Re: Can an alarm with PGM outputs, and/or other outputs, be wired to an X10 sensor?

[anonymous <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Tommy,

I think I answered this earlier. I can't purchase a wireless sensor for
the hardwired alarm at all. I could spend lots of dollars to upgrade to
a wireless alarm, and then spend a a few more dollars at Ebay on the
extra sensors, or I could use an X10 system, which is a cheaper and more
fully featured solution but which might involve some troubleshooting
headaches.

I appreciate your time and best wishes. Thanks.

Tommy wrote:
> I am assuming that this is a DIY...
> Why would you spend the money for an x-10 sensor when few a few more dollars
> you can purchase the wireless sensor designed for your system and get the
> reliability you should have? there are plenty of online outlets to purchase
> these from, and there is always E-bay.
>
> Don't give yourself a false sense of security.
>
>
> "anonymous" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:12u9nou6isbbke0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>>Thanks, Jim and Eric, for letting me know about the PowerFlash. The alarm
>>controller that's coming is the Paradox 1738. The outputs and amp ratings
>>that I mentioned I got off of a couple of websites.
>>
>>As for using X10 as an alarm system, my basic rationale is this: for those
>>who cannot afford more than a very minimal professionally installed
>>system, the X10 package could be a useful supplement, and those who cannot
>>spend more than $100 on any alarm at all would probably find that having
>>an X10 alarm that works 90% of the time is still a lot better than nothing
>>(as long as the powerline environment does not create a lot of false
>>alarms).
>>
>>In my case, the cheapest professional alarm that I can afford (this
>>Paradox system) comes with 2 door sensors, 2 motion detectors, the
>>controller and a keypad. That secures only half my house: the bedrooms get
>>nothing; six openable windows get nothing. Then I read,
>>http://providentsecurity.typepad.com/community_security_the_pr/2006/11/2nd_floor_burgl.html .
>>Every little upgrade for the professionally installed alarm costs a lot,
>>so it seemed to me that I had to turn to a cheaper package, like what X10
>>offers, which in addition to complete sensor coverage creates a bigger
>>alarm effect(flashing the lights, sounding more sirens), gives me a little
>>computer control, phones me and my nearby family, e-mails me, activates a
>>security multi-webcam program (BlueIris) which in turn starts sending
>>time/date/watermarked photos to my website, etc. If once in while one of
>>the sensors can't communicate with the controller because an electrical
>>noise producing device was turned on, I can live with that. I may have to
>>do a lot of technical reading and spend an extra $30 on a dryer-plug-in
>>phase coupler and a noise blocker to get full house coverage and near-100%
>>reliability; I can live with that. I think I'm doing the right thing here
>>for my situation (here's hoping!).
>>
>>Thanks again for your time. I'll have to start watching for sales on the
>>PowerFlash.
>>
>>
>>
>>Jim wrote:
>>
>>>On Feb 27, 3:42?pm, anonymous <nos...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hello, and thanks for reading. Can an alarm controller that has "2 PGM
>>>>outputs [2.5A] and 1 alarm relay [5A]" and "1 supervised bell output and
>>>>1 supervised auxiliary output" be attached to a wireless X10 door/window
>>>>sensor (ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/manuals/ds10a-is.pdf), so that when the
>>>>alarm system goes off for any reason, an X10 signal is sent? Any advice
>>>>on this? Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>What make (mfg) alarm control panel do you have?  Many mfgs have X10
>>>modules that will send signals upon an alarm condition. But, simply,
>>>you can use the set of alarm relay contacts to activate a power flash
>>>module that will send an X10 signal. If you want to use the PGM
>>>outputs, you'll have to use them to power a relay whose contacts will
>>>activate a power flash module.
>>>
>>>One point of advice however. DO NOT use the X10 to provide any life or
>>>property safety detection or notification. It's not reliable nor
>>>dependable enough to be used for anything above turning on/off lights
>>>or something that isn't safety related.
>>>
>
>
>