X10 Home Automation

[MossRoad]

Well, there you go. No explanation needed from me. My pool camera is only about 60 feet from the receiver. I have the wide angle color camera and it is great for keeping an eye on the pool from the kitchen during parties. It has sound too, so next year I expect to be able to holler at the camera and have one of my kids bring me a root beer from the house. Yeah, right!

 

[kcbarnes]

Oops. sorry I didn't catch the word camera in your post. I don't know about those.

 

[RayDiers]

Here is a site the offers a free home automation program. It runs like a webpage and can even be accessed over the internet. One fella even has it connected to a ham modem and gps in his cars. Now he knows where his cars are and what speed and direction they are going. It talks and responds to voice also.

http://www.misterhouse.net

Ray

 

[LGinIA]

Thanks for the comments regarding the 100' transmitter limitation. I guess X10 draws the line on the conservative side for distance.

 

[MossRoad]

Way too cool! I will have to investigate it more as time permits. Thanks!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

How sensitive are these things to lightning and power surges.

 

[MossRoad]

Just as sensitive as any other electronic equipment. Today, it is not uncommon for new houses to be built with whole house surge suppressors. You can add one on to your existing house for under $200.00 and it might save your TV, stereo, VCR, sprinkler timer, microwave, etc… I have had one of the modules go out for no apparent reason, except a power outage. It was only a $5.00 module. I’m convinced that power came back on hard and spiked it. A surge suppressor probably would have saved it.

 

[AndyR]

There are panel mount surge protection units that will not dampen the x10 frequencies - many of them do however. You also need to be carefull if you are using inexpensive UPS units as they can radiate a great deal of noise back on to the line. Check the X10 site for details.

I have found in many cases that folks only protect one part of the circuit (i.e. the AC line) but don't put protective devices on telephone and fax lines, nor on antenna feeds. If its metal and comes in to your house (unless it is plumbing related) it most likely can become a conductor under unfortuate circumstances. Protection needs to be comprehensive to really work well.