Re: Suggestions wanted for Motion Detector delay/time-out

["John W" <Don't_Spam_Me@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>
Newsgroups: comp.home.automation
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: Suggestions wanted for Motion Detector delay/time-out


> "John W" <Don't_Spam_Me@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:Oq6dnS0Ha-DK31neRVn-sA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> I have a similar application but use an ADI Ocelot as my Home Automation
>> controller.  If two of the three X10 wireless Motion Detectors in the
>> driveway get a detect with 5 seconds of each other, the Ocelot tells the
> ADI
>> SpeakEasy to announce "Someone's in the Driveway".
>
> Nice! Polling is a great way to make sure the sunbeam and squirrel chasing
> Hawkeyes don't bother you with incessant false alarms.   I assume you're
> putting those signals on the powerline for the Ocelot to detect them.
> Doesn't it have the probability of interfering with valid house X-10
> traffic
> when someone is loading groceries or performing some other task likely to
> be
> seen with multiple detectors?  I had to abandon my outside Hawkeyes for
> just
> that reason.  An approaching delivery truck would spook all the squirrels
> and birds at the curb and they would move toward the house, triggering the
> detectors.

I do get some X10 "splash" on occasion and would prefer to use hardwired
PIR's like I do indoors.  The problem is outdoor-rated PIR's are MUCH more
expensive than my $12 indoor Texecoms!  I have a SECU16 and a SECU16I with
several open inputs so that's not a problem.

>
>> The Ocelot then ignores subsequent detects for 2 minutes to avoid the
>> problem you are experiencing.
>
> Are you doing this with C-Max or via a program like HomeSeer?

I use CMAX for everything - about 1200 lines of code now.  The Ocelot,
SECU's and Speakeasy are on a UPS and haven't stopped plugging away for 6
years now!

>
>> Before I added the SpeakEasy, the Ocelot just beeped an X10 Universal
>> module.
>
> Neat.  I have a UM connected to a Hawkeye mounted between the screen door
> and the house door.  When playing back some Christmas tapes through the
> home
> theater tonight the dog heard the recorded ding-dong tone and headed
> straight for the door!
>
>> Doing this without a programmable controller like the Ocelot would be
>> difficult and the Ocelot is much less expensive than your current
>> solution...
>
> The dog's reaction to the recording of the universal module got me to
> thinking there are a lot of parameters to every door opening.  Is it an
> ingress or egress?  Is the door locked or unlocked?  Is there a car in
> driveway or not?  Where are the animals (is that sneaky dog or cat trying
> to
> make a break for it)? Are you, as Grandma used to say, letting all the
> cold
> out?  A
> "door open" event in the spring or fall is usually less of a problem or
> expense than one open in the winter or fall.
>
> A really smart home would check me when I left to make sure I had my cell
> phone, my wallet, my keys and the proper outerwear based on the NWS
> forecasts for my area.  It would also know the difference between family
> coming and going and friends and neighbors.  It would switch the car to
> whatever program I had been listening to in the house, warn me of
> potential
> delays, advise me where to buy the cheapest gas and when.
>
> Well, I can dream, can't I!?  :-)

Someday I'm sure.  Smarter "occupancy sensors" that knew whether someone was
coming or going would help...

Our SpeakEasy now has 45 messages most of which are reminders of various
things.  Just to give you and idea of how useful that is, here's the list of
what she says (we call her Crystal since that's the AT&T voice I use):

000 - Intruder alert!  Intruder alert!

001 - Police have been notified!

002 - Time to kiss Lucas goodnight mommy.

003 - Dawn has been detected.

004 - Someone is in the driveway.

005 - Dusk has been detected.

006 - Alarm system is now armed.

007 - Warning!  Water detected flag is set.

008 - Please remember to shut off the alarm.

009 - Welcome home, Warner family.

010 - Water has been detected and is now turned off.

011 - Garage doors will close in 1 minute.

012 - All, off, request confirmed.

013 - Error condition - a garage door is still open.

014 - Guest flag, has now been set.

015 - Please close the laundry room door.

016 - Reminder - please remember your camera.

017 - Good morning everyone - time to wake up!

018 - Mood lighting request confirmed.

019 - It's time to meet Lucas's bus.

020 - Alarm system has been turned off.

021 - It's time to feed all those cute little, piggies!

022 - Lucas would like some water please!

023 - Lucas, it's time to come up now please!

024 - Lucas, it's time to do your journal!

025 - It's almost bus time, let's hustle!

026 - Pleasant dreams, my wonderful family.

027 - God bless you, Warner family, Bonsoir!

028 - Goodnight, thank you for being, so special!

029 - God bless this lovely family, goodnight!

030 - Day is done my happy family, goodnight!

031 - Bonsoir, Warner family, sweet dreams!

032 - Someone is in the family room.

033 - Someone is in the foyer.

034 - Someone is in the kitchen.

035 - Someone is in the living room.

036 - Someone is in the laundry room.

037 - Your food is ready, please come to eat now!

038 - Program successfully loaded.

039 - Reminder - Lucas, it's allowance day.

040 - Reminder - Holiday flag, is, set.

041 - Reminder - tomorrow is recycling day.

042 - Reminder - please take out the garbage.

043 - John - please remember to take your, pill.

044 - Reminder - Lucas, did those fishies get fed?

045 - Reminder - It's fridge cleaning day.

John W

>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
>