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Re: [Tetras] Digest Number 48
X10 is a communication spec that allows simple commands (onj, off, dim & bright) to be sent to X10 modules plugged into your outlet in your home. I plan on trying this to control the lights in my pending fishrack. I ran into a deal that I though I'd pass on in case anyone else was inetersted in this stuff.
This weekend I received the IBM Home Director Starter Kit that I bought at Eggheads surplus aution site (www.surplusauction.com). I got it for $19 plus S/H ($3). The package has a retail value of $50. It includes software, the serial interface to connect the PC to your home wiring, a lamp module (incadesent), an appliance module (no dimming) and a programable remote control. The remote can be programmed to control TV, VCRs, etc. But it also can sent X10 commands to 16 X10 devices via a receiver that's built into the appliance module.
I played with it and once it's set up it's pretty cool. For example, we have a lamp in our hall way near our stairs. It's dark in the mornings so I work my way in the dark into the kitchen to turn on the coffee pot, then I go back upstairs to shower. So I programmed the lamp to turn on a 4:45 a.m. when I get up and to turn of at 6:00, by then I'm on the train. An average timer can do this so what's the big deal? Well I programmed it to do this only Mon. - Fri. Also, I programmed it to turn on at dusk and stay on untill 11:00 p.m., when we should all be in bed. The dusk setting is based upon the computer programs knowledge of my location and whether or not we have daylight savings time, which we do. So it will automatically adjust for the seasonal variation in dusk. It can do this for dawn too so you could set outside lights to go on at dusk and turn off at dawn with an optional light switch module.
Another web site www.smarthome.com (http://www.smarthome.com/1143D.html) , has an optional expansion unith that includes 3 more lamp modules, an appliance module, a wall switch module and a mini controller that can control 5 modules from a tabletop, like next to your bed or by your favorite recliner. It sells for $50 so you save about $15 from buying the items separately.
You can also buy other X10 modules and accesories from this site. I plan on buying some X10 recepticles for my fishroom, which gets us back on track to the list.
I was planning on having 3 circuits of 4 T8 lamps. I may rethink this configuration in light of the X10 capabilities. Here's some of the things that can be done.
1. I would have at least one lamp module in the room that I would start the routine with by slowly bring up to full power by dimming in increments. This would help avoid sudden-death-syndrome (SDS) with my killies Although there are other contributing factors to SDS, it's prime trigger id sudden light.
2. I can then bring one or several circuits of the T-8s. I can adjust the amount of on time for the lights later on. So if I'm getting to much light and have a problem with algea, I can reduce the time one or more cicuits are on.
3. One could even play with seasonal light changes to see if it can induce spawning in troublesome fish. Althougth the computer program couldn't calcute dusk and dawn in Argentina or South Africa. You could do a little researh on it and buid your own routines.
Anyway, I though I'd pass this info on and see what others may think. The egghead auction site is a surplus auction and bidding ends at 11:00 a.m. PST. I checked this morning and the still have the starter kit on auction with 200 units left. It's been up every day for a week now so I don't think they'll run out today. ou have to register to bid first with a creadit card over a secure site page. It takes a few minutes before they email back your account number, which you use to bid.
The smarthome site has on0line purchasing over a secure site, but I have never ordered from them yet. But I will once I figure out how many outlet modules I'll need.
Lastly, if any of you have X10 experience, can any of the outlet modules listed be used with flourecent starters and provide dimming. I don't think so, but I'm not definately sure.
Bill Vannerson
McHenry, IL
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/william_vannerson
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