RE: FW: External x-10 movement sensors

["Dean Smith" <ukha@xxxxxxx>]

If you have two LDRs you can place them under a piece of scalextric track,
hook them up to the joystick port, find some free Software on the Net and
then have organised races, LAP times etc etc.

Not entirely relvant I know ;) but it livens up Christmas afternoon no end
when you can finally answer the question of who was really quickest round
the living room GP circuit :D

For the record a modern Subaru WRC is quicker than a 1997 Willimas F1 car
round a replica of Spa - but It could just be the bigger magnet ;-)

Dean

-----Original Message-----
From: John B [mailto:home-automation@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 22 September 2003 21:35
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] FW: External x-10 movement sensors


Hi Stuart,

> The app sounds great so I will have a look for it.

It's not actually published (yet) - it's just something I threw together
for
my own needs - I'll package it up and publish it to the web over the next
few days.

> Are there any brands
> of 12v PIR and light sensor you would recommend and can you buy them
> online?  The light sensor sounds especially handy and something I
hadn't
> thought about as im always grumbling when the X10 dusk program comes
on
> too late because its really cloudy and overcast.

I bought my light dependent resistor (LDR) from CPC (www.cpc.co.uk) - cost
about 70p ISTR.
Order code RE0018066
I just connected it between the joystick's 5V supply and an analogue pin -
you then see a value that ranges from 65535 in total darkness down to about
700 in bright sunlight - means you can very accurately fine-tune your
preferred dusk/dawn settings.

As for outdoor PIRs, I've used the Opal PIRs from GJD - amazingly reliable
for outdoor detectors, although not cheap.
CPC have the Opal Elite outdoor PIR, which has voltage-free relay contacts,
which is what you need if you want to hook it up to your joystick port:
Order code SR0073266 - but at £54 it's not exactly cheap!

I'm sure you'll find cheaper outdoor PIRs, though whether they'd be as
reliable as the Opal models I don't know.

HTH,

John



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