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🛡Home Security => Problems and Troubleshooting => Topic started by: uptownvideo on May 25, 2006, 07:38:12 AM

Title: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: uptownvideo on May 25, 2006, 07:38:12 AM
I have the Radio Shack Plug n Power Alarm model 49-1000 and I bought 2 different Powerhorns thinking that they would work with this system and they do not.  Does anyone know how I can hook up a louder siren with this.  I was thinking a siren plugged into a lamp or appliance module.

Thanks,

Scott
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 25, 2006, 11:24:09 AM
Since Radioshack Plug n Power is X10 (Made in same factory), anything X10 sells will be fully compatable.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: billy on May 25, 2006, 12:19:32 PM
uptownvideo,

The powerhorns have to be triggered by cycling the HC/UC of the unit ON-OFF-ON repeatedly.  Or HC AllLightsOn - AllUnitsOff - AllLightsOn repeatedly.
The powerhorns should be setup like described in the alarm system's instructions under "setting up optional lamp module".
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: Brian H on May 25, 2006, 04:44:04 PM
No they do not work; unless the newer Radio Shack units where changed. The problem is the 49-1000 sends two X10 addresses when triggered. That sequence messes up the Powerhorns triggering. Both the PH508 and the SH10A will not work with a 49-1000. There was a complete message thread on my experiments and line signal things on the old X10 Forums. They may have been moved to the new one, but I am not 100% on that one.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: billy on May 25, 2006, 07:44:02 PM

Read the 49-1000 instructions a little closer and that sucks!
One step back! Has some good features though, I guess I'll stick with my
old system.
Are the PLC commands sent out ON-OFF or AllLightsOn-AllUnitsOff?

Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: Brian H on May 26, 2006, 06:50:57 AM
I set mine as a test to B1. That automatically adds B2 as the second Security Light Address.
Didn't verify this but I believe if I had picked B16 as the first address the second would have looped back to B1
From my line monitor as tripped.
B1
B2
BOn
B1
B2
BOff
Since the Powerhorns could react to a single code on off cycle. Too bad the extra one is in the middle.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: steven r on May 26, 2006, 09:08:42 AM
...The problem is the 49-1000 sends two X10 addresses when triggered....

I'm not familiar with the 49-1000 so this question comes from a state of ignorance.

That said, why wouldn't it be possible to use a macro to respond to one of the addresses that the 49-1000 sends and then send what the Powerhorns needs?
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: Brian H on May 26, 2006, 04:32:28 PM
That sounds like a good work around. Can a macro be set to send an on or off each time it sees one on the security light code? Powerhorn as you may know needs a constant cycle of On Offs or All Lights On All Lights or All Units off to trigger.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: uptownvideo on May 30, 2006, 06:33:35 AM
That said, why wouldn't it be possible to use a macro to respond to one of the addresses that the 49-1000 sends and then send what the Powerhorns needs?

How would I program a macro?
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: steven r on May 30, 2006, 10:38:50 AM
...How would I program a macro?
Hmm... Maybe we've made an assumption that you had AHP. Do you?
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: uptownvideo on May 30, 2006, 01:33:18 PM
Since I do not know what AHP is I guess I don't have it.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 30, 2006, 03:09:53 PM
AHP is ACTVE HOME PRO.

If you don't have it, any refecerences to AHP or macros does not apply.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: steven r on May 30, 2006, 04:37:54 PM
Since I do not know what AHP is I guess I don't have it.
AHP would be about a $50 solution that would greatly expand your automation options in addition to solving your current problem.
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: billy on May 30, 2006, 09:36:26 PM
uptownvideo might be better off to wait for the security plug-in for AHP, then to buy it now!
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: steven r on May 30, 2006, 09:50:02 PM
uptownvideo might be better off to wait for the security plug-in for AHP, then to buy it now!
Good point! You know they'll run a special on it.

Note to uptownvideo: AHP supports an assortment of plug-in software and X10 has dropped a hint that the next plug-in will be a security plug-in. Check this link. (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=8638.msg52610#msg52610)
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: uptownvideo on May 31, 2006, 07:23:39 AM
Do you think that this Universal Alarm Interface would work for me?  It looks like it may convert It does not have a users manual to read.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&cp=&productId=2104481&origkw=x-10&kw=x-10&tab=summary

Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: billy on May 31, 2006, 07:51:30 AM
I believe that unit is the same as the X10 POWERFLASH Burglar Alarm Interface (PF284).
http://www.x10.com/products/x10_pf284.htm
I don't think it would help much, it functions like your alarm system does now, but it needs a contact closure or voltage to trigger it. It is meant to be an X10 interface add on for a wired alarm system

Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: uptownvideo on May 31, 2006, 08:14:47 AM
Thank you.  Do you know of any siren that I can plug in to an apliance or lamp module that could be tripped when the alarm goes off?
Title: Re: Siren with Radioshack Plug n Power
Post by: jim55 on July 05, 2006, 12:47:41 AM
 :) The heck with all that. the problem I found with the system is that both of the x 10 channels switched are switched on and off for four min and thenare set to HIGH or ON. and so any alarm horn will sound till you get home not a good idea. on my unit  I am tapping a small resistor, part of the horn circuit to operate a DPDT relay, via a transistor switch. thats how I power an external horn.