X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: idbl_fanatic on August 17, 2010, 12:08:28 PM

Title: Is there anything like this?
Post by: idbl_fanatic on August 17, 2010, 12:08:28 PM

My drive way is open, into my yard, what I would like, is something like they have for garage door openers, if someone crosses the light beam it was send a signal to a lamp or something so that I would know someone was coming up my driveway, I know that there is the eagle eye, but I think that would pick up too much "other stuff" birds, cat's in the yard, etc, the driveway is 12 feet wide.

Thanks

Title: Re: Is there anything like this?
Post by: dave w on August 17, 2010, 12:40:06 PM

X10 really does not have anything other than their motion sensors. I use an Active Eye for our drive and it is aimed high enough to miss dogs, cats, and racoons.

Did you look at "Smarthome.com" ? They carry a vehicle detection system that relies on the vehicle's metal mass for triggering. It is not X10, but if you wanted to tie into X10 system you could use a X10 PowerFlash to detect the units alarm output.

Title: Re: Is there anything like this?
Post by: idbl_fanatic on August 17, 2010, 02:04:45 PM

Thanks, that's a little out of my price range though.......I may see what I can do with another eagle eye.......

Title: Re: Is there anything like this?
Post by: Knightrider on August 17, 2010, 04:05:52 PM

I built one of these.

Here's what you need:

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LTS1

Hooked to a powerflash.

I had to make some mods, and shielded the receiver end from external light a little bit more, but it works.

I put the powerflash and the power supply in the garage and buried underground telco wire to each unit (don't ask how I got a spool of that stuff).

It's slightly flakey when the fence post gets jingled a bit, and lawnclippings/spiderwebs/dirt have accumulated on the receiver from time to time, but we're happy with it. 

I'll get some pics and more details when I see my son with the camera again.

Title: Re: Is there anything like this?
Post by: Brian H on August 17, 2010, 04:33:17 PM

Knightrider; That sounds like a neat project.

Title: Re: Is there anything like this?
Post by: jgenter on August 17, 2010, 04:41:12 PM

I used this:
http://www.asihome.com/ASIshop/product_info.php?products_id=105
It is a self-contained probe type magnetic sensor you bury beside the driveway (covers 12 foot width of driveway).
I used its relay output to trigger a powerflash. It is absolutely reliable and only responds to moving metal objects. Zero false alarms. Mine has been in operation for 10 years.
 :)