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🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: pjonson on September 04, 2007, 11:42:35 AM

Title: x10 pool cover control
Post by: pjonson on September 04, 2007, 11:42:35 AM
Hi,  I have a couple of x10 AM466 modules that I have wired into a rather complex array of relays to automate the opening and closing of my in-ground pool cover.

Problem is,  I have to issue an "ON" command from my remote control,  wait for the pool to either open or close,  then issue an "off" command or else
the pool cover motor continues to run and shuts off due to overheating.

Is there any module,  or way to hack the appliance module to require you to hold down the on button on the remote for the module to work ?

I want to set it up so as long as i hold down the on button on the remote,  the module works,  but as soon as I let go,  the module
needs to shut off.  I have opened up an AM466 and don't see a physical way to modify it,  as it seems as though the control board sends
a pulse to the mechanical relay in the module as opposed to a constant on.

Thanks in advance for any help you can lend !
Paul
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: dave w on September 04, 2007, 12:23:34 PM
You can use a Powerflash module to do this. The powerflash can be made to issue an X10 "ON" when you provide a closure and an X10"OFF" upon the open. Or you could completely automate the process using the CM15A and Active Home Pro.
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: Puck on September 04, 2007, 12:31:16 PM
Here is a topic for a mod by rms59 to do a similar task with drapes as you are doing with the pool cover. It may give you some ideas.

[USER IDEA] Modification to the AAM80 Drape Controller to Automate Your Drapes (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12601.0)
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: HA Dave on September 04, 2007, 12:51:06 PM
I just install a garage door "open alert" using a wide opening (heavy duty) magnetic reed switch and a PowerFlash module. That would work perfectly for an auto-stop.
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: pjonson on September 05, 2007, 09:31:16 AM
And these are all excellent ideas,  but I want the ability to be able to open / close the cover only as I hold down the button
on the remote,  in case I want to stop the cover at any point along the way.  This makes it necessary to have a module
that will only remain in the "on" state as long as you have the "on" button on the remote that corresponds to that module.

I already knew how to automate this pool cover,  but I can't do it because if you don't open the cover for a while,
it sticks to the concrete due to the moisture and heat.  You have to actually do a series of open/close in order
to break it free and get it to open.

So,  as you can see,  I need the versatility of being able to press and hold as I need to open/close the cover.
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: JeffVolp on September 05, 2007, 12:24:14 PM
Quote
I want the ability to be able to open / close the cover only as I hold down the button
on the remote,  in case I want to stop the cover at any point along the way.

Keeping a button pressed is not a good procedure to use with the X10 protocol.  That saturates the line with X10 traffic.  A better approach would be to build a macro in an automation controller to set up a toggle command.  Press once and the motor starts, press again to stop it.  Or you can use a timed event to run the motor for several seconds at a time.

Some high-end dimmer switches work like this.  Press once and it ramps to a full on (or a pre-set level).  Press again during the ramp and it stops at the present level.

Jeff
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: steven r on September 05, 2007, 01:08:12 PM
Quote from: JeffVolp on September 05, 2007, 12:24:14 PM
...Some high-end dimmer switches work like this.  Press once and it ramps to a full on (or a pre-set level).  Press again during the ramp and it stops at the present level....
However, he wouldn't want to use any form of dimmer for his application, would he?
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: Puck on September 05, 2007, 01:26:36 PM
Quote from: pjonson on September 05, 2007, 09:31:16 AM
And these are all excellent ideas,  but I want the ability to be able to open / close the cover only as I hold down the button
on the remote,  in case I want to stop the cover at any point along the way.

X10 isn't the answer here.

A cheap RC car will give you the type of transmitter & receiver you need; you would just have to modify the output of the receiver to interface with a larger motor.
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: JeffVolp on September 05, 2007, 04:43:54 PM
Quote
However, he wouldn't want to use any form of dimmer for his application, would he?

I never suggested a dimmer be used for this application.  I merely pointed out that there are switches that work with a push to start an action, and another push stops it.

Jeff
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: HA Dave on September 05, 2007, 07:45:47 PM
Quote from: Puck on September 05, 2007, 01:26:36 PM

X10 isn't the answer here.

A cheap RC car will give you the type of transmitter & receiver you need; you would just have to modify the output of the receiver to interface with a larger motor.


I agree completely (and wish I'd thought of that). But instead of modifying a RC car.... stop at the hobby store and get a decent remote unit... that will also be easier to modify
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: dave w on September 06, 2007, 12:38:23 PM
Quote from: pjonson on September 05, 2007, 09:31:16 AM

...but I want the ability to be able to open / close the cover only as I hold down the button
on the remote,  in case I want to stop the cover at any point along the way.  This makes it necessary to have a module that will only remain in the "on" state as long as you have the "on" button on the remote that corresponds to that module.

So,  as you can see,  I need the versatility of being able to press and hold as I need to open/close the cover.


Yes I do see (at least I think so, we do not know what functions you are doing with the relays).

Once again...you can probably do this with a Powerflash module. It will not flood the mains with X10 commands. It will give you an ON when you push the momentary button and an OFF when you release the button. I did not note this earlier, but you will need two PowerFlash modules and two buttons,  for "open cover" and for "close cover", they will each be addressed to your appliance modules assuming you use one module for "open" and one module for "close".
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: TakeTheActive on September 06, 2007, 10:15:04 PM
Quote from: pjonson on September 04, 2007, 11:42:35 AM

...I have a couple of x10 AM466 modules that I have wired into a rather complex array of relays to automate the opening and closing of my in-ground pool cover.

...Is there any module,  or way to hack the appliance module to require you to hold down the on button on the remote for the module to work ?

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Some possible candidates:


Quote from: pjonson on September 04, 2007, 11:42:35 AM

...Problem is,  I have to issue an "ON" command from my remote control,  wait for the pool to either open or close,  then issue an "off" command or else the pool cover motor continues to run and shuts off due to overheating.

Why haven't you installed LIMIT SWITCHES to prevent this? ???
Title: Re: x10 pool cover control
Post by: dave w on September 07, 2007, 11:44:45 AM
pjonson

Kudos to TTA!

The "Modifying the (MC460) Mini-Controller for momentary operation" link will accomplish the same objective as my idea of using two Powerflash modules, and at less cost.