Re: X-10 Mister House Motion sensor problems



Robert Green wrote:

"Marc F Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

stuff snipped>

The X-10 stuff is quick enough if you position the


sensor and transceiver close to each other and close to the load.


In my experience, X-10 is almost never quick enough if the system needs to
dim instead of toggle ON-OFF. And if you get up at 3AM , who wants the
lights to go on suddenly at 100% bright?



That's an easy one. Just get a two-way wall switch or module. They'll
remember the state last dimmed to and without any of the flash problems.

But that's not and ideal solution. I'm working on a more elegant one for my
Mom and Dad who need more than a dimmed bulb hallway bulb. I am looking at
installing LED or similar "carpet lights" that you see in theaters and
airplanes. It's clear that in low light, with dark adapted-eyes, a series
of small lamps illuminating the pathway is the proper way to go.

I agree.

Those on
one unit code, the regular lights on another and a way to tell when it's
dark or light and it's done. It's not a challenge for X-10 because there's
no dimming involved. They come on when they sense motion, they go off after
a while or when the bed sensor says "back in bed."


Well I wouldn't be quite so quick to make that assumption.

For years I have used a X-10 Appliance module to turn my Christmas tree's sub miniature light strings on and off successfully. I did this so I did not have to get down on the floor to plug or unplug them. I don't have a switched outlet within 30 feet. I changed over to the LED strings last Christmas, to save wattage and the X10 appliance would not turn off the 5 strings of 50 each bulbs. They just dimmed about 50%.

Same problem as CFL lights, the 6 strings only draw 42 W total at full brightness. The leakage current the X10 module uses to test if an appliance is turned on or off, is enough to give about 50 % of the normal light from all of the LED lights. I used them anyway and just accepted the daily 0.67 kWh * $0.08199/kWh cost = $0.05513 cost of operation each day.

I'm probably going to end up using Christmas lights because I love COTS
solutions and there's nothing cheaper or that requires less labor.
Concealing them artfully will be the only issue.


I am still using 1 string of 35 white LED christmas bulbs to illuminate a path in our house. Our dog has decided that path is his bed. He is an 120 pound Akita, and does a damn good job of blocking that path from our bedroom to one of the bathrooms. Unfortunately he is mostly the same color as the carpet, a very sound sleeper, and while he does not seem to object to being stepped on, neither my wife nor I care to fall over him.

Ergo, we needed a night light for the whole hall, and the LEDs hung on adhesive cup hooks at the ceiling provide an unobtrusive ghostly light. I am planning to drop the existing cornice trim about a half an inch and then lay the light string behind the cornice and put a outlet and J-box at one end. I will wire that to an existing attic light switch and replace the existing attic lights with CFLs at the same time. (At least I will know if someone has left the attic lights on!)
--

Jim Baber
Email jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1350 W Mesa Ave.
Fresno CA, 93711
(559) 435-9068
(559) 905-2204 (Verizon IN cellphone (to other Verizon IN accounts))
See 10kW grid tied solar system at "http://www.baber.org/solarpanels.jpg";
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