FireCracker Wireless Computer Interface Kit

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Model CK18A
(includes CM17A, TM751, LM465, and HR12A)
Controls up to 256 lights and appliances instantly from your PC, by remote control. Connects to your PCs serial port and has a pass-through port so you dont lose a port. Works with any X10 Transceiver (TM751 included) and any X10 Module (LM465 Lamp Module included). Works with FireCracker software (available from www.x10.com/software). Up to 100 ft. range.
The FireCracker Computer Interface sends Wireless Radio Frequency (RF) signals from your PC to an X10 Transceiver (TM751 included). The Transceiver then passes the signals onto your house wiring to control lights or appliances around your home. You plug lights and appliances into X10 Modules (LM465 Lamp Module included).
1. Set the TM751 Transceiver to Housecode A. Plug a lamp or appliance into the TM751. Plug the TM751 into an AC outlet (use one near your PC for now). Right-click on a label to type in the name of the light or appliance this button controls.
Click to turn X10 Module on or off. Then click to dim or brighten Lamp or Wall Switch Modules.
2. Set the LM465 Lamp Module to Housecode A, Unit Code 2. Plug a lamp (300W max) into the LM465. Plug the LM465 into an AC outlet near your PC.
3. Plug the FireCracker into your computers serial port. If something was already plugged into this port, plug it into the FireCracker. 4. Download the FireCracker program from: www.x10.com/software 5. Run the Setup program to install the FireCracker software. 6. Run the X10 FireCracker application. 7. Select the COM port you are using and click on Try It. Click on OK, a picture of an X10 PalmPad remote appears on your computer monitor. Use the on-screen remote control just like a regular remote control: Click on 1 to test the Transceiver, 2 to test the Lamp Module. DigiPad Keychain remote (model KR21A) sold separately: To turn on or off X10 Modules set to Unit Code 1, 2, 3, or 4 (on Housecode A) press one of the 4 top buttons. Then (within 6 seconds) momentarily press the ON/Bright button to turn the Module on. Momentarily press the OFF/Dim button to turn the Module off. Press and hold the ON/Bright button to brighten lights. Press and hold the OFF/Dim button to dim lights. (Bright and Dim only affect Lamp Modules and Wall Switch Modules). If you want to control Modules 1, 2, 3, and 4 on Housecode A, that's it. To change the Housecode or Unit Code settings see other side of this sheet.
Click to change the Housecode setting (set it to the same letter as your TM751 and X10 Modules).
Click to control X10 Modules set to 1 thru 8 or 9 thru 16.
For more information right-click on your mouse to access the extensive on-line help. This also accesses the Test Communications menu, which lets you change the COM port that the FireCracker works with. You can also print labels from here to match those on the on-screen PalmPad remote and place them on a physical PalmPad (included). You can also turn on or off sound effects that occur when you press buttons. Persons with physical disabilities who have software that can access their keyboard can simply type A 1 ON, for example, to turn on any X10 Module.
Press 1, 2, 3, or 4, first. Then press to turn ON. Press and hold to Brighten.
Or press to turn OFF. Press and hold to Dim.
Note: You must press ON or OFF within 6 seconds after pressing a number button.

CK18A-4/02-1

DigiPad Key Chain Remote, Model KR21A Installation and operating instructions
The DigiPad (sold separately) works with the TM751 (included). It lets you turn on and off four individually coded X10 Modules and brighten and dim lights connected to Lamp Modules and Wall Switch Modules. In the default state (after first fitting the battery) the DigiPad is set to Housecode A. The top 4 buttons control modules set to Unit Codes 1 thru 4. For example, button 1 can control the TM751 and button 2 can control the Lamp Module (both included). 1. Plug in the X10 Transceiver (TM751) and plug a lamp or appliance into it. 2. To turn on or off X10 Modules set to Unit Code 1, 2, 3, or 4 (on Housecode A) press one of the 4 top buttons. Then (within 6 seconds) momentarily press the ON/Bright button to turn the Module on. Momentarily press the OFF/Dim button to turn the Module off. Press and hold the ON/Bright button to brighten lights. Press and hold the OFF/Dim button to dim lights. (Bright and Dim only affect Lamp Modules and Wall Switch Modules). If you want to control Modules 1, 2, 3, and 4 on Housecode A, that's it. You don't need to read any further.

To change the Housecode

Press and hold the # 1 button. The red LED blinks once. 3 seconds later, the LED blinks the current setting: 1 blink for Housecode A, 2 blinks for B.. 16 blinks for P. Release the # 1 button. Press and release the # 1 button the appropriate number of times for the Housecode you want to set. Once for A, twice for B, etc. The LED blinks for each press. IMPORTANT: Hold the button on your last press. 3 seconds later, the red LED blinks back the new setting, e.g. 3 blinks for Housecode C. If you do not follow this programming sequence, the LED will stay on for 1 second and your existing setting will not be changed.
To change the Unit Code for the FIRST number button
The following procedure changes the code for the FIRST button, the other three buttons follow on in sequence. i.e. if you set the first button to 5, the four buttons will control units 5, 6, 7, 8. Press and hold the # 2 button. The red LED blinks once. 3 seconds later, the LED blinks the current setting (for the FIRST button): 1 blink for Unit Code 1, 2 blinks for 2, 16 blinks for 16. Release the # 2 button. Press and release # 2 button the appropriate number of times for the Unit Code you want for the FIRST button. IMPORTANT: Hold the button on your last press. 3 seconds later the new code blinks back. Note, if you set the first button to 16, then the buttons control 16, 1, 2, 3.

To change the battery: Pry the unit apart and fit a CR2025 Lithium 3V battery. Observe polarity.
F.C.C. CAUTION - THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND (2) THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION. NOTE: NO CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS MAY BE MADE TO THE UNITS. ANY CHANGES MADE TO THE UNITS WILL VOID THE USER'S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.
LIMITED1-YEARWARRANTY X10.com, a division of X10 Wireless Technology, Inc. (X10) warrants X10 products to be free from defective material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase at retail. X10 agrees to repair or replace, at its sole discretion, a defective X10 product if returned to X10 within the warranty period and with proof of purchase. If service is required under this warranty: 1. Call 1-800-675-3044 or visit www.x10.com, or e-mail sales@x10.com to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. 2. Return the defective unit postage prepaid to X10 (see address on back). 3. Enclose a check for $4.00 to cover postage and handling. 4. Enclose a dated proof of purchase. 5. X10 is not responsible for shipping damage. Units to be returned should be packed carefully. Please visit www.x10.com/warranty to complete your on-line warranty registration. Thank you. For help or more information on setup, please visit: www.x10.com/support

CK18A-4/02-2

X10 Tutorial: How to automate your home on a shoestring budget - Part 2. By Mike Mallari X10 Community Director In the previous tutorial, we introduced you to how to get started automating your home with just two devices. Now its time to increase our abilities for automation by adding modules. Modules, are devices that when they receive a command, they perform what they are designed to do. They do not re-transmit signals back to the remote control nor do they transmit signals forward to other modules. They only perform one task, and that is to either turn a unit on or off. Some modules have the ability to dim and brighten, and others have features which are specialized for their chore.
Here is a lamp module as seen from multiple angles.
Modules vary in styles, sizes, and pricing, with basic modules starting around $12.99 USD. Modules are necessary in order to increase the amount of items in your home that you will be able to take control of as you continue to automate. For this tutorial, we will be adding three new modules to our current setup: 1) The LM465 Lamp Module ($12.99) 2) The LM15A Socket Rocket Module ($19.99) 3) The AM14A Appliance Module ($12.99)
The LM465 Lamp Module, is a specialized module with the ability to turn a light source on and/or off, and also the ability to dim or brighten a lampshade, even if the lampshade can not do this on its own. To use the LM465 Lamp Module, simply plug your lampshade into it, then plug the module into the electrical outlet on the wall.
The LM15A Socket Rocket, is a module that is different in the sense that to use this module, you dont plug it into a normal 110 volt electrical outlet, but you twist it into a light socket with the light bulb attached (also by twisting the bulb on to the socket rocket).
The AM14A Appliance Module appears to look like the LM465 Lamp Module but is designed for the use of appliances such as an electrical coffee maker or toaster oven. When hooking up appliances only use an appliance module, and never a lamp module, as lamp modules are not designed to handle appliances. You can however use lamps and lighting sources for appliance modules. In order for a module to function properly you must have the transceiver plugged into an electrical outlet. You send the command from your remote control to the transceiver, the transceiver then distributes the signals out to the modules. Without the transceiver, your modules can not receive remote commands. Recall back to the prior lesson where on the transceiver module (and on some remote controls) we discussed the switch on the front which was lettered from A to P? This is where knowing what this means comes in to play. Youll notice on each module that this switch is also present. In addition, another switch with numbers 1 to 16 is also present next to or below the switch with the letters. The letters represents the letter frequency to be used, allowing the remote, the transceiver, and the three modules to communicate. If all of the devices are set to the same letter code then all of the devices are communicating on the same letter frequency. If one module is set to a different letter than the transceiver or the remote, this module is not communicating with the transceiver and will not respond to commands you send by the remote control. With the three new modules we are adding to the system, we can make them respond in different ways. For this example, we are going to use a HR12A Palm Pad remote control, which gives you the ability to control up to sixteen separate modules. If we want all three modules to turn on at the press of one button from the remote, we would manually set all of the modules onto the same number frequency. Then by clicking the On button on the number position of the remote all three modules will simultaneously turn on. When you press the
HR12A Palm Pad Remote Control
Off button from the same number position on the remote, all three modules will turn off. If we want two of the modules to respond to the number 1 ON/OFF position on the remote but want the third module to respond to the number 2 ON/OFF position on the remote, you would manually change the switch number of only the third module to #2 ( but leaving it on letter A). Remember, they are all still communicating on the same letter frequency, You just re-positioned the third module to respond to a different number frequency, which can be controlled from the number #2 ON/OFF position from the remote. So, the number switch (1 16) on the module represents the number frequency that the modules respond to. You can have multiple modules set to the same number frequency and respond simultaneously at the press of a single button on the remote, or you can have them respond individually by re-numbering them to respond to their own button on the remote. This allows you to set up your system at your own preference. Since the number frequency goes as high as sixteen, this means you can have up to sixteen modules running off of one letter frequency. If you add more modules, these will have to be placed under a different letter frequency, but this also means that you will need a second transceiver also placed under that new frequency, and possibly another remote unless you want to keep changing the letter frequency on the remote by hand back and forth from the original letter frequency to the new letter frequency you just added. In the event your neighbor is using a similar home control system, you may notice your lights or appliances turning on or turning off. If this is the case, simply change the letter frequency on your remote, transceiver and your modules. This will prevent your home automated system from talking with your neighbors system.

Definitions: Appliance Module: A module designed for controlling appliances such as a blender, coffee maker, and more. Lamp Module: A module designed strictly for controlling a light source such as a lampshade. Letter Frequency: An initial signal of how modules, remotes, and transceivers communicate. In order for them to communicate they must be under the same letter frequency. Module: A device that when sent a signal, performs a function. Number Frequency: A secondary signal of how modules, remotes, and transceivers interact. All must be under the same letter frequency to communicate, but can be placed under a different number frequency to identify them as an individual or a group.
Troubleshooting: When I press a button on the remote, there is no response from my module. 1) Do you have batteries installed in the remote? 2) Is your device plugged into the module? 3) Is your transceiver plugged into an electrical outlet? 4) Is your module plugged into an electrical outlet? 5) Is the switch letter on the module the same as the letter on the transceiver and remote control? 6) Is your module within 100 feet of your transceiver?