X10 Programming for Insteon Devices

Accessing X10 Features within Select Insteon Devices

Back in 2005 when Insteon was first launched, it was the backwards compatibility that helped existing X10 users upgrade to something more reliable at their own pace. X10 is an antiquated technology and can be significantly impaired with noisy electrical environments. Whenever possible we recommend upgrading X10 hardware to Insteon for the best possible home control experience.

Please note that most new Insteon devices no longer support X10 communication.

Important: Except for setting or removing the primary address, all steps below require that you have an X10 controller that only sends House and Unit code (no On/Off command). Before attempting these steps you will need X10 hardware or software that supports the ability to send these commands (example: Maxi Controller #PHC02 or #SC503).

Setting the X10 Primary Address

1. Press and hold the INSTEON device's Set button until it beeps. LED will blink
2. Send the desired X10 Primary Address followed by ON 3 times (e.g. A1-AON A1-AON A1-AON). INSTEON device will exit linking mode and its LED will stop blinking

Removing the X10 Primary Address

1. If you are no longer going to control your Insteon device with an X10 address, it is very important that you unlink it. Otherwise, your Insteon device will still respond to stray X10 commands and may cause your Insteon device to turn on at undesired times.
2. Press and hold the Set button until it beeps. LED will blink
3. Press and hold the Set button again until it beeps. LED will blink
4. Send the X10 address to be removed followed by the ON command three times (e.g. B5-BON-B5-BON-B5-BON). Insteon device will exit unlinking mode and its LED will stop blinking

Setting the On-Level for the X10 Primary Address

Using an X10 controller, send: 

O16     N16      M16      P16      M16

1. Send the X10 primary address (house code and unit code)
2. Use a linked controller to adjust your Insteon device's load to the desired brightness level. If you skip this step, the current on-level will be used. (If you turn the load off, the on level will become "resume" whereby the load will return to the brightness at which it was at just before being turned off)

Send the following X10 address sequence to lock in the new on-level: 

P16     N16     M16      O16      M16

Setting the Ramp Rate for the X10 Primary Address

Using an X10 controller, send:

O16     N16     M16     P16     M16

1. Send the X10 primary address (house code and unit code)
2. Use an X10 controller to adjust your Insteon device's load to the brightness corresponding to the desired ramp rate using the table in the Insteon device's manual
    

Send the following X10 address sequence to lock in the new ramp rate:

O16     P16     N16      M16    O16
 

X10 Scene Address Programming

Most Insteon devices can be a member of up to 255 X10 scenes. An X10 scene address is simply a secondary X10 address. When an X10 ON command is sent to an X10 scene address, every X10 device with that X10 scene address will turn on to its independent On-Level at its independent Ramp Rate (if a dimmable device). Sending an X10 OFF command to an X10 scene address will turn off all devices that are members of that X10 scene, each at its independent Ramp Rate. Dimmable X10 devices will react to DIM and BRIGHT commands after the X10 scene address is sent. However, they will ignore ALL ON and ALL OFF commands for the X10 scene address.

Remotely Setting the On-Level for an X10 Scene Address

Using an X10 controller, send: 

O16    N16     M16    P16     M16
 

1. Use an X10 controller to adjust your Insteon device's load to the desired brightness level. If you skip this step, the current on-level will be used. A scene can trigger your Insteon device to go off by setting the on-level to 0%, or off
2. Send the following X10 address sequence:

M16    N16    O16     P16

Send the desired X10 scene address (house code and unit code) to lock in the new on-level and X10 scene address

Setting the Ramp Rate for an X10 Scene Address

Using an X10 controller, send:

O16    N16    M16     P16    M16

1. Send your Insteon devices X10 primary address (house code and unit code)
2. Use an X10 controller to adjust your Insteon devices load to the brightness corresponding to the desired ramp rate using the table in the Insteon device's manual

Send the following X10 address sequence:

N16    O16    P16     M16    Scene Address

1. Send the desired X10 scene address (house code and unit code) to lock in the new ramp rate and X10 scene address

Removing an X10 Scene Address

Using an X10 controller, send: 

O16    N16    M16    P16     M16

1. Send the your Insteon device's X10 primary address (house code and unit code)
2. Send an X10 ON or OFF command

Send the following X10 address sequence: 

O16    P16    M16     N16

1. Send the X10 scene address you wish to remove (house code and unit code)