X10 Firecracker

X10 Firecracker (CMA17A)

The X10 "Firecracker" is a small RF transmitter that transmits home automation signals compatible with the X10 industry standard of receivers and switching devices.

The Firecracker plugs into a 9-pin computer serial port and includes a pass-through connector allowing the serial port to still be used with other devices. The Firecracker is transmit-only, and can only be used for sending home automation commands but not receiving them. The Firecracker is powered by the serial port itself.

X10 home automation signals can be transmitted either by radio-frequency or over a powerline carrier (PLC), but usually can only be received by devices connected to the power line via PLC. Therefore, in order to use an X10 Firecracker to control power line devices, a receiver is required to convert the signal from RF to PLC.

On the computer, the programming specifications for the Firecracker are well published.^[1] The Firecracker is commanded by manipulating the RS-232 status pins, namely RTS and DTR, and not through the data pins. Further, the Firecracker is responsive only when specifically defined sequences of state changes are pulsed through these status pins. This allows the Firecracker to ignore commands meant for a device sent through to its pass-through port. Most standard serial devices ignore the rapid state transitions of the DTR and RTS pins used for commanding the Firecracker, particularly when no data is being sent over the data pins.

The Firecracker was originally sent out as part of a low-cost home automation promotional kit by X10 Wireless Technology. Although this device is very basic and lacks flexibility and programmability, its simplicity and low cost is attractive to computer programming hobbyists wishing to write computer software that can control external lights, bells, or appliances.

Software

Windows

• X10.com wiki howto setup hardware/software ^[2]

Linux/Unix like

• Bottle Rocket ^[3]
  • install instructions
    • Debian/Ubuntu

      apt-get install bottlerocket

  • The following will turn ON a X10 module A2

br -c A --on 2 -vvvvv
  br: Opening serial port /dev/firecracker.
  br: Executing 1 commands
  Sending command ON to A2
  br: Closing serial port.
  br: Cleaning up...

• Flipit ^[4]
  • The following will turn ON a X10 module A2

./flipit -t /dev/firecracker flip a2 on

• Note
  • Keep in mind that not all serial ports are created equal it might be a good idea if your device is not working try different serial hardware or computer with a real serial port vs a USB dongle there can be a difference .

References

1. ↑ FireCracker (CM17A) Communications Specification
2. ↑ X10.com wiki howto setup hardware/software
3. ↑ BottleRocket
4. ↑ flipit