X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: Brandt on December 07, 2009, 05:36:41 PM

Title: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on December 07, 2009, 05:36:41 PM
Why are there no more white x-10 motion sensors? all I see are the gray ones.

Also, does x-10 sell wall mount arms for these?
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Dan Lawrence on December 07, 2009, 07:16:37 PM
Doesn't look like it.   From the pictures on the X10 site, it apparently can be screwed to a wall.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on December 07, 2009, 08:08:44 PM
hmmm

are there any x-10 alternatives to battery powered motion sensors?

if i install x-10 at my parents house for lighting and security, i don't want them to have to worry about changing the batteries out in all these little devices. I don't want them to experience their lights not turning on in the dark because of a dead battery. Or their security system not triggering because of a stupid battery.

Are there plugin x-10 motion sensors, or even running a wire to them from a wall wart somewhere?
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on December 07, 2009, 08:10:36 PM
Doesn't look like it.   From the pictures on the X10 site, it apparently can be screwed to a wall.


from what i remember as a kid, i saw motion sensors on my parents security system that where mounted in the corners on some sort of wedge shaped arms. i think a corner is a good place for motion sensors.....you can't mount these in a corner directly, but you could mount them to an arm.


EDIT:   looks like smarthome comes through:
http://www.smarthome.com/7481B2/Swivel-Corner-mount-Bracket-for-PIRs-BR-2-/p.aspx

but again the gray on white would look tacky....cmon x-10 bring back the white ones.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: dave w on December 07, 2009, 08:25:14 PM
Doesn't look like it.   From the pictures on the X10 site, it apparently can be screwed to a wall.


from what i remember as a kid, i saw motion sensors on my parents security system that where mounted in the corners on some sort of wedge shaped arms. i think a corner is a good place for motion sensors.....you can't mount these in a corner directly, but you could mount them to an arm.


EDIT:   looks like smarthome comes through:
http://www.smarthome.com/7481B2/Swivel-Corner-mount-Bracket-for-PIRs-BR-2-/p.aspx

but again the gray on white would look tacky....cmon x-10 bring back the white ones.

I painted some of mine brown to match the wood work, not hard to do. Just use tape to mask the window and LED.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: joako on December 07, 2009, 08:30:47 PM
Let me preface this with I have never bought anything from x10.com always from eBay, etc. I never would have anything to do with the X10 company even buying their products from resellers if the alternative products did not cost at least double.

With that said I just bought the MS10A sensor on eBay and it is white but for indoor use only. This sensor is also sold under the X10 PRO brand as PMS01. The PMS01 spec sheet shows a mounting bracket: http://www.x10pro.com/pro/pdf/pms01.pdf

There is a comparison of X10 sensors here: http://www.x10.com/security/x10_ms10a.htm
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on December 07, 2009, 11:35:40 PM
i believe the ms10a only works with security systems. not regular x-10
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: HA Dave on December 08, 2009, 12:34:01 AM
.... I never would have anything to do with the X10 company even buying their products from resellers if the alternative products did not cost at least double.

Then you must not have realized that this is their (X10's) forum.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: joako on December 17, 2009, 04:14:44 PM
I got the white sensor and it does not work with CM15A! It is also HUGE.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brian H on December 17, 2009, 04:25:33 PM
What model number is it?
The DM10A is the only real large one I remember. Known as the REX-10 Motion Sensor. Was an accessory for the Robo Dog Barking Dog system. Only sends an ON signal and never an off.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: HA Dave on December 17, 2009, 06:26:26 PM
I'd like to get my hands on some robodog sensors!
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brian H on December 17, 2009, 06:42:18 PM
I have no idea if they have any or their reputation but Google found this:
http://www.alarms247.com/x10dm10a-indoor-outdoormotionsensoralarm.aspx
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on February 19, 2010, 11:59:03 PM
I just got some MS10a's

wow theyre huge!!

whats the difference between the MS10a and the DM10a?? ???
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Charles Sullivan on February 20, 2010, 01:53:05 PM
I just got some MS10a's

wow theyre huge!!

whats the difference between the MS10a and the DM10a?? ???

As you've probably discovered by now, the MS10A sends X10 Security RF Alert, Clear (aka Normal), and Alert/Low-battery signals.  It sends a heartbeat signal approximately every 90 minutes.  A Clear signal always follows 10 seconds after an Alert signal regardless of whether motion is continuing (which seems somewhat senseless).  When a low battery condition exits, it ceases to detect motion and sends only the Alert/Low-battery signal at the heartbeat intervals.  It has no light sensor.  It is intended for use only indoors.

I haven't characterized a DM10A and it's not quite clear exactly what signals it sends since the owner manual primarily describes the results of its interaction with the RoboDog (which also sends signals).  It does appear to send X10 Standard RF signals, but only an On signal when motion is detected - no Off signal some time after motion is no longer detected.  It has a light sensor and sends On and Off signals at Dusk and Dawn.  Whether it additionally transmits some X10 Security RF signals remains to be determined.  It is rated for outdoor use.

Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: Brandt on October 15, 2010, 05:11:53 PM
Looks like they brought it back:

http://www.x10.com/promotions/ms14a_w_ed_premiere_1014.html
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: nybuck on October 15, 2010, 05:51:18 PM
Only X10 can revive an old product... which is the same as a current product, just in a different color

  ...And call it a World Premiere!   >*<
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: dave w on October 15, 2010, 05:53:19 PM
Looks like they brought it back:
Beware-blather post follows.

Blather ON:

Yep, The original Active Eye was white case.

X10 seems to be reduced to "repackaging" the old hardware, not bringing out new products i.e. N-stinct, new Eagle Eye, even the "new and improved" Appliance Modules, Lamp and Wall Switch modules etc were essentially re-packaging of older products.  

Users have suggested new products but seems to fall on deaf ears. And many of the "Wish List"  comments are really good ideas.  IMHO that is a bad sign. Perhaps they have lost their (hardware) design experience.  Hardware design tends to be considerably more expensive than software design so maybe the funds just aren't there. But I think some new hardware would boost the X10 standing in the home automation field.  Maybe they need to regroup with Pico, if Pico is still around (?).

Blather OFF.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: anthonylavado on October 15, 2010, 07:15:23 PM
Maybe they need to regroup with Pico, if Pico is still around (?).
It's my understanding that Pico was absorbed into the X10 group of companies some time ago. I believe the direct descendant of Pico right now is X10 (USA) Inc, which does the hardware side of the business from Las Vegas and NJ. X10 Wireless Technology Inc (X10 WTI, aka X10.com) is a division of the same. There's some interesting reading out there on the internet :'

At any rate, yes, we should ask them to get back into the hardware game. I would love more 2-way modules!
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: dave w on October 15, 2010, 07:34:36 PM
I believe the direct descendant of Pico right now is X10 (USA) Inc,
I didn't know if Pico still lived or not. Pico did a lot of chip design and hardware design of the early X10, perhaps they left those guys in Scotland.
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: nybuck on October 15, 2010, 08:56:45 PM
Good point, anthony...  Two-way modules and wall switches would be nice...  and I could think of at least a dozen more products that I would buy -

like a real X10 thermostat that reports temperatures to AHP and you could remotely control the set points from AHP...
or a thermometer that wirelessly sent the outdoor temperature into AHP - or you could put it in your freezer to warn you of temperature events...
or an IR-equipped XCam...

Boy, they sure have missed the boat...  But I still make my orders from them pretty often!   :'
Title: Re: White x-10 motion sensors
Post by: anthonylavado on October 15, 2010, 10:15:58 PM
But I still make my orders from them pretty often!   :'
Precisely.
Also, for clarification, I double checked and Pico did become X10 (USA) Inc., and ORCA Monitoring Services, which became the X10 WTI/X10.com we know and love. Both are a part of X10 Ltd.