some X10 devices that won't burn down my house?!?

[valent]

Hi,
I have been looking X10 devices on lots of websites, the good thing about them is that they are pretty cheap (when compared to ZWave devices) but they also look really, I mean really cheap. They look so cheap that I'm afraid that they will melt when I plug them in and burn the house down...
ZWave devices (at lease ones I bought) look and feel really quality made, not cheap plastics.

So please suggest some EU, Chinese or US shops with quality X10 gear. What have you own and has worked for you without issues? I prefer shops with a bit higher price but really low shipping fee more than other way around.

I'm in Croatia (soon to be part of EU) so I prefer EU and Chinese shops because US shops usually have some crazy shipping fees.

Thank you in advance,
Valent.

[golgoj4]

have you come across any examples of x10 burning people's houses down or are you just downing their industrial design (or lack thereof). X10 was around long before these newer technologies and one of the reasons its so cheap is they have not upgraded to shiny and pretty.

Pretty harsh to accuse a product of property destruction because you dont like how it looks... Im willing to bet your electrical distribution box isnt very pretty either (not that you installed it, just making a point about functionality vs form)

I personally don't spend a lot of time looking at electrical connections, so the module design doesn't bother me (especially since the switches are wire in and they don't look different from any other switch), but if this is a concern, I would say just get zwave and be done. X10 doesn't attempt to be pretty, just cheap

On a side note, insteon and zwave modules are pretty looking. I just prefer to hardwire things so there are no modules and all i see are what appear to be standard electrical fixtures.

-golgoj4
x10 user

[valent]

I'm not saying X10 sucks just that some X10 parts look really cheap. I know that most of it is made in China but there are parts that Chinese make that are affordable and with pretty good quality and there are ones that lust look that will break if you look at them for too long.

I'm just looking for reputable X10 dealers that could have a bit more expensive and more quality built gear.

Where from do you buy your X10 parts?

[Techstyle]

I bought some X10 stuff via Amazon.co.uk (the brand was X10 Powerhouse), worked fine in the UK.  Then if it does burn you house down you can always use the A-Z guarantee and get your money back 

[Gangsingen]

Where from do you buy your X10 parts?

I bought my PLCBUS stuff from http://www.x10-hk.com  and they have some X10 stuff aswell.

[golgoj4]

I'm not saying X10 sucks just that some X10 parts look really cheap. I know that most of it is made in China but there are parts that Chinese make that are affordable and with pretty good quality and there are ones that lust look that will break if you look at them for too long.

I'm just looking for reputable X10 dealers that could have a bit more expensive and more quality built gear.

Where from do you buy your X10 parts?

I buy mine from ebay mostly. Sometimes frys but to be honest since my initial purchase i have not needed more. still sounds like your wanting a more in the way of asthetics, so go zwave. If my goal was a 'clean' look, I would be wiring stuff directly into fixtures and not 1/2 step it with semi-attractive wall warts. Looks like some of the other users closer to you have provided links more usefull than what i could pass on, as those are US based.

Remember, a plugin module is still a wall wart. Just a matter of how much lipstick you want to add to that pig.
-golgoj4

[valent]

@golgoj4 no I'm not a looking for exclusionary for pretty looking appliances just ones that are quality made.

I looked at your setup (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Langstonius) and see that you and others have issues with CM11 (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/CM11) is there some really robust X10 controller that work without issues and problems?

Are there only serial X10 controllers? Any USB ones?

[golgoj4]

@golgoj4 no I'm not a looking for exclusionary for pretty looking appliances just ones that are quality made.

I looked at your setup (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Langstonius) and see that you and others have issues with CM11 (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/CM11) is there some really robust X10 controller that work without issues and problems?

Are there only serial X10 controllers? Any USB ones?

There is some work to include other controllers made by x10, but I am not qualified to comment on their progress. I should really update that wiki. Have not needed to reset it or had any problems in a while.
-golgoj4

[valent]

So best X10 to LinuxMCE interface is CM11? Is this the best one to get?

[joerod]

I bought a CM15A module for $20 a few weeks ago with 6 dimmable wall switches (WS467).  the usb module (CM15A) worked great, plug and play.  Then I configured the switches via web admin just like it says in the wiki.  So far its worked great!

The only problem I found (because I didn't read correctly) was that the bulbs had to be incandesent and all my bulbs were florecent.  so I had to but new 40W bulbs so that they work correctly.

But again everything worked plug and play and configured just like the wiki says.  Up till now no major problems.

[golgoj4]

I bought a CM15A module for $20 a few weeks ago with 6 dimmable wall switches (WS467).  the usb module (CM15A) worked great, plug and play.  Then I configured the switches via web admin just like it says in the wiki.  So far its worked great!

The only problem I found (because I didn't read correctly) was that the bulbs had to be incandesent and all my bulbs were florecent.  so I had to but new 40W bulbs so that they work correctly.

But again everything worked plug and play and configured just like the wiki says.  Up till now no major problems.

this is very good information to have
-golgoj4