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JMRI: Powerline System Names

Individual inputs (Sensors) and outputs (Turnouts and Lights) in JMRI are accessed via names. For information on the general scheme, please see the naming page in the technical documentation.

X10

X10 devices are addressed via a "House Code" of A through P, and a "Device Code" of 1 through 16.

Outputs (Lights or Turnouts) in each house code are numbered with their device code, e.g. PTA1 is a JMRI Turnout that talks to device 1 on housecode A; PTB3 is a Turnout for device 3 on housecode B; PLP16 is a JMRI Light for device 16 on housecode P.

If an output is called as a turnout (name starts with PT), you only get on and off for output options.

An output that is used as a light (name starts with PL) will take variable intensities. However, some physical X10 devices may not support dimming.

Inputs (Sensors) are identified by the house code and device number that was reported by some other X10 device like a motion sensor or light control pad. NOTE: due to a large number of false codes due to other X10 users sensors are not automatically generated. They must be entered in the sensor table by the user.

JMRI configures the adapter to use House Code "A" now. We'll eventually make that configuable, but for now that means that input messages will only be received from devices set to house code A, so only sensors PSA1 through PSA16 will work.

(Early versions of JMRI X10 support used an all-numeric address like PT12, with no housecode letters; this is no longer available, because it caused way too much confusion)

Insteon

Insteon adapters are labelled with a four-part number that looks like "01.2A.B4". These are just random strings as part as the user and the program is concerned, and we don't make any effort to subdivide them. You should enter these exactly as they appear on the device you want to address. Do not delete or add leading zeros, etc.

For example, if the device is labelled "01.2A.B4", the corresponding Light system name is "PL01.2A.B4".

More Information

More information on the X10 hardware can be found on the (admittedly obnoxious) X10 web site.

More information about X10 Powerline Carrier (PLC) Technology.