o Enerlogic ES-1400, bidirectional RS-232 interface, goes for around
          $395 (including PC software)
  o You can cook up your own signals that conform to the X-10 power-line
    protocol and inject them into the line.  Unless you are very careful, this
    can be dangerous.  Despite this, at least a dozen homebrew projects and
    commercial products have taken this approach in the past.  The great
    advantage is that it allows you to send messages to all 256 devices on all
    16 house codes.  One design, the "Housemaster", familiar to old Digital
    Group owners (also available for S100), actually brought 110 VAC onto a
    card on the bus.  Too scary for me, friend.  For a very simple
    implementation, take a look at Computer Digest, May 1986.
  o Recognizing the desire for both hobbiests and OEMs to connect to the X-10
    world, X-10 USA has created a special interface module just for us :-) !
    It consists of a gated oscillator coupled into the power line and a zero-
    crossing detector so that you can get the timing right.  It is model PL-513,
    for transmit-only.  If you want to receive as well as transmit, there is
    the TW-523.  It has all the capabilities of the PL-513, plus an X-10
    detector and demodulator.  For safety, both models are completely
    optoisolated from the line.  They live in a box that looks much like a
    standard control module, except that it has a 4-wire telephone socket on
    the bottom.  Take a look at the May/June '88 issue of "Circuit Cellar Ink",
    page 4.

Although I have one of the TW-523 two-way power-line interface modules, I can
not recommend it in good conscience.  The interface is much tougher than it need
be, it costs too much, and it has been castrated so that a large and useful
subset of the X-10 commands cannot be received (you can send anyhting you want).

> Other neato modules that I bought from RS for X-10:
>         - sounder/interface; this provides a contact closure and/or an
>                 interrmittent chirping from it's built-in piezo buzzer
>                 when it's unit/house code is accessed

I'm interested in getting one of these, but it didn't look like it was on
sale, like the rest of the X-10 ("Plug-N-Power") stuff this month.  How
much did it cost you?