Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] [Fwd: X-10 in UK] Kelly, Graham Mon, 22 Mar 1999 13:35:19 +1200

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Ben

A point to remember about buying US  X10 for use in UK, is that the European
Community insisted on different frequencies for X10 RF devices. So US
remotes won't work with UK receivers and vice versa. 

Most 110V  X10 devices can be converted to 240V easily enough. Main problem
is physical rather than electronic. The 400V minimum capacitors required are
larger so sometimes they are difficult to fit in the case. Most units you
have to change 2 capacitors and a metal oxide varistor - less than 2 UK
pounds worth.  If you ask, I can give you details for most modules. You
would need a plug converter as well though. (in N.Z. & Aust. we can twist
the US flat pins to siut our inverted Vee sockets). I have converted US
modules for years and they have proved much more reliable than the
non-modified 110V Universal & Powerflash ones powered through a modified
transformer.

N.Z. & Aust. have a basic range of 240V X10 units. Try searching the web for
Eon3 in Australia. There are cheaper ones in N.Z. but not on the web. I can
let you know their addresses if you wish.

Cheers.



> ----------
> From: 	Ingo Pakleppa[SMTP:ipakleppa@home.com]
> Reply To: 	ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Sent: 	Monday, 22 March 1999 12:37
> To: 	ecs-list@netbloc.com; ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Subject: 	Re: [ECS] [Fwd: X-10 in UK]
> 
> The modifications would probably be non-trivial. You can probably do it
> safely if you have a lot of experience with this kind of work and are
> willing to invest into a lot of research, but otherwise, I would not
> recommend it.
> 
> For one, it's quite possible (in fact, likely) that the 110V modules
> contain components that would not safely survive 220V. I'm thinking of
> resistors, coils, capacitors, etc. that may be rated for 160V or so. Also,
> the actual electronics is probably powered through a transformer that
> outputs maybe 5V (or 3V or some other voltage, I don't know) or so at 110V
> but 10V at 220V, and it would need to be replaced with one that gives you
> 220V : 5V.
> 
> Another thing is that the electronics are designed for 60 Hz, not for the
> 50 Hz that you guys have. Exactly what difference that makes, I can't tell
> without knowing the internals of the modules. I would guess that at least
> one or two resistors or capacitors would have to be replaced. It's
> possible
> although less likely that the main X10 chip is different.
> 
> You also won't be able to use the US high-load 220V modules, because they
> are designed for a neutral wire in the center and two phases around it.
> European 380V modules would require three phases.
> 
> There is one other thing you could do, although I'm sure it would violate
> British Electric code, and be quite impractical for other reasons: you
> could put a transformer at the power line entrance of your house and bring
> the whole house down to 110V, install US outlets etc., and import all your
> appliances from the US. Now whether that is cheaper than the UK X-10
> stuff,
> I don't know...
> 
> Ingo
> 
> At 05:46 PM 3/20/99 -0800, Mark Gilmore wrote:
> >Any E.E. advice here for Ben in the UK ?
> >-- 
> >Mark Gilmore
> >Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
> >omnip@usit.net
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> >Message-ID: <36F2AB70.8E5B05F5@willcoxb.freeserve.co.uk>
> >Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 19:54:25 +0000
> >From: Ben Willcox <ben@willcoxb.freeserve.co.uk>
> >X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en] (Win95; I)
> >MIME-Version: 1.0
> >To: Mark Gilmore <omnip@usit.net>
> >Subject: Re: X-10 in UK
> >References: <36ED7309.E5DE4A47@willcoxb.freeserve.co.uk>
> <36EE90CC.CB1D68E7@usit.net> <36F031C5.8153AC5D@willcoxb.freeserve.co.uk>
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> >
> >
> >Mark Gilmore wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Ben,
> >> I'm confused - do none of those businesses reside in the UK ?
> >
> >Ah yes, there are a few distributors in the UK. However, as generally the
> >prices are approximately 4 times the price of US stuff I am wondering if
> it
> >would work out cheaper to import it from the US and mod it for 220V??!
> >
> >Ben.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 

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