X10 - Newbie - advice in simple terms needed please

[ellchester]

I have just ordered a Harmony 895 remote and I am looking to dabble with some home automation, probably X10. Just to try it out I was going to start with lighting - for example on a couple of lamps, could someone take a couple of moments and tell me EXACTLY what I would need to buy. I have had a look at www.letsautomate.com but it's all a bit confusing. I want to make sure I get the right things or my wife will tell me I am wasting money again and the whole project will be scrapped..... Thanks

[MRadja]

You need AM12 or LM 12 to switch appliances or lights at the socket. Or AM12W or LM12W if you want to wire these in.
You also need an Infrared reciever- IR7243W so you can either use infrared or RF on your Harmony remote. I am not sure if the Harmony has x10 compatible IR controls. If not you need a X10 remote to teach it.

[ellchester]

thanks, no not sure if the 895 does x10 - i thought it did but not sure now.

[T800]

I ordered one of these, it controls X10 and converts your Harmony IR signal to X10:
http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/product/487

and one of these lamp modules:
http://www.cyberselect.co.uk/product/469

I plugged them both in, set them to House code A and the lamp module to Number 1.
When I press Number 1 on the interface the lamp turns on/off.

I then went on to the Harmony 895 website and updated my remote to control the X10 equipment and now it's remote control.

[ellchester]

Thanks, I'm going to order both tomorrow