RE: Re: X10 Status Holy Grail with Netiom xAP

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

Richard,

I seem to have created some confusion with my original reply re: the AD
lea=
king current, or not, so my apologies. The relay solution should work
thoug=
h. It does seem a little back to front, but you're not really controlling
t=
he LV side, just providing status. In a lot of my work there's also
another=
intermediate voltage (typically 110V) for the control circuit within the e=
lectrical switchgear which sits between the PLCs 24VDC and whatever V or
kV=
the final load is running on.=20

I had a quick squizz on RS (http://rswww.com) for CTs and while the
transdu=
cer prices are comparable to relays (i.e. ~=A310) that's just the sensor
an=
d you'll need some other electronics to give you a 1-5V proportional
output=
. My comment of 'not particularly cheap' meant at least =A3100 per CT
devic=
e, which when compared to the price of the NetIOM unit, looked a bit
"odd" =
to me, as for the price of several CTs to give you status feedback I think
=
you could afford to replace the X10 modules with a hardwired system
instead=
. But now I'm drifting off from your original question...

Anyway, sorry for any confusion and I'd be interested to hear about
whateve=
r solution you decide to go with.

Cheers,

Tim.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: rb_ziggy
>=20
> Tim
>=20
> I guess the relay would probably work with the AD units as=20
> the leakage must be pretty small compared with the load of=20
> 240v / 13 (or
> so) Amps.  Just seems a bit 'back to front' as it would be=20
> the high voltage / current side switching the low voltage one!
>=20
> It would also be good to have a general purpose device that=20
> would work on ither AD or LD units.  But if its much costlier=20
> to do so, it may not be sensible.
>=20
> I think the Netiom is 5V rated on the input (from the reviews=20
> I've seen).  I'll have a look for these transducers - 'not=20
> particularly cheap' Hmm!
>=20
> I seem to recall Frank's device monitored the on/off led on=20
> the front of the module.
>=20
> Regards
>=20
> Richard=20
>=20
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Hawes,Timothy Edward \(GEG\)"=20
> <haweste@a...> wrote:
> >
> > Richard,
> >=20
> > 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=20
> > contact when the 240V output is ON. The same contacts are wired
to=20
> > NetIOM inputs. The only caveat is that the AD modules leak a
small=20
> > current across the output even when OFF to detect when something
is=20
> > plugged in. You'd have to choose your relays carefully to ensure
> they
> > didn't falsely close when the AD was actually off.
> >=20
> > For the LDs you might be better off with a current transducer - a
> device
> > that measures the amount of current flowing through a circuit.=20
> 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?
> >=20
> > 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".
> >=20
> > HTH,
> >=20
> > Tim.
> >=20
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: rb_ziggy
> > >=20
> > > OK, this could all be horribly wrong but I had a thought
when=20
> > > thinking about that knotty problem of knowing the status of
X10=20
> > > (mainly AD & LD) units that are controlled both across
th=20
> powerline=20
> > > but also with momentary switches...
> > >=20
> > > Can the power output side of the AD/LD unit be used and
then=20
> > > interfaced with, say, an xAP enabled device (such as a
NETIOM)?
> > >=20
> > > For example. The NETIOM has 16 (5v) inputs for a very
reasonable=20
> > > price.  Is there such a thing as a cheap solid state=20
> device that can=20
> > > be wired in parallel with the live & neutral output
on=20
> the AD/LD to=20
> > > 'measure' the power output and translate this to a 'value'
(0/5V)=20
> > > that the NETIOM could
> interpret?
> > >=20
> > > You may gather that my electronics experience is a bit=20
> limited, to=20
> > > the extent that I don't know what cheap power measurement=20
> device is=20
> > > available or would work with the triac 'chopped' output from
a LD=20
> > > unit (I'm guessing it might be easier for the AD units).
> > >=20
> > > Also, for LD it would be useful to get some sort of
'level'=20
> > > of power but how to do this on digital inputs to the=20
> NETIOM, I have=20
> > > no idea (clearly would be possible for the analogue=20
> inputs but there=20
> > > are 'only' 4 on the NETIOM). But as a minimum it would be
good to=20
> > > know an LD unit is on (at any
> > > level) or off.
> > >=20
> > > Also, I guess a bit of isolation might be in order to stop
the=20
> > > possibility of 240V being passed through to the low=20
> voltage device!
> > >=20
> > > I'd welcome thoughts.  Any milage in this or am I
barking?=20
> > >=20
> > > Anyone fancy a go?
> > >=20
> > > Cheers
> > >=20
> > > Richard