PowerHome allows for virtually an unlimited number of hardware controllers to be defined.  Within this section of the PowerHome Explorer, you can declare the various hardware interfaces you’ve connected to the PowerHome computer.  This is where you would declare your Insteon, UPB, X10, and IR controllers.  Each controller must have a unique ID within this section.  This screen also has a column named “Load Order”.  Controllers will be loaded sequentially in the order determined by this column.  After giving the controller a unique ID, select the Controller Type from the dropdown list.  Pay particular attention to controllers that support both serial, USB, or Ethernet interfaces since these will usually be listed as different controller types.  The “Active” column determines if a particular controller will be loaded or not.  You may define a controller within this screen and not have it loaded when PowerHome starts by unchecking this column.  The last step to defining a controller is the “Settings” button.  You MUST click on this button for each controller when you initially declare it in order for its additional unique parameters to be created.  Oftentimes, the default values are sufficient, but you must at least open the “Settings” window for the default values to be created.  If you have a problem with the settings parameters and need to have the default values recreated, just change the Controller Type from the current value to any other value and then back again.  This will erase your old values.  When you click on the “Settings” button after having changed the Controller Type, you’ll get a new set of default values generated.

Each controller type will have its own unique “Settings” screen dependant upon the controller type.  However, some of these parameters may appear on more than one controller.  Some of these common parameters are detailed below: