Re: X10 Newbie Help

["Mal Lansell" <mlansell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

1) LD11 will do what you need - it has a soft start and fades up to a
preset
level.

2) I just stick mine in a plastic box.  There's no need to go to the
expense
of a DIN enclosure.  You can connect a momentary switch to the LD11 for
direct control.  Wiring diagrams come with the modules (in fact, the info
for all the modules is on one big sheet that you get when you buy any one
of
them)

3) I find the a PC RF interface a better bet.  It can handle all the
housecodes and it lets you use the PC to hijack the signals from the RF
remotes for other purposes (i.e. control non-X10 devices too)

3a). Don't know about that.  I use a PDA with wireless CF card to control
stuff via the PC.  That and a couple of X10 rf remotes for simple
situations
(or where you don't want to risk ruining a PDA, like in the bath!) seems
adequate.

4) MisterHouse.  Home control through Perl scripts.

5) Most CH Timers just apply 240v to the valves for hot water and heating
for the entire time they are "on".  The power to the boiler/pump
etc is fed
through microswitches activated by the valve movement.  Most likely you
could replace your timer with two appliance modules, one for heating, one
for hot water, which the computer turns on when desired.  You would have to
trace through your CH wiring to see what goes where - and be careful - most
systems use 240v througout - even in the wires to the thermostats.

Mal


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon Christie" <homeautomation@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:53 PM
Subject: [ukha_d] X10 Newbie Help


>
> Hi folks,
>
> I decided that today I would test the collective patience of you all
and
> the reputation of the group as being newbie friendly (despite me being
> here for a couple years now) and ask a few beginner's questions..
>
> I've finally gotten into a place where I can install a variety of X10
> devices to control pretty much anything I like. There are a number of
> things that I'd like to do gradually over time, but for now I have a
> couple of questions.
>
> (All answers should bear in mind my requirement for overall cheapness
- I
> can upgrade later, right now I'd like a basic solution. Having said
that,
> I'd rather spend an extra tenner here and there if it means getting
> modules that I don't have to upgrade later..)
>
> 1. I'd like to provide control for the main lighting in the house.
I've
> seen a number of products that'll let me do this (LM10U Light Switch,
> LM12W wired lamp module, LM12U plug-in module, LD11 DIN mounted
module),
> but I am a bit confused about which I need.
>
> I already have a LM12U, but the behaviour of this is strange, in that
when
> you provide a command for altering the brightness, it starts from 100%
and
> dims down to the level you specify. One of the things I'd like to do
is
> mount a PIR movement sensor to have the bathroom/hallway light come on
at
> a low brightness when it detects movement after dark, but if it starts
at
> 100%, it'd kinda defeat the purpose of lights coming on dimly.
>
> Does this mean I'd need a LD11 to do this kind of thing, or do the
other
> units have different behaviour?
>
> 2. If it comes to mounting DIN modules, what exactly is required to do
> this (wiring, switches, etc)? Is there a handy tutorial page or
somewhere
> which explains exactly what is required?
>
> 3. About RF X10 stuff - what would be the best transmitter/receiver
module
> to use?
>
> 3a. And what are people's recommendations on controllers (especially
ones
> which do X10/IR for TV/DVD/X10 scene setting)?
>
> 4. Software - what recommended software meets the following criteria:
>
> - External web access
> - Flexible event/macro scripting
> - Is free
>
> (this may change because I may plump for a dedicated HA system
eventually.
> For now, any software is going to use my Windows Server 2003 box with
a
> CM12U computer control module)
>
> 5. What do I need to know about my heating system to automate this? At
the
> moment, I know I have a gas back boiler on a timer for the central
heating
> in my house, which also provides hot water.
>
> This email is getting rather long, so I'll end it here. Any help,
ideas,
> suggestions or recommendations will be gratefully received. I'm
looking
> forward to having a play about with this stuff. :)
>
> ~Gordon Christie
> homeautomation@xxxxxxx
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>
>



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