Modified X10 Flood to UPB

[tshephard]

I've converted all my lights to UPB sometime ago and looked for a UPB floodlight and never could find one. I just lived with my X10 flood until it failed about a month ago.

I decided today to remove the guts and wire directly to the lamp sockets and wire it to a UPB switch. The guts for the X10 floodlight are all housed in the motion detector which is also X10 based and won't do me any good. Its the part that failed anyway.

I removed the adjustable arm from the detector box and mounted to my own PIR which was white, so I painted it black. The wire for the motion sensor goes directly to my HS setup which, as soon as I finish, will control the logic on when the light comes on with motion, etc..

All it all, it was not very difficult of a conversion. I did my best to separate the low voltage wiring from the high voltage wiring by running it through a separate hole in the box and wall.

Having the motion detector separate from the lights should give me much more control on when the lights come on and the timing of when the go out. Also the motion and be used w/o the light coming on.

Here are some pics.

 

[Desert_AIP]

I took apart a standard motion sensor light and rewired it.
The lights themselves are now wired to a UPB switch so I can have manual and automatic control of the lights.
The motion sensor is now wired to power up a standard outlet when it's tripped.
I have a 5VDC wallwart plugged into the motion controlled outlet.
The 5VDC is an input signal into one of the UPB IO modules.
So when the motion is tripped it sends a UPB signal and turns on the lights.
Different sensors trip different combinations of lights.
I have 3 sensors on each IO module.

I also have the 5VDC running through the NC contacts of a relay before it reaches the IO module.
I can have the Omni turn on the relay and break the contacts and thus inhibit the motion sensor from sending the on signal.
That last behavior is included in a subroutine that counts the number of trips in 15 minutes, if it's above 5 I assume a tree or other wind motion is tripping the sensor and inhibit for 2 hours.
I also inhibit the signal when sending a manual on signal for the lights so the sensor doesn't turn them off.

Some of the lights have the sensor incorporated with them in the same mounting box as they originally came.
Some have the sensor remotely located to a more central location to monitor motion.

 

[tshephard]

Nice work. Creative work arounds.

I did not realize there were UPB I/O modules. Kinda a pricey but most UPB items are. Good to know of the option.

My PIR will tie directly to my Stargate which is connected to HomeSeer for the logic side. Should work well.

 

[Desert_AIP]

The SA IO modules are around $60-70.
That's got 3 inputs and two dry contact outputs. So on a per input/output basis, fairly reasonable.

For a while I had the 5VDC wall wart running through one of the input contacts on the IO module for manual over ride before I switched to the Omni outputs.

Now I use them to run separate legs of my landscape lighting, running the 12VDC through a relay controlled by a the contacts UPB IO module.
Or you could use them for garage doors or anything needing a contact closure controllable by UPB.
More than their X-10 counterparts, but also more modern tech.

 

[drozwood90]

I'm not 100% positive, but I think this is the one I am going to install:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_72836-50881-75005B_4294936849__?productId=3540540&Ntt=flood+light&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Outdoor%2BLiving_4294936849__s%3FNtt%3Dflood%2Blight%26page%3D2&facetInfo=

The reason, I try to ensure my sytem will operate as "best" as possible without the Home Automation system running. I run Homeseer as well.

Basically, if my system is off, I can still turn these on manually, or let them run "auto". IF this is the one I am thinking of, you can turn it on "manually" by turning it off on off on. To change back to auto, you turn it off, wait 10-20 seconds, then turn it back on.

Then, I just put some X10 motions around and let HS decide if the flood light needs to be on or not.

My other reason, if I need to move, I can just replace the UPB switches for these with normal switches. Then leave those in place. If I did what you did, I'd have to take them with me.

That said, I still have (I think) 3 X10 floodlights and one set of hardware (which seems like you could use since you are using your own motion on there), did you want them? Two (I think) are camera flood lights.

 

[tshephard]

That said, I still have (I think) 3 X10 floodlights and one set of hardware (which seems like you could use since you are using your own motion on there), did you want them? Two (I think) are camera flood lights.

Thanks for the offer, but I good for now.

I agree with your thoughts on making things that keep working even when the automation system is down. Thats good practice.