X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: peg-leg on January 31, 2011, 10:49:20 PM
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I'm going to integrate some non x10 cameras into my setup. I have several xm13a power supplies available. I use iwatchmobile for camera viewing and switching. Rather than using appliance modules and various macros, I would like to have relay control of the non x10 camera powersupplies using the xm13a and a relay.
I'm no electronics expert so I need info form the forum experts. What type relay should I use? Would a simple 12 volt relay work?
Thanks!
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A 12 volt DC relay should work. You may want look at some and see what their coil current is.
I would also suggest a diode across the coil {watching the polarity} for some spike protection as the DC it cycled on and off.
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You might also want to look at using the relay to merely switch the video supply (using a modified hunk of RCA cable). Then you'd have an X10 video switcher. I've never tried a relay to switch video... but I did use the same method with a
Powerflash Module Universal Module switching the RCA Video... and it worked great.
That has the advantage of eliminating camera warm-up time (because the camera is always on). If your using an IR [non-X10 Camera] the pinkish glow of the camera can help it be spotted and avoided at night... making the camera a good deterrent... but it has to be ON.
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You might also want to look at using the relay to merely switch the video supply (using a modified hunk of RCA cable). Then you'd have an X10 video switcher. I've never tried a relay to switch video... but I did use the same method with a Powerflash Module switching the RCA Video... and it worked great.
That has the advantage of eliminating camera warm-up time (because the camera is always on). If your using an IR [non-X10 Camera] the pinkish glow of the camera can help it be spotted and avoided at night... making the camera a good deterrent... but it has to be ON.
Interesting idea Dave, switch the signal rather than the power.
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..... switch the signal rather than the power.
Yep! I originally posted [that] I used a Powerflash Module to accomplish this. But actually I used a Universal Module for switching the RCA Video.
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I'm going to integrate some non x10 cameras into my setup. I have several xm13a power supplies available. I use iwatchmobile for camera viewing and switching. Rather than using appliance modules and various macros, I would like to have relay control of the non x10 camera powersupplies using the xm13a and a relay.
I'm no electronics expert so I need info form the forum experts. What type relay should I use? Would a simple 12 volt relay work?
Thanks!
You will find that the UM506 almost never can be found cheaper than the appliance modules, and even with it, you'd still need macros to simulate the "group of four" switching that the camera power supplies do. ;)
>!
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.... I would like to have relay control of the non x10 camera powersupplies using the xm13a and a relay.
You will find that the UM506 almost never can be found cheaper than the appliance modules, and even with it, you'd still need macros to simulate the "group of four" switching that the camera power supplies do. ;)
I make the thread hard to follow when I mentioned the (UM506) Universal Module. But I only did that to point out that I used its internal relay to switch the video instead of switching a (low voltage) powerline.
But if he uses his X10 Camera Wall-warts (xm13a) (http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/XM13A) operating a low-voltage relay it would react as a camera... on a group of four. Then just use the low voltage relay to switch the RCA video (making his own X10 Video Switcher) leaving the Non-X10 camera On he should be good for cheap. Any recommendation on a relay?
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How about this:
Radio Shack Catalog # 275-233: 0.5-Amp SPST Reed Relay with 12VDC coil (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062479)
Warning! Some assembly required! :'
>!
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Here's a quick video showing the use of an xm13a and 12 volt relay to switch a non-x10 camera power supply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM)
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Here's a quick video showing the use of an xm13a and 12 volt relay to switch a non-x10 camera power supply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM)
So... you wanted a BIG relay? :D
>!
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Here's a quick video showing the use of an xm13a and 12 volt relay to switch a non-x10 camera power supply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM)
VERY cool. A +1 from me!
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Here's a quick video showing the use of an xm13a and 12 volt relay to switch a non-x10 camera power supply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXSNpncInMM)
So... you wanted a BIG relay? :D
>!
. Overkill never hurt anyone...
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Looks good.
One thing. How much current does the relay coil pull?
If it is over 80 ma it may strain the xm13A.
I would also suggest a back biased diode across the coil for some inductive spike suppression.
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Actually, the BIG relay is all I had handy. It appears the Radio Shack version might be better.
Brian H., I'll have to research how to test the ma's on the relay.
Thanks for all input everyone.
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Hi I'm trying to do the same thing to actually control my fireplace. I'm very confused by something. When I hook a multimeter up to the xm13a's wires, and check for voltage, when I send an ON command there is zero voltage, when I send and OFF command there is 15 volts. Why is the operating backwards from what I'd expect? Why is on off and off on?
Thanks.
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Where are you reading the voltage? The XM13A has TWO outputs. One switched and one always ON.
If you are measuring the voltage between the switched supply wire and the constant supply wire.
When you turn it On. The voltage between the switched and unswitched wires will be zero volts.
When you turn it Off you will read the 12 volts. Making Off look like On and On look like Off. ;D
So between the common ground wire {maybe a shield around the two voltage wires} one should always be 12 volts and the other wire to common should switch On and Off 12 volts.
If there is no load on the switched 12 volt wire. Your meter may not go to zero volts when Off. The switching transistors leagage. Maybe enough to have your high impedance meter reading some voltage but you should see a difference On and Off.
The supply is not regulated. So the output maybe higher with smaller loads and lower with heavier loads. My XM14A from a Ninja Base. Is about 25.2 volts unloaded and drops to the 12 volts when loaded to its rated 200 mA.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/XM13A
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Hi I'm trying to do the same thing to actually control my fireplace. I'm very confused by something. When I hook a multimeter up to the xm13a's wires, and check for voltage, when I send an ON command there is zero voltage, when I send and OFF command there is 15 volts. Why is the operating backwards from what I'd expect? Why is on off and off on?
Thanks.
Note sure. Could you possibly have the leads reversed? You be better of using an appliance module to turn a fireplace on and off. Otherwise you're using a camera function to control it.
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Shake; The XM13A has Three Connections .
The two insulated wires in the cable and the outside shield.
Both power leads are referenced to the Shield.
If you are measuring the voltage between the two wires. When you turn it On. Both wires are +12 volts and the reading will be zero.
Try reading from one wire to the shield and then the other wire to the shield. One will always be +12 volts the other one will switch On and Off with the X10 commands. If you are using a meter to measure the voltages. The switched +12 volts may not go to 0 volts when Off. If it is only loaded by a meter.