Book, videos, and courses that teach you everything from wiring a telephone, to planning and installing a sophisticated structured wiring system. We also have several books on X-10 compatible and UPB compatible lighting and appliance control.

A step by step approach to Designing a Structured Wiring System with example home design formats and complete wiring diagrams.

Why Automate Your Home?

Convenience

Simplify your life by

Controlling lights, appliances, even your thermostat from one location inside
the house.

Turning house lights on from your car when your return home.

Controlling your home remotely from any touch-tone telephone (great for
vacation homes!)

And much more!



Economy

Save money by turning off lights and appliances automatically, and by
adjusting the temperature when you're not at home.



Security

Feel secure by making your house look lived in, even when you're away.

Why X-10 Technology?

It's Easy

You don't need an engineering degree to figgure it out.



It's Affordable

You can build a system for as little as $30, and grow the system over time.



It's Do-able

You don't need to install special wiring. Just plug the components into an
electrical outlet and go!



It's Fun

If you're into gadgets, computers, or electronics, this stuff's for you. It's
a blast!

Why Approaching Home Automation?

It's Complete

It covers the basics, so a new user can get up to speed quickly, without any
guesswork.



It's Comprehensive

It also covers advanced topics for the knowledgable user.



It's Smart

Diagrams, tables, illustrations, a complete glossary, and a detailed index
help you find the information you need--fast.

In previous editions, The Complete Guide to Wiring sold more than one million copies, making it the all-time bestselling book on home wiring for consumers. In this newly revised and redesigned edition, the book includes everything that made the original the favorite of American homeowners, but also adds new projects, such as wiring a shed or gazebo, and includes important revisions to meet the 2008 National Electrical Code.
The modern home can include dozens of electronic components unknown just a few years ago, and this book provides essential information on wiring for those devices. It includes information on security systems, home theaters and surround-sound systems, computer networks, and a host of kitchen amenities like espresso machines to grind-and-brew coffee machines. Tech savvy homeowners will appreciate the section devoted to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies--the next wave of "wireless wiring."
Once again, this book features more than 700 color photographs showing installation and repair projects with unsurpassed realism and clarity.

Latest Technology In
Automated Home Control
Robert N. Bucceri 202 pp.

Once homeowners have mastered the surprisingly easy techniques for basic repair of switches, outlets and light fixtures, they're ready for the real cost savings that come with installing entire circuits all by themselves. Advanced Home Wiring is the book for those readers.
The original 1992 edition quietly become one of the all-time best sellers among books on wiring for homeowners, selling more than half a million copies. Many readers of the original book reported saving thousands of dollars by installing their own circuit wiring in room additions and for major remodeling projects. This new edition continues the tradition, with all the original information, plus key new projects-- all updated to reflect the recent changes in electrical codes across North America.

Six lessons on one DVD.
HomeTech Comment: Unbelievable! This will pay for itself in a week! Packed with very clever tips and techniques that will thrill even the most experienced wire puller and will make a novice look like a pro!

INSULATED WALLS (30 min.) Learn how to fish wires in empty walls; how to make insulation work for you, not against, be it stabled bat insulation, moisture barrier stapled over bat insulation, blown-in cellulose or even styrofoam. Fish from attic down to crawl space; learn the easy way to fish an insulated wall when there is a slab floor.

DRILL BITS AND FIRE BLOCKS (17 min.) Fire blocks will seem non-existent; see what takes place in the wall when drilling through top and bottom plates. Always find the hole you drilled.

UNIQUE BITS AND BASEBOARDS (18 min.) Remove baseboard molding; run wire between tack strip and wall; drill a hole in base molding without removing baseboard; enlarge a hole size with the wire already present without damaging the wire.

FISHING BETWEEN FLOORS (16 min.) Effectively fish wires in multi-story residences; whether you are mounting devices on a first floor or basement ceiling, learn how to hide wires between floors.

CRAWL SPACES & FINISHED BASEMENTS (19 min.) The shortest, quickest way to run wire from basement to first floor; eliminate having to maneuver in dreaded crawl spaces.

ATTIC FISHING (18 min.) Three professional methods are shown, where one or two man crews can make easy the awful job of attic fishing; whether there is little or great amount of insulation, these methods will cut your time and frustration in half!

A comprehensive guide on automating all types of homes. Ilustrates over 140 home automation system features.

Index:
To Fix a Specific Problem...
To Learn How to Troubleshoot PLC...
Older Equipment
Common Failure Modes
Wall Switches That Won't...
Is The Cutoff Switch Turned Off?
Is Line and Load Wired Correctly?
Is Line and Load Reversed?
...and other possible causes, tests, and descriptions...
Missed Commands
PLC Signal Transmission Problems
User Error?
Is the Resistance of the Load Too High?
...and other possible causes, tests, and descriptions...
Mysterious Turn-Ons
User Error?
Is Another House Controlling Yours?
Is Local Control Biting You?
...and other possible causes, tests, and descriptions...
Three- and Four-way Switch Wiring
By our very own Jeff Fisher! Our technical support is so good...we wrote the book!

Terminology
Determining What Each Wire Is
Typical Three-Way Wiring
...and instructions for wiring and troubleshooting each type of switch...
Module and Controller Specs
Incandescent Lamp Ratings
120 Volt Quartz Lamp Ratings
Local Control
...and more information and conversion formulas...
Test Equipment
Automatic Test Transmitter
Signal Strength Indicator
Test Cord
...and other vital test equipment your can buy or make yourself...
Miscellaneous Procedures
Disabling Local Control
Solving External Noise Problems
...and other important procedures...