LED Xmas lights and X10.. the final solution...
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Posted by AZ Woody on November 19, 2007, 10:59 pm
Please log in for more thread options had on hand (modified and unmodifed) here's what I did... (none of the modules would turn off the Leds all the way - Home Depot - gray plastic box, outlet cover, and outlet - ~$2 - 2' power cord (salvaged from junk box) - 110v AC relay (ratshack - $8, but I'm sure they can be found cheaper - 10amp contactsis what I got) Just make sure it will fit in the outlet box, with the outlet Basically, wired so that when power is a applied, relay closes and power is applied to the outlet.. Using a std X10 appliance module all works! I plug the relay into the module, the LED lights into the relay. It's less visible than adding a incandescent light to the mix.. 2' cord is enough to set the outlet box on the floor (containing the relay). The relay is DPDT, but only switching hot, so I can easily use the other side for dry contact at a later time. (3 screw terminals on the outside of the box and wire to the relay is all it takes...) | |||||||||||||
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Posted by D&SW on November 21, 2007, 7:54 pm
Please log in for more thread options woorks good) in parallel with the LED strings. Either way, the LEDs will extinguish. Your relay method works just as well, but a little harder to make. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by AZ Woody on November 22, 2007, 9:28 am
Please log in for more thread options The relay is a solution that is easier to hide were needed however!
D&SW wrote: > Alternatives: An X10 Socket Rocket, or add a "ballest bulb" (7W night light
> woorks good) in parallel with the LED strings. Either way, the LEDs will > extinguish. Your relay method works just as well, but a little harder to > make. > >> OK.. After doing testing with 1-4 strings of LEDs and the X10 mods I had
>> on hand (modified and unmodifed) here's what I did... (none of the modules >> would turn off the Leds all the way >> >> - Home Depot - gray plastic box, outlet cover, and outlet - ~$2 >> - 2' power cord (salvaged from junk box) >> - 110v AC relay (ratshack - $8, but I'm sure they can be found cheaper - >> 10amp contactsis what I got) Just make sure it will fit in the outlet >> box, with the outlet >> >> Basically, wired so that when power is a applied, relay closes and power >> is applied to the outlet.. Using a std X10 appliance module all works! I >> plug the relay into the module, the LED lights into the relay. It's less >> visible than adding a incandescent light to the mix.. 2' cord is enough >> to set the outlet box on the floor (containing the relay). >> >> The relay is DPDT, but only switching hot, so I can easily use the other >> side for dry contact at a later time. (3 screw terminals on the outside of >> the box and wire to the relay is all it takes...) >
> | |||||||||||||
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Posted by vincentb on November 27, 2007, 8:28 pm
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Hey just an idea to add to that setup... Since you're using X10 to trigger the relay, then have you considered scheduling the lights using X10 also? For example, an MT10 Mini Timer Kit ( www.nextevolution.com.au/productsinfo.asp?productcode=MT10 ) can be configured to turn X10 devices on & off at programmed times... cheaper solution than setting up a PC to do the controlling (unless you already have a PC setup for home automation) - for under 100 bucks you won't have to remember to switch on the Xmas tree lights :-) I use an MT10 at my bedside table to manually control some lights close by, but setting it up to control the Xmas lights would be funky. -- vincentb Regards, Vincent B http://www.nextevolution.com.au | |||||||||||||
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Posted by AZ Woody on November 27, 2007, 9:25 pm
Please log in for more thread options Already done (and has been for years).. A bit more than a MT10. I got
a Linux box that interfaces with a 1-Wire USB adapter and a X10 CM15a, with a custom app and scripting! (no script downloaded to the Cm15a, as the X10 SW really was bad!). ("If date >Thanksgiving and date < Jan 02,
turn on Xmas lights at sunset", and then, "if Xmas lights are on, turn
them off +/- minutes of 11:00 PM" ) It controls my house year round (i.e. "turn of the attic fan if the temp in the attic is over 110", and logs the number of times the AC comes on, and the total time it's on each day). vincentb wrote: > Hey just an idea to add to that setup...
> > Since you're using X10 to trigger the relay, then have you considered > scheduling the lights using X10 also? For example, an MT10 Mini Timer > Kit ( www.nextevolution.com.au/productsinfo.asp?productcode=MT10 ) can > be configured to turn X10 devices on & off at programmed times... > cheaper solution than setting up a PC to do the controlling (unless you > already have a PC setup for home automation) - for under 100 bucks you > won't have to remember to switch on the Xmas tree lights :-) I use > an MT10 at my bedside table to manually control some lights close by, > but setting it up to control the Xmas lights would be funky. > > | |||||||||||||
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> on hand (modified and unmodifed) here's what I did... (none of the modules
> would turn off the Leds all the way
>
> - Home Depot - gray plastic box, outlet cover, and outlet - ~$2
> - 2' power cord (salvaged from junk box)
> - 110v AC relay (ratshack - $8, but I'm sure they can be found cheaper -
> 10amp contactsis what I got) Just make sure it will fit in the outlet
> box, with the outlet
>
> Basically, wired so that when power is a applied, relay closes and power
> is applied to the outlet.. Using a std X10 appliance module all works! I
> plug the relay into the module, the LED lights into the relay. It's less
> visible than adding a incandescent light to the mix.. 2' cord is enough
> to set the outlet box on the floor (containing the relay).
>
> The relay is DPDT, but only switching hot, so I can easily use the other
> side for dry contact at a later time. (3 screw terminals on the outside of
> the box and wire to the relay is all it takes...)