Re: X10 - how ?

["Malcolm Lansell" <mlansell@xxxxxxx>]

X10's powerline communication is VERY slow.  Any signal that foes down the
powerline gets a delay - dimming lights with an rf remote seems to have
about a 0.25s lag in practice.  On/Off commands seem to take ~0.5s.  That
may not seem so long, but it's long enough to make the user hesitate, or
even press the button again, and is very annoying.

Using the micromodules seems to be twice as bad (although I'm not sure why
-
they send their command on the powerline just like the rf transciever does)

I'm at the point where I might have to make my own module.  If I do, I
might
as well do one that controls loads of lights - all my upstairs lighting is
accessible from the roof space, so it could all be wired back to the box.
Anyone got a circuit diagram for a lamp dimmer that is controlled from an 8
bit digital value (or 6 bits at least), and doesn't require a
microcontroller?

Mal


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ross McKillop" <home@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] X10 - how ?


> That delay's a bit annoying... would that be the case with any X10
> controlled lights or just with the Micromodules? - If it happens with
> any of them it puts paid to my idea of RF lightswitch -> RF
reciever
> module -> X10 signals on mains... as that's sure to add in more of
a
> delay.
>
> Ross
>
> On 4 Dec 2003, at 09:50, Malcolm Lansell wrote:
>
> > Yes I've tried the dimmer - you can connect 4 switches to it, so
> > despite the
> > price, it's not so bad per switch.  Unfortunately the delays are
> > horrible -
> > it takes almost a second for the lights to come on.
> >
> > I tried connecting one switch to two inputs, so that I could turn
two
> > sets
> > of lights on and off with the switch, but still control each
> > separately with
> > the remote.  It works, but the delays are even more horrible -
alomost
> > a
> > second for the first light followed by the other a second later. 
The
> > order
> > in which they come on is random.
> >
> > What we (I?) really need is a module that takes input directly
from a
> > regular lightswitch (so change of state becomes the equivalent of
a
> > button
> > press), and operates imediately.  The powerline commands would
only
> > ever be
> > used by the remote.  This kind of thing could be wired into the
> > ceiling rose
> > if it were small enough.  Operation then becomes the same as a
normal
> > switch, with no delays (Guest Friendly, remember!).  Dimming by
remote,
> > either handset or by an rf pad next to the regular switch.
> >
> > Mal
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ross McKillop" <home@xxxxxxx>
> > To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 8:02 PM
> > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] X10 - how ? {Scanned for Viruses}
> >
> >
> >> Anyone had any experience with the Micro-Modules, they look
like they
> >> suit what I want to do... haven't read all the documentation
though ..
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ross McKillop
> >> On 3 Dec 2003, at 19:59, Doogie Brodie wrote:
> >>
> >>> lists@xxxxxxx wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> You could try fitting a LW10U (which support status
response) into
> >>>> the
> >>>> ceiling, and use the existing wiring down to the wall
switch. Or
> >>>> using an
> >>>> LM12 which are "wired" versions of the
LD11.
> >>>
> >>> Unfortunately the LW10U doesn't support status response.
> >>>
> >>> I think only things that do are the RF receiver appliance
modules and
> >>> the micromodules.
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Doogie
> >>>
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