X-10 control

[StirCrazy]

Ok my firecracker arived today, quite impressive. it consistes of a lamp modual with a attenna, a serial port through put unit about the size of a zippo, a remote unit like a remote control for a TV, and a plane lamp modual. it works good kinda cool actualy. when I get the eLightMaster program set up and running I will give a rundown on it.

Steve

[StirCrazy]

well, I am on computer controle now for my lights. I had a bit of problem setting up the program to run it so I fired off a e-mail to the author (Bill-e) and 10 min later he came back with the solution.. my fault I for got to copy a file to tell it how to use the ports hehe.

anyways it all looks good now, it has the capability of controling 6 lights + a moon light.
you can set it up to mimic the sunrise and sunset from any place in the world and it varies the moonlight bulbs acording to the moon phase.

The wave maker page can controle up to 6 pumps and has functions to go random or to vary on/off times to simulate tides, intensity feeding quite time ect.. and you can set # one to turn on/off at a constant interval for use in a directional flow changer.

now none of thease idems that it controles has to be a light or a pump.. if you only want to run a skimmer 12 hours a day you could do that or anything else that is powered.. as all the program does is turn on/off a X-10 modual.

if you want to see the menues you can go HERE (http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/lightmaster1.html) and take a look at the screen shots.

Steve

[Greg Moore]

Interesting looking software.
I have been using X-10 on my tank (lights, cooling fan etc) for a couple of years now as well as 90% of the home lighting. I use the Home Director (IBM) system simply because modules etc are always on eBay for cheap.

First time I saw software that cater to aquarium usage though.. Only downside I see to his software is it appears to require a constant computer connection, where as normal X-10 timing is stored in the memory module..

Greg Moore

by the way, should you have issue with it, there is a fix for 'flickering' that some X-10 appliance modules cause while off when used on electronic fluorescent ballasts..

[StirCrazy]

I had a problem with the lights turning back on after I turned them off but that was fixed by using a night light. I have been running the lights on X-10 for about a month now to test the operation but it is the computer side that I just installed. my old controler was the clock radio looking one so that is now in the beedroom controling my night table lamps hehe

Steve

[Greg Moore]

Stir Crazy
Turning back on is the result of the same problem. There is a capacitor on the output side of the controler, this is there to 'see' if you are trying manually to turn a lamp on. To do this it allows a small amount of voltage to pass through and senses a load change. Electronic ballasts use this small amount of voltage to charge their starter caps and then discharge into the lamp when there is enough to fire the lamp. This short burst or flicker, can be seen by the controler as an attempt to turn on, and trips an on command..

Removal of the cap inside the controller cures both the flicker and the on command. It doesn't effect the remote or timer functions, but it does disable that controller from ever knowing you are trying to manually turn a lamp on.

Greg Moore

[StirCrazy]

yup, that is how I found out what was wrong.. the ballast was producing a back spike that would triger the local control.. I wasn't up to cutting the wire at that point so I tried the night light to make sure thats what the problem was. I am going to disable the local control in a few of them when I do the "silent appliance mod" sence I will be ripping it apart then anyways :D
just waiting for some better instructions with pics on this mod first, hehe

Steve

[Greg Moore]

Stir crazy
It's actually a diode, right near the outlet side of the board, I think it is the only diode mounted at that end, standing up. If you disable the wrong part, it will do some really funky things so you won't go wrong if you cut it in such a way as to allow a reconnection. I just cut the longer lead and don't remove the diode itself.

Greg Moore

[Dman]

Where did you get X-10 modules, I can't find them here in Toronto

[StirCrazy]

I get mine at radioshack, there home automation kits are X-10 with a "radioshack" label

Steve

[Greg Moore]

I have bought all mine either via eBay or from X10 in the states. They have an over stock of RCA appliance modules for $7 each, hits about $12 including shipping if you get 5 or 6 at once..

http://www.x10.com/products/rca_modules_ba2.htm

As for the mod, most appliance modules are the same regardless of name on them. With the unit open (carefull the switch rotors don't fall out), look at the circuit board parts side towards you. At the receptical end (not the end with the prongs) you will find a diode wired standing on end, just to the right of the right side socket (assuming socket end up, prong end towards you). Cut one side of this diode. If you cut the longer wire near the middle, it can be soldered back together should you be looking at the wrong part.


Greg Moore

[Chrismo]

Just wondering if you still use elighting, or what you think of it...

I'm having trouble running it on my Mac, in Unix terminal, or otherwise.

Chris

[visor]

I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS X10 WHAT IS IT?AND WHERE DO I GET IT?

[ajx22]

Originally posted by visor
I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS X10 WHAT IS IT?AND WHERE DO I GET IT?


http://www.x10.com