RE: FW: External x-10 movement sensors

["Stuart Worrall" <stuart@xxxxxxx>]

Im currently using homeseer although ive been looking at moving to xpHAL
so not sure if there's anything been written yet to support game ports.
Ill have to have a read.  Id probably have to go down the 12V route as I
wouldn't know where to start when it comes to relays and 240V.  All this
does involve more cabling than the X10 flood though so that's also to be
considered.  How long do those bulbs last as they look quite dear?

Thanks

Stu

-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Smith [mailto:ukha@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 22 September 2003 17:32
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] FW: External x-10 movement sensors


X10 Flood: I mounted mine on a 1" thick disc of wood cut to the size
of
the back plate, then stained to match other exterior woodwork. Its fine
(given how ugly the flood is anyway !)

Which PC software are you using ? There's no reason you cant interface
some Low voltage PIRs to the Game (or Parallel) Port. Certainly my PIRs
simply close (or open) a relay style isolated switch. This could easily
mimic a game port button. Homeseer certainly has a game port plugin
available.

Similairly even a cheap 240V PIR could be made to close a relay and
accomplish the same as above, though clearly would need much care in
implementation.

Dean

-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Worrall [mailto:stuart@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 22 September 2003 17:22
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] FW: External x-10 movement sensors


Hi

Im looking to automate my front external lights so that they only come
on when there is movement at the front drive.  Ive currently got 2
lights wired into an LD11 but I want to have them either dimmed or off
and only come to full brightness when someone is there.

Ive seen the x10 flood lights on letsautomate.com (
http://www.letsautomate.com/10222.cfm?
) but I dont really need the
flood, just the sensor.  I do remember there being a wireless outdoor
version of the MS13 but cant seem to find it on any HA websites?

If no-one knows of another way of doing this and I end up buying the x10
flood does anyone have any thoughts/pitfalls about it.  Does it need
mounting in a special US back box and can you use it without the flood
lights?

I haven't got homevision by the way as im controlling things from a PC
so the standard PIR option is out I think.

Thanks in advance

Stu Worrall