Use BASIC Stamp II to control X-10 lamp and appliance modules
The note describes how the BASIC Stamp II can generate X‑10 control signals using the new Xout instruction. It covers house and unit code assignment, wiring to PL‑513 or TW‑523 modules, and safety precautions for working with line‑powered interfaces.
Additional sections show how to use the built‑in Shiftin and Shiftout instructions for synchronous‑serial peripherals, and how to generate DTMF tones for phone‑line applications with the DTMFout instruction. Sample program listings and circuit schematics illustrate each technique.
| X‑10 carrier frequency | 120 kHz |
|---|---|
| Synchronization precision | 50 µs |
| Dim/bright cycle count | 19 cycles |
| Number of house codes | 16 (A‑P) |
| Number of unit codes | 16 (1‑16) |
It uses the Xout instruction with house and unit codes, transmitting an 11‑bit code on a 120 kHz carrier synchronized to the AC line.
A full dim or bright transition requires 19 cycles.
Pin 0 is used for zero‑cross detection (zPin) and pin 1 for modulation control (mPin).
By using the DTMFout instruction with a pin connected to a phone‑line interface circuit.