Rhydo Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

, Kerala, India
(An ISO 9001:2000 Certified R&D Company)

SYNOPSIS
DATA COMMUNICATION OVER POWER LINE
USING
X-10 PROTOCOL

2006 Rhydo Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Golden Plaza, Opp. Mymoon Theatre, Chitoor Road, Cochin –682018, Kerala State, South India
Phone: +91-484-2370579, +91-484-3258390 E-mail: info@rhydo.com Visit: www.rhydo.com
 Rhydo Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Kerala, India
(An ISO 9001:2000 Certified R&D Company)

In the latest generation of home automation systems,

appliances can exchange information by transmitting data over
the domestic mains wiring. As a result there is no need to install
extra control cables and appliances can be connected to the
"network" simply by plugging them into the nearest wall socket.
Apart from the obvious saving in installation cost, this virtual
network also makes modification and enhancement very simple
since new devices just have a wall socket to be instantly
connected to the network.
A communication network in the house will provide the
infra-structure for linking appliances, sensors, controllers, and
control panels inside the house. This has become feasible by
tailoring the communications technologies developed for office
automation to the home environment.
X-10 is a communication protocol designed for
sending signals over 230V AC wiring. X-10 uses 120 kHz bursts
timed with the power line zero-crossings to represent digital
information. Plug-in modules available from various vendors
enable users to create home automation systems by using the AC
wiring already installed within a home.
Microcontrollers can easily be used in conjunction
with X-10 technology to create home automation applications.
The specific microcontroller (MCU) used should be selected based
on RAM, ROM, operating frequency, peripheral, and cost
requirements of the particular application. The PIC16F877A can
be selected for this application because of its versatility as a

2006 Rhydo Technologies Pvt Ltd.

Golden Plaza, Opp. Mymoon Theatre, Chitoor Road, Cochin –682018, Kerala State, South India
Phone: +91-484-2370579, +91-484-3258390 E-mail: info@rhydo.com Visit: www.rhydo.com
 Rhydo Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Kerala, India
(An ISO 9001:2000 Certified R&D Company)

general purpose microcontroller, its FLASH program memory (for

ease of development), data EEPROM, and ample I/O.
X10 is a communications "language" that allows
compatible products to talk to each other using the existing
electrical wiring in the home. Most X10 compatible products are
very affordable and the fact that they talk over existing wires in
your home means that no costly rewiring is necessary.
Installation is simple, a transmitter plugs (or wires) in at one
location in the home and sends its control signal (on, off, dim,
bright, etc.) to a receiver which plugs (or wires) into another
location in the home.

Transmitter block diagram

Operation LCD
switches

Pic16f877
Zero crossing
Pwm o/p
Detector

Receiver block diagram

Signal isolation
module
2006 Rhydo Technologies Pvt Ltd. Relays to
Golden Plaza, Opp. Mymoon Theatre, Chitoor Road, Cochin –682018, Kerala State, South India
5 devices
Phone: +91-484-2370579, +91-484-3258390 Pic16f877
E-mail: info@rhydo.com Visit: www.rhydo.com
Zero crossing
Detector