"The 'X-10 Powerhouse System' helps deter intruders by making your house look more lived in, even while you're away on vacation. Your Apple...can then turn lights and appliances on and off anytime you like, andy day of the week.
The X-10 Powehouse controller sends digitally encoded signals over existing household wiring to control lights and appliances plugged into special modules. Modules are available for was switches, thermostats and 110/220 volt appliances. They respond to signals sent from a controller you've programmed with your computer. You can control as many as 256 different modules (72 with an Apple II).
Programming the modules is easy with the X-10 Powehouse software.. Using a joystick or mouse, simply point to the room and appliance you want to control. Program different modules to go on and off at various times on different days of the week, or group modules and program them in go on together.
Once you've programmed the modules, an interface takes over and frees your computer for other uses. The interface plugs into any wall socket and has a battery backup to protect its memory in case of power failure.
An X-10 Powerhouse kit includes the home control interface, software, a connecting cable, a programming guide, and an instruction manual. It has a suggested retail price of $49.95. The price for a lamp module, appliance module, or wall switch is $14.95.
X-10 offers numerous burglar alarms, telephone responders, and other controllers.
More info: X-10, 185A LeGrand Avenue, Northvale, NJ 07647
