X-10 Promotion

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 12:41 pm

Pretty good promotion from x-10.
Comes with Firecracker Computer Interface, Palm Pad Remote Control, Lamp Module, Transceiver , all for free, just pay $5.90 for the shipping.

http://www.x10.com/products/firecracker ... racker.htm

Add a couple of appliance modules (Ebay), download eLightmaster (http://www.mv.com/users/besposito/lightmaster1.html) or the other one, can't remember the name... voila instant tank control.

Of course we just use 'em to turn lamps on /off in our house.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:07 pm

How much are other X10 parts? I don't know squat about this.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:08 pm

I was going to order a controller anyway, I have at least 10 X10 modules stored away.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:11 pm

Only thing i notice is that you cannot just set a time to control the lights. In the end I need something that i can program to tell the lights to come on at a certain time. Also i notice that an X10 module can only be used on one side of the breaker box so you have to buy a bridge and put it in.

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:16 pm

There is another piece of software out there that looked a little better than this one.. I'll see if I can find it.

Scott, the modules are real cheap on ebay.
Appliance Modules:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... +appliance

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:34 pm

Found it:

Other X-10 Software for aquarium usage:
ReefCon Pro

http://www.infinitysoft.net/ReefConPro/

I don't use either of these bits of software, so have nothing valuable to add in that respect.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:42 pm

There is only one problem that i have found in the past with this. One is that it takes a full time computer to do this. For me i do not like the software running resident in the background and my computer having to stay running to do this. Second is that for a laptop user it is not really an option. If i am not mistaken you either have to run these devices to the serial port or maybe the USB port and i do not like running the extra wires. For people with large areas this is not a concern as they just buy a cheap laptop and put it in the "comptuer" room and let it run full time. I am looking for something more like this but maybe not so cheap looking.

http://www.x10.com/automation/timerkit_1deal_a.htm

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:20 pm

There was a guy that had his entire system up on the web and could control all tank aspects and monitor his parameters. I want to say he had an AQII and using a java interface. It was cool though he could turn his lights on and off from anywhere when he was on the road.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 5:54 pm

Got mine today, much more impressed than i thought i would be. I was able to control all the tanks in the house but one and it is on a different pole of the breaker box. I am going to order one of the dryer interfaces to join the poles together today to fix that. Is there a way to time the on/off with software ?

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:23 pm

Working on it:

This software.. which you already found for $19.99: http://www.x10.com/automation/macro_recorder2.htm

Or get the CM11A, which is really better than the firecracker because it stores the macros in the module and your computer does not have to be on..I've got one seems to work pretty well, and it works with the freely downloadable active home software.

Ebay CM11A: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... torder%3D1

I'll poke around this week at work and see if I can find something else.

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:27 pm

If you find something to control the firecracker over the internet let me know.. I have my computer on 24x7 and am able to view whats going on via ptz camera in the house. It would be nice to be able to also turn on/off the lights from my control page.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:42 pm

That is the ticket Brandon. Oh and asking about controlling over the internet ?? Check http://www.homeseer.com/

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 11:22 pm

$199!? Ouch!
I think I found something I might be able to work with..
http://www.ubasics.com/adam/electronics/cm17.shtml

You probably didn't notice it, but the camera is on top of the entertainment center, so I can see the birds, the aquarium, out the front window and out the back door. This is what the cam package I'm using is like:
http://www.camerapad.com:2043/camerapad.html

This is one of the authors demo cams its not mine, I want to try and setup buttons to activate lights in the room.

Post by **snoopdog** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 5:41 pm

Ummm not is not realtime is it ? That guy actually lets people watch what he is doing ??? I think he is digging in his ear....

Brandon · Post by **Brandon** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 6:49 pm

Yeah, it's real time, you can move the camera around, zoom in and out adjust the color balance and iris also..
Play with the controls on the left.. I've got the same camera, they're way cheap on ebay and it's not too hard to setup... I like it for when I'm at work. I turn it off when i get home.
I don't see why everyone that has broadband and pets doesn't have one of these?