™
Sundowner Controller
Owner’s Manual
Model SD533
X10.com, a division of X10 Wireless Technology, Inc.
3824 North 5th St., Suite C,
North Las Vegas, NV 89032
Introduction
The X10 Sundowner™ Controller lets you remotely control lights and appliances from anywhere in
your home. It also turns lights on automatically at dusk. You can keep it by the bedside and turn
off the TV without getting out of bed. You can turn off your child’s radio or night light from your
bedroom. You can turn on ALL lights connected to Lamp Modules and Wall Switch Modules with
the push of a button if you hear a noise at night. You can even turn off everything in the system
with one button to save energy. How many times have you gone to bed and left a downstairs light
on because you didn’t want to get out of bed to turn it off? Now you don’t have to.
Caution: Be very careful when you use your X10 Sundowner Controller with any kind of
appliance. If you accidentally turn on an empty coffee pot for example, you could burn out the
element and even create a fire hazard. Switching on an unattended heater could also cause a
serious fire hazard.
The X10 Sundowner Controller activates lights and appliances throughout your home from any
convenient location. The Sundowner Controller transmits signals to the Modules over your
existing house wiring. You plug lamps into Lamp Modules, plug appliances into Appliance
Modules and replace wall light switches with Wall Switch Modules. You can then control virtually
everything electrical in your home. You can also dim and brighten lamps, and have them come on
automatically at dusk.
How it works
The Sundowner Controller tells the Modules what to do. Command signals are sent over your existing
house wiring to the Module or Modules of your choice. The Modules respond to the command
signals. The Lamp Module turns on and off, and dims and brightens any incandescent lamp up to 300
watts. The Appliances Module turns on and off appliances such as a TV, (not “instant on” TVs), a
window fan, or a stereo. It can also be used for a lamp - but cannot dim it. The Wall Switch Module
turns on and off, and dims and brightens an incandescent light up to 500 watts, which is normally
operated by a wall switch.
Using the Sundowner Controller
4. Adjust the slide switches on the base of the Sundowner Controller to choose which lights you
want to come on at dusk and go off at dawn. Set the sensitivity to Max.
Having 16 choices for the Housecode lets you set up several independent systems in one home
without interaction among them. Also, you can avoid interference with, or from a neighbor’s system
by choosing a different Housecode letter.
To turn ON a light or appliance
Press and release the TOP of one of the 4 number keys corresponding to the Unit Code set on the
Module to be controlled.
To turn all lights on (i.e. all lamps connected to Lamp Modules or Wall Switch Modules set to the
same House Code) press the TOP of the All Lights On/All Units Off key. This key does not affect
Appliance Modules.
To turn OFF a light or appliance
Press and release the BOTTOM of one of the 4 number keys corresponding to the Unit Code set on
the Module to be controlled.
To turn off all modules, including Appliance Modules, press the bottom of the All Lights On/All
Units Off key.
Setting up the Sundowner Controller
1. To install your Sundowner Controller, simply plug the power cord into any functioning wall
outlet. Position the controller where the light sensor on the front of the controller can “see”
daylight, e.g. near a window in a room which is usually unlit at dusk.
2. Set the slide switch on the top of the Sundowner Controller for the Modules you want it to
control (1 thru 4 or 5 thru 8).
3. Using a small screwdriver, choose one the 16 letters on the Sundowner Controller’s Housecode
dial. All X10 Modules have a similar red Housecode dial. Set the Sundowner Controller and all
the Modules to be controlled by it to the same Housecode letter.
To Dim or Brighten lights
Press and release the TOP of the number key for the Lamp Module or Wall Switch Module you want
to Dim or Brighten (you can’t Dim or Brighten Appliance Modules). Then press the TOP of the Dim/
Bright key to Brighten or the BOTTOM of the Dim/Bright key to Dim the light. Hold the key pressed
until the desired brightness level is reached.
The Finder Label is a convenient place to indicate the locations of lights and appliances controller by
your system. There is one box for each unit key.
Automatic Light Control
Test the Dusk-to-Dawn operation by covering up the front of the Sundowner with your hand. The
lights you selected (with the slide switches underneath the Sundowner Controller) should come on.
Remove your hand and the lights should go off again. Adjust the sensitivity setting for the lights to
come on when you want them to - a little trial and error may be needed.
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Using the Sundowner Controller
Problem Solving
If a particular module won’t go on or off from the buttons on the Sundowner Controller:
Check that you have power to the outlet controlling the Module and the switch on the light or
appliance is ON.
Check that the Unit Code on the Module is set to the correct number. Check the 1-4/5-8 selector on
the top of the Sundowner Controller. Check that the Housecode on the Module is set correctly. The
Housecode on the Module and the Sundowner Controller must be set to the same letter.
Try plugging the Module and the Sundowner Controller into the same outlet. If the Module doesn’t
work in ANY outlet, not even with the Module and the Sundowner in the same duplex receptacle
(top and bottom) the Module might be defective. Contact http://www.x10.com/support for help.
If modules won’t go on at dusk or off at dawn
Check that the appropriate switches on the base of the Sundowner Controller are “ON.” Point the
Sundowner Controller directly at a window (do not place it in a dark corner). Note: closing drapes
near the Sundowner Controller can cause it to turn on lights elsewhere. Adjust the sensitivity control
towards LIGHT to make lights turn off later (i.e., when there is more daylight), or towards DARK to
make lights turn off earlier (i.e., when there is less daylight). Make sure that the Sundowner Controller
can’t “see” any of the lights it is controlling, otherwise it might “think” it is light outside.
If you can’t control ANY modules from the Sundowner Contr oller
Check that you have power to the outlet for the Sundowner Controller. Check that the Housecode on
the Sundowner Controller is set correctly. Try plugging the Module and the Sundowner Controller
into the same outlet. If NONE of your Modules work in ANY outlet, not even with the Module and
the Sundowner Controller in the same duplex receptacle (top and bottom) the Sundowner Controller
might be defective. Contact http://www.x10.com/support for help.
Intercom Systems
Intercom systems which send voice signals over existing electrical wiring may interfere with the
operation of the Sundowner Controller when the intercom is in use. If the Intercom system has its
own separate wiring it will not cause a problem.
Power Interruptions
When the power is restored after an outage, Lamp Modules and Wall Switch Modules will normally
be OFF. Appliance Modules will stay as they were before the interruption.
Local Control
Lights and appliances connected to plug-in Modules can be turned ON with their own power switch.
Simply turn the switch OFF then ON again once or twice. For lamps with three-way bulbs, you might
have to rotate the power switch a few times before the light comes on.
The Wall Switch Module can be turned ON or OFF locally using its push button. The power On-Off
switch on the Wall Switch Module is used to completely turn off the power. For example, when
changing a light bulb.
LIMITED 1-YEAR WARRANTY
Please visit http://www.x10.com/warranty
for warranty information. Thank you.
SD533-4/03
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