How To: Home Control 101: Insteon vs. X10, by SmartHome

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How To

Home Control 101: Insteon vs. X10

April 08, 2009 | by SmartHome

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With lighting control, you can fill your entire home with personalized mood lighting for any occasion. Whether you’re just getting started in home automation or you’re ready to upgrade from X10 to INSTEON, the first dual-mesh network that combines power line signals with wireless radio frequency, selecting from a confusing array of products can be daunting. To help you better understand the benefits of INSTEON in comparison to legacy X10 products, the products below have been placed side by side with a comprehensive list of detailed benefits. If you still have questions, you can always contact Smarthome’s customer care department for help.

X10 distributes command signals over your existing power lines. INSTEON takes this a step further: This dual-mesh network combines wireless radio frequency (RF) with your home’s existing electrical wiring for maximum reliability, and since it’s compatible with your legacy X10 products, you won’t need to replace all of your existing switches and modules until you’re ready. INSTEON confirms every message to insure that messages are received error-free, automatically retransmitting corrupted messages to be sure that your commands are obeyed. In addition, every INSTEON device acts as a two-way repeater, so an INSTEON network actually becomes stronger and more reliable as more products are added.

For maximum reliability, the INSTEON network requires that you install two Access Points, plug-in devices that not only extend the range of signals but also eliminate the need for phase couplers, ensuring that commands sent from one electrical phase to another will be received and obeyed. If you’re just getting started with your INSTEON network, three starter kits are available, all of which include the two Access Points. Choose the INSTEON Lamp Scene Lighting Starter Kit, the INSTEON Wire-in Dimmer Scene Lighting Starter Kit, or the INSTEON Keypad Dimmer Scene Lighting Starter Kit

Couplers/Signal Repeaters

SignaLinc
Model
4816a2
4816b2
4826a
4826b

Plug-in - no hardwiring involved
30-Amp pass-through outlet
Passes signals to both electrical phases of a house
Passive & Active versions 3- or 4-pin Configuration
Active version repeats signals

Access Points
Model
2443
2443P

Plug-in - no hardwiring required
Sends INSTEON signals from one electrical phase to another
Simultaneously transmits and receives INSTEON signals over powerlines and wirelessly
Repeats INSTEON signals
Bridges RF-only INSTEON devices with power line-only INSTEON devices

Controllers

ControLinc Maxi
Model
4071

10 non-sequential user-programmable soft-touch buttons
Scene setup at the touch of one button
Multi-house code programmable All Lights On/All Units Off buttons
Easily access all 256 X10 addresses

ControLinc
Model
2430

5 non-sequential programmable buttons
Controls five devices or scenes
Links to any INSTEON or X10 device in seconds
No code wheels required - all button programmingProgram any 256 X10 address to any device

SwitchLinc Dimmer
Model
2380i
2381w/i
2386w/i
2384w/i

Choose 600-watt or 1000-watt version
64-scene capable (2380i, 2386w/i)
True rocker action
Programmable preset and fade levels
Status LEDs 3-way ready
2-Way/Plus/PLC Versions
No neutral versions available

SwitchLinc V2 Dimmer
Model
2476d
2476dh

Choose 600-watt or 1000-watt version
400-scene capable
True rocker action
Programmable preset and fade levels
Status LEDs
3-way ready
Repeat all INSTEON signals
Fast response, seemingly without pause
Dimmers send confirmation signals automatically
White LEDs - Color change kits available

SwitchLinc Relay
Model
23883w/i
23883tw/i
23885w/i

15-amp capacity
80% quieter than other switches
True rocker action
3-way ready
Ideal for motor & fluorescent loads
2-way/PLC version
Programmable countdown timer 1-15 minutes (23883T)
Includes BoosterLinc technology (23883w/i, 23883tw/i)

SwitchLinc V2 Relay
Model
2476s

13-amp capacity
80% quieter than other switches
True rocker action
3-way ready
Set up any combination of up to 417 INSTEON links and 256 X10 addresses
Responds in 0.05 seconds
Confirmation signals sent automatically
Repeats all INSTEON signals
White LEDs - Color change kits available

KeypadLinc w/ Dimmer
Model
12073w/i
12074w/i

6 (12073w/i) or 8 (12074w/i) non-sequential programmable transmit/status buttons
64-scene capable
Easy-to-label buttons
Custom-etched buttons available
3-way ready
Includes BoosterLinc technology

KeypadLinc V2 Dimmer
Model
2486dwh6

6-button and 8-button keypads included
Integrated 600-watt dimmer
400-scene capable
Easy-to-label buttons
Custom-etched buttons available
3-way ready
Controls legacy X10 devices as well as INSTEON
Responds in 0.05 seconds
Confirmation signals sent automatically
Repeats all INSTEON signals
Programmable preset and fade levels
Monitors linked devices
White LEDs - Color change kits available

KeypadLinc w/ Dimmer
Model
23896W
23890W/I

64-scene capable
Toggle control
Programmable preset and fade levels
3-way ready
No neutral versions available

KeypadLinc V2 Dimmer
Model
2466DW/I

Toggle control
400-scene capable
Programmable preset and fade levels
3-way ready
Repeat all INSTEON signals
Fast response, seemingly without pause
Dimmers send confirmation signals automatically

ToggleLinc Relay
Model
23895I
23893I

15-amp capacity
80% quieter than other switches
Toggle control
3-way ready
Ideal for motor & fluorescent loads

ToggleLinc V2 Relay
Model
2466SW/I

Toggle control
13-amp capacity
80% quieter than other switches
3-way ready
Set up any combination of up to 417 INSTEON links and 256 X10 addresses
Responds in 0.05 seconds
Confirmation signals sent automaticallyRepeats all INSTEON signal

Continue on to more
comparison charts of In-Line and Plug-in Modules
and Insteon upgrade options
Continue to Page 2

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