Recent content by Dave X10

I have a fortune in Home Automation and I would not want to live without it. I could say something similar about the landscaping, or even the family pictures we display on our walls, or the way we decorate. But if I was to put the home up for sale... I would stage the house. And even though a...

I use voice warnings and alerts as part of my Home Automation. I get computer voice announcements at times and/or conditions that I have programed (I use a simple AHP/CM15A and an old XP desktop (a simpler programmed device could be used as well) . There are several examples at my YouTube...

It was My Home Theater.... that got me into Home Automation!

I use a TV trickle saver: http://www.smarthome.com/9782/TV-TrickleSa...gy-Saver/p.aspx I plug a 12V AC wall-wart into the "extra" plug. Then I wire the wall-wart to a powerflash module. That gives me notice that the (TV in my case) is left on. But I also use macros with timers that auto turn...

I felt an earth quake in Ohio 1980-82... I don't remember the exact date. The little older home I owned back then seemed to be rolling... like a wave. The windows rattled (no breakage) and a hutch door opened.

I detect if my TV is on or off using a trickle saver. The "other device" is an old 12V AC wallwart connected to an X10 PowerFlash module.

I would think... as it's been my experience.. if it works it works. Otherwise it doesn't. But the code is repeated/repeatable unless interfered with by other light (during the program processing or when the sending) or by RF interference. There are only three ways to test this that I am aware...

I use a USB-UIRT on my HA PC. Then I resend the IR signals from the USB-UIRT using the IR extenders/resenders. I actually use three models of the IR sending devices (phillips, Jensen, and X10's PowerMid) and interestingly... they all communicate with each other fine (via RF). Range seems to be...

My backyard was hit 2 years ago. I lost a handful of things that I noticed following the storm... all my security cameras, a couple modules, and a router. Nothing worth an insurance claim. Then in the following 2-3 weeks several electronic devices ether failed... or were discovered to not...

The thread question is: Will the ipad be the ultimate-home-automation-controller? and the real answer is: It already is. (and I am not an Apple fan... just realistic). How long can it hold it's position as "King Controller" is the true unknown. Price makes a huge difference when purchasing...

The lower wattage bulbs... use such tiny amounts of power... they of course produce no noticeable heat. As we use brighter and brighter LED bulbs the heat becomes more noticeable. The cheap-o LEDs have too little heat sink... and much shorter life-spans. I am a big advocate of LEDs (but not an...

I've converted to LED. I replaced the halogen (and regular 12v low voltage) I was using. I went from 110 watts to about 16 watts. I purchased three sets of Westinghouse landscape lights... and I am currently using just over two sets of lights. One of the lights I disassembled the fixture and...

I switched to CFL's more than a decade ago... and have been using LED's for about 5 years. I replaced over 100 watts of low-voltage landscape lighting with less than 16 watts of LED's. PLUS I was using 45 watts of 120V outside lighting that I replaced with two 3.5 watt LED bulbs and a solar...

This is exactly what I am trying to point out! You are saying that You will define and describe another persons religion. How did you decide you have Divine Knowledge of what religion is true... and what ones you can relegate to a "technology"? Enviromentalist... are real people.. with a true...

I really hope I didn't sound intolerant. Like I said... as far as earth friendly technologies.... Ive tried and converted to LED lighting (not just CFL's). My energy use is actually 1/2 of typical homes in my area (and 1/40th of Al Gore's TN mansion). I've shared what Ive learned with the...