X10 Floodlights motion sensor

[electron]

I have the x10 floodlights (PR511 I believe), and was wondering if it's possible to have the motion detector work in daytime, without turning on the floodlights. I need to know when someone is in my driveway, even during daytime. Thanks!

 

[Rupp]

Here's the owners manual. It looks like there is a day setting.

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/4080xt_man.pdf

 

[electron]

You can make it work in daytime, the problem is that I only want to use the motion sensor part in daytime, I don't want the floodlights to come on whenever there is motion. Basically I am trying to come up with a cheap driveway occupancy sensor setup

 

[Rupp]

Do you not have an X10 motion sensor lying around?

 

[electron]

yeah, but they don't have the same range as the one in the PR511 does.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Easy fix (with the "cheap" theme in mind). Take out one of the light bulbs or get a socket splitter, then in one of the sockets screw in a "plug adapter" (this lets you plug in an extension cord in a light socket). Then chop the female end of an extension cord off and connect it to a 120 VAC Relay (coil of the relay). I believe I sent you one in your goddie bag box a while ago. Then connect the contacts of the relay to your SECU16 input. Then plug the extension cord into the light socket.

The only problem with this setup would be the lights would still come on when motion was detected, but hopefully that isn't a big deal.

 

[electron]

actually, that's why I am posting, I don't want the lights to come on during daytime whenever there is motion, but it looks like this won't work.

 

[ClearToLand]

I have the x10 floodlights (PR511 I believe), and was wondering if it's possible to have the motion detector work in daytime, without turning on the floodlights. I need to know when someone is in my driveway, even during daytime. Thanks!

An early version that X-10 made for HeathKit worked that way and I loved it until it died. Without digging up the old manual, I remember having a Universal Module beeping 24x7 when someone was walking up to the front of the house. BUT, the floodlights only came on when it was dark. I still have it waiting for a "round tuit" to open it up and see if I can repair it. Only downside was the limitation of three Housecodes: A, B, or C.

Regarding the PR511, you can make it more versatile by "separating" its components (and re-wiring your floodlights). What I did with my SECOND PR511 was NOT USE the built-in relay for the floodlights (tape up the BLUE wire) - I wired them to a separate wall switch, with a different address (HouseCode AND UnitCode - PR511 #2 resides with my other Motion Detectors; its floodlights with my other lights) and control things with CM11A Macros. This allows PR511 #1 to control PR511 #2 (and vica versa) and both control other outdoor and indoor lights (on plain-jane X-10 switches and not PR511s). So:

• PR511 BaseCode+4 = Motion Detected DECK
• PR511 BaseCode+5 = Sunrise/Sunset DECK

I don't have the ability to use IF/THEN logic with ActiveHome v1.32, but I believe that you're using something a bit more advanced (HomeSeer?). So:

• IF MOTION DETECTED = TRUE, UM506 = ON
• IF SUNSET = TRUE *AND* MOTION DETECTED = TRUE, FLOODLIGHTS = ON...

[Test it first, ignoring the switching of the BLUE WIRE, using BaseCode+4 and BaseCode+5 before you re-wire to see if setting it for 24x7 Motion Detection produces the same results as mine set for Dark only.]

 

[ClearToLand]

Easy fix (with the "cheap" theme in mind). Take out one of the light bulbs or get a socket splitter, then in one of the sockets screw in a "plug adapter" (this lets you plug in an extension cord in a light socket). Then chop the female end of an extension cord off and connect it to a 120 VAC Relay (coil of the relay). I believe I sent you one in your goddie bag box a while ago. Then connect the contacts of the relay to your SECU16 input. Then plug the extension cord into the light socket.

OUCH!

Mr. Rodgers: "Children, can you say 'Rube Goldberg'?

P.S. You guys here are *FAST*!!! In the time it took me just to type in my first reply, BraveSirRobbin chimed in and electron responded - WHEW!

P.P.S. I like *MY* solution better...

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

In the time it took me just to type in my first reply, BraveSirRobbin chimed in and electron responded - WHEW

Try to keep up "junior"!

 

[nsisman]

Electron,

Just separate your pr511 into two devices.

Mine is set to code L which makes L1 an appliance module with status and L2 a motion sensor.

Then do whatever you want with these devices.

Good luck.......I think this works - mine does ?

 

[ClearToLand]

Try to keep up "junior"!

"Compare the 'quality' though", said the Turtle to the Rabbit...

[A socket adapter to an extension cord to a relay to a SECU16!?! versus an IF/THEN statement... B) ]

...The only problem with this setup would be the lights would still come on when motion was detected, but hopefully that isn't a big deal.

I have the x10 floodlights (PR511 I believe), and was wondering if it's possible to have the motion detector work in daytime, without turning on the floodlights. I need to know when someone is in my driveway, even during daytime. Thanks!

Keep up to what? You completely missed the PRIMARY design requirement!

 

[electron]

That's what I do right now, but that means it will only detection motion at night If I set the Dusk sensitivity so it will detect motion during the day, the floodlights will come on as well, which is what I am trying to avoid. (edit: this is assuming you are talking about defining them that way in HS)

ClearToLand's idea might work, it's just that I don't want to tinker with them right now, I was hoping there was an easier way of doing this

 

[ClearToLand]

Electron,

Just separate your pr511 into two devices.

Mine is set to code L which makes L1 an appliance module with status and L2 a motion sensor.

Then do whatever you want with these devices.

Good luck.......I think this works - mine does ?

[Is there an echo in here?]

 

[nsisman]

oops !