X-10 POWERHOUSE CP290 User manual

X10' POWERHOUSE"
Model CP290
Computer Interface Owner's Manual

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................., 3-5
What it d oes.................................................................... 6
How it works .................................................................... 7
Interface description and installation .......................... -9
Setting up Lamps ........................................................... 10-11
Setting up Appliances .................................................. 12-13
Setting up Wall Switches . . . ........................................... 14-15
Appendix A—Local Control, Add other Controllers . . 16-17
Appendix B—This is System X-10 ................................... 1 -21
Appendix C—Some don'ts............................................22-23
Appendix D—Troubleshooting .....................................24-27

INTRODUCTION 3
The POWERHOUSE'“Computer Interface can deter intruders by making your home
look and sound lived in whether or not you are there You never have to come
home to a dark house again, or leave the outside lights on all day to get the key
in the door at night. The POWERHOUSE Computer Interface can turn the outside
lights on for you.
It can wake you up to stereo or TV news, light up your bedroom, hallway, bath
room; start the coffee, start your central heating or air conditioning, warm up the
curlers, and all before you're even out of bed; but it's smart enough not to wake
you up on weekends.
At night it can lower the heat, play music or your favorite late night TV show for
as long as you set it, and can first dim and later turn out the lights automatically.

4
The Computer Interface works with the Apple lie and lie, the Commodore 64 and
the IBM PC, A different program and data cable are necessary for each com
puter and therefore the disk and cable are sold separately as a kit.
This manual describes how to set up the Interface and the various modules (see
Appendix B for module types available) and how to manually operate the mod
ules from the Interface. It is recommended that you set up your Interface to con
trol the X-10 modules manually before connecting it to your computer.
If you already own other X-10 components, and are adding the Computer Inter
face to your system, you may wish to skip this manual and go directly to the man
ual supplied with the software.

5
A Word o Caution...
Keep in mind that your Computer Interface will always turn lamps and appliances
on or off the instant you press the rocker keys or at the times you have previously
programmed it to do so. That's obvious—but there can be some unexpected
consequences.
For example, an empty coffee pot can be remotely turned on. If that should hap
pen, your coffee pot may be damaged from overheating. If an electric heater
is turned on by remote control while clothing just happens to be draped over it,
a fire could result.
Therefore, always be aware of what appliance you are turning on or off so that
potentially dangerous situations will not occur.

6 WHAT IT DOES
The POWERHOUSE Computer Interface controls lights and appliances through
out your home from any convenient location. You plug lamps into Lamp Modules,
plug appliances into Appliance Modules and replace wall light switches with
Wall Switch Modules. You can then control virtually everything electrical in your
home using the Computer Interface with your Home Computer (see separate
manual supplied with software). You can also use the Interface to manually turn
on or off up to lamps or appliances from its rocker keys.
SYSTEM X-10®
Simply plug in the POWERHOUSE Computer Interface and SYSTEM X-10 modules (no special
wiring is needed) to control lights and appliances throughout the house.
Wall Switch Module Lamp Module Appliance Module

HOW IT WORKS 7
The Computer Interface tells the modules what to do, Command signals are sent
over your existing house wiring to the module or modules you select. The mod
ules respond to the command signals. The Lamp Module turns on and o , dims
and brightens lamps. The Appliance Module turns an appliance like a TV, win
dow fan or stereo ON and OFF. It can also be used for a lamp—but cannot dim
it, The Wall Switch Module turns on and o , dims and brightens lights which are
normally operated by a wall switch. See Appendix B for module types and ratings.
Command signals are sent over house wiring.
OB
■ '
Lamp Module
Computer Inter ace

8INTERFACE DESCRIPTION AND INSTALLATION
The POWERHOUSE Computer Interface connects to your home computer RS-232
port. It will work with the Apple lie and lie, the Commodore 64 and the IBM PC,
The data caPle and the software program, are different for each Prand of com
puter, and for this reason are sold together as a separate kit. The software comes
with its own manual so we won't go into too much detail here (see software man
ual for your particular brand of computer). You can also write your own software
with the aid of the programming guide supplied with the interface.
The software provides a graphical representation of the rooms in your house on
your monitor or TV screen. You install ICONS (pictures of lights and appliances)
in these graphical rooms to represent the lamps and appliances which are
plugged into X-10 modules. These ICONS are then selected using the joystick, and
a series of questions such as "do you want to turn the light On or Off" are answered
by selecting with the joystick and confirming with the joystick button. You can also
program lights and appliances to go on and off at specific times by simply using
the joystick to select answers to the questions given; e.g. "do you want the light
to go on TODAY, TOMORROW, EVERY DAY or SPECIFIC DAYS, etc.

9
All installed icons and programmed information are stored in the Interface which
has its own real time clock and battery back-up. After programming, the Inter
face can be disconnected from the computer and will continue to send signals
to the modules at the specified times. This allows you to use the computer for other
applications. The rocker keys on the Interface allow instant manual control of up
to modules without reconnecting to the computer,
Before connecting the Interface to your computer, it is recommended that you
first set up your modules and check that the Interface works manually from its
rocker keys. First plug 1he Interface into a 120 V outlet where you intend to leave
it. The Interface will be set to Housecode A when you first plug it in. This can be
changed later under program control but for now you should set up your mod
ules to work on Housecode A and any unit code between 1 and . Install a 9 V
Alkaline battery in the battery compartment on the Interface. The Interface will
then retain all programmed information, during a power outage of up to 100
hours, or if you wish to move the Interface to another room. The Transmit light will
pulse on, approximately once every 5 seconds when the Interface is unplugged
from the 120 V outlet and a 9 V battery is installed. This is to remind you that it
is running on battery power.

lO SETTING UP LAMPS
1 Set the red Housecode dial on the Lamp Module to “A”. You can choose a differ
ent code later when setting up the computer, for now you are just checking that
you can control the module in the desired location from the location where you
intend to place the Interface (the Interface is set to house code A when you first
plug it in).
2. Set the black Unit Code dial on the Lamp Module to a number between 1 and
. You can choose a different code later when setting up the computer (the soft
ware automatically offers you the next code available as you install ICONS but
also allows you to select a different code).
Set HOUSE CODE Set UNIT CODE
3. Check that the lamp switch is in the ON position, unplug the lamp from the recep
tacle and plug it into the Lamp Module.

11
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AP
7
4. Plug the Lamp Module into a standard 120 V AC wall outlet.
5. The lamp will be OFF at this time.
6. Repeat steps above for any other lamps you wish to set up.
7. To turn the Lamp Module ON or OFF, Press ON or OFF side of the rocker key on
the Interface corresponding to the unit code which you set on the lamp module.
Refer to Appendix D—trouPleshooting if this does not happen.

12 SETTING UP APPLIANCES
1. Set the red Housecode dial on the Appliance Module to “A”. You can choose
a different code later when setting up the computer (see page 10).
2. Set the black Unit Code dial on the Appliance Module to number between 1 and
. Again you can choose a different code later when setting up the computer.
Set HOUSE CODE ■ Set UNIT CODE
3. Check that the appliance switch is in the ON position, unplug the appliance from
the receptacle and plug it into the Appliance Module.

13
4. Plug the Appliance Module into a standard 120 V AC wall outlet (appliance may
be ON or OFF at this time).
5. Repeat steps above for any other appliances you wish to control.
6. To turn the Appliance Module ON or OFF, Press ON or OFF side of rocker key on
the Interface corresponding to the unit code you set on the appliance module.
Refer to Appendix D—troubleshooting if this doesn't happen.

14 SETTING UP WALL SWITCHES
1. Using a small screwdriver, turn the red Housecode dial on the Wall Switch Mod
ule to "A”. Turn the black Unit Code dial to a number between 1 and . You can
choose a different code later when setting up the computer (see page 10).
Set UNIT CODE Set HOUSE CODE
WS711
STOP 3. TURN OFF THE POWER AT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE.
4. Remove existing wall switch plate, unscrew the old switch from the wall box, and
disconnect the wires from it.
5. See the diagrams on page 15. Connect the wires on the Wall Switch Module
(black and blue) to the same two wires that went to the old switch using the wire
nuts provided. Make sure that the connections are tight and that there are no
bare "whiskers" of wire which can touch the wall box.

15
Fixture at end o Line Module at end o Line
Use electrical tape to cover bare wire ends if necessary.
6. Screw the Wall Switch Module back into the wall box. Move the power slide switch
to the ON position (to the right, in the center). Do not replace the wall plate yet
as you may want to change the unit code to another number when you set up
the Interface from the computer.
7. Repeat steps above for any other wall switches you want to control.
. To turn module ON or OFF, Press ON or OFF side of rocker switch on the Interface
corresponding to the unit code set on wall switch module.

16 APPENDIX A
\
Local Control
You can turn ON a light or appliance connected to a module with its own power
switch. Simply turn the switch OFF then ON again once or twice. For lamps with
three-way bulbs, you will have to rotate the power switch several times before the
light comes ON. An instant—On TV connected to an appliance module cannot
be turned on with its own switch; it will work from the Interface or another X-10 con
troller only.
The Wall Switch Module can be turned ON or OFF locally using its push button.
Wall Switch Module
CAT. NO. WS711

17
Add other controllers
You can have greater benefits if you add other controllers to your system. The’
Computer Interface allows manual control of up to modules from its rocker
switches whether or not it is connected to the computer. It would be useful to have
this manual override capability from 'other locations. The Mini Controller allows
you to manually turn ON or OFF up to lights and appliances and DIM and
BRIGFITEN lamps from any room in the house. It is also perfect for controlling lights,
music and TV within one room—a bedroom for example

18 APPENDIX B—THIS IS SYSTEM X-IO
Telephone Responder
CAT. NO. TR2700
Plugs into standard modular telephone
jack and standard 120 Volt wall outlet.
Enables you to telephone your home
from anywhere and turn lights,
appliances or central heating/
air conditioning on and off.
Mini Controller
CAT. NO. MC260
Just plug it in (no special wiring is
needed) and instantly control lights
and appliances throughout the house
with the push of a button from
one convenient location.

The Timer
CAT. NO. TC262
Just plug it in (no special wiring is
needed) and program up to lights,
appliances, and central heating/air
conditioning to turn on and off up to
twice a day at the times you want.
Burglar Alarm Inter ace
CAT. NO. BA284
Connects to your present burglar alarm
system. Frightens intruders by flashing
lights or blasting stereo, TV or radio
together with your existing alarm.

20
Lamp Module
CAT. NO. LM511
Maximum rating. Incandescent lamp:
300 watts.
2-Prong Polarized
Appliance Module
CAT. NO. AM286
Maximum ratings. Resistive load: 15 amps.
Motor load: 1/3 HR Incandescent lamp:
500 watts, Television: 400 watts.
Wall Receptacle Module
CAT. NO. SR227
Maximum rating, 15 amps.
3-Prong Grounded
Appliance Module
CAT. NO. AM611
Maximum ratings. Resistive load: 15 amps,
Motor load: 1/3 HP, Incandescent lamp:
500 watts. Television: 400 watts.