RE: X10 Status Holy Grail with Netiom xAP

["Hawes,Timothy Edward \(GEG\)" <haweste@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard,

In theory the AD modules would be easy enough, a conventional coil relay
or solid state relay wired across the AD output which then closes a
contact when the 240V output is ON. The same contacts are wired to
NetIOM inputs. The only caveat is that the AD modules leak a small
current across the output even when OFF to detect when something is
plugged in. You'd have to choose your relays carefully to ensure they
didn't falsely close when the AD was actually off.

For the LDs you might be better off with a current transducer - a device
that measures the amount of current flowing through a circuit. These are
available with 4-20mA and 0-10V outputs as they're used frequently in
industry. They're not particularly cheap though. What type of analogue
input does the NetIOM accept?

I thought Frank developed some sort of CT-device for use with his zone
probes, but that may have just detected on/off, rather than "dim
level".

HTH,

Tim.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rb_ziggy
>
> OK, this could all be horribly wrong but I had a thought when
> thinking about that knotty problem of knowing the status of
> X10 (mainly AD & LD) units that are controlled both across th
> powerline but also with momentary switches...
>
> Can the power output side of the AD/LD unit be used and then
> interfaced with, say, an xAP enabled device (such as a NETIOM)?
>
> For example. The NETIOM has 16 (5v) inputs for a very
> reasonable price.  Is there such a thing as a cheap solid
> state device that can be wired in parallel with the live &
> neutral output on the AD/LD to 'measure' the power output and
> translate this to a 'value' (0/5V) that the NETIOM could interpret?
>
> You may gather that my electronics experience is a bit
> limited, to the extent that I don't know what cheap power
> measurement device is available or would work with the triac
> 'chopped' output from a LD unit (I'm guessing it might be
> easier for the AD units).
>
> Also, for LD it would be useful to get some sort of 'level'
> of power but how to do this on digital inputs to the NETIOM,
> I have no idea (clearly would be possible for the analogue
> inputs but there are 'only' 4 on the NETIOM). But as a
> minimum it would be good to know an LD unit is on (at any
> level) or off.
>
> Also, I guess a bit of isolation might be in order to stop
> the possibility of 240V being passed through to the low
> voltage device!
>
> I'd welcome thoughts.  Any milage in this or am I barking?
>
> Anyone fancy a go?
>
> Cheers
>
> Richard