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🛡Home Security => Home Security General => Topic started by: wormboy on December 31, 2006, 01:05:10 AM

Title: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: wormboy on December 31, 2006, 01:05:10 AM
Looking for an x10 wireless pet immune motion sensor for my house.  I have seen plenty, but none that say x10 compatible.  Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: Tuicemen on December 31, 2006, 11:25:31 AM
I think Smarthome carry some ::)
In any case e-mail the manufacture and ask if it will work with X10?
Get the specs and post here! ;)
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: wormboy on January 03, 2007, 10:10:15 PM
My research so far has revealed that none of the wireless motion sensors sold today work with x10.  Some people have suggested modifying regular motion sensors to block out certain zones where your pet will be.  To me it doesn't sound worth it, I can't take the heart attacks of the false alarms!  I will keep searching.
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: dave w on January 04, 2007, 12:10:06 PM
You might be able interface any suitable motion detector to X10 by using a "Powerflash" module.

http://www.x10.com/security/x10_pf284.htm

The motion detector would need to provide a relay clousure or a low voltage AC or DC or audio signal to the Powerflash. The "triggered" Powerflash will then send out an "ON" code for the address it is set to. Check the X10 web page as it has several options for how the PLC signal is transmitted.
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: tom j on January 07, 2007, 11:35:28 AM
Looking for an x10 wireless pet immune motion sensor for my house.  I have seen plenty, but none that say x10 compatible.  Any suggestions?


Ahhh if only their was such a thing the MS10a is absolute junk and you're get false alarms weather you have a pet or not! and in the 2 step mode it just doesn't detect motion reliably.  I was able to clean my entire house once with a MS10a in the #2 mode and it never picked me up true story! I also doubt if there is one believe me I've looked, actually I'm switching to a hybrid system part wired part wireless basically once you drop the wires in the basement if you have a house you're home free for the second level you can go the wireless route. But here's something you can consider use a good hardwired pet immune motion sensor and hook it up to a power source and then connect it up to a window door sensor check out the link below, might be a little more work and if you have a power failure you're out of luck but you won't have to worry about anymore false alarms. If someone did make a really good x10 compatible motion sensor I tell you they would just fly off the selves!!

Tom J

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/motion_detectors.html
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: medicdoc on January 29, 2008, 07:56:22 PM
I found this one, it says something about an x10 module, but I a still a noob and don't quite understand it all.
http://www.smarthome.com/73138.html
Title: Re: Wireless Pet Immune x10 Motion Sensor
Post by: PajamaGuy on January 30, 2008, 08:17:11 AM
I certainly wouldn't argue with anyone that the X10 MS10A is "frustrating" -  Here's a few things I've learned with my installation - maybe they can be of help.

Pay attention to the drawings of the "field-of-view" of the MS10A.
Remember that the sensor detects heat moving within its "Field-of-view".  And contrast is important - the farther apart in temperature the moving object is than the ambient air, the easier the sensor will pick it up.  If it's 50° in the room and you walk by naked, the sensor will trip sooner than if the temperature in the room is 80°.
No motion sensor is pet-immune, unless your pet is cold-blooded or dead.
To block off the "floor" from being "seen", try ½" of masking tape on the bottom of the lens.  If that doesn't work, add another ½", etc.
To make your sensor even less sensitive, try a layer of waxed-paper over the entire lens.
Positioning is everything - mine have been tripped by hot air. 
1. Heat rising from components of my home theater - especially when something gets warm and its fan turns on.
2. Heat from my HVAC system - STAY AWAY FROM VENTS or RADIATORS!  Read the part about contrast above - If you setback your heat at night, say to 60°, then at 5:00 a.m. have it come up to 75° - the contrast between the ambient air (60°) and the heated air coming out the vent (120°) is greater than if the ambient air is 70° - therefore the sensor will "see" better and farther.  Remember also that most electric heating systems are 2-stage, where an additional set of heating elements come on only when the "contrast" is greater than a set level, OR when the system has been calling for heat (and not able to satisfy the thermostat) for a set period of time.

Pay attention to your activity monitor - save & study the files.  Let your house get cold, then crank up the heat and watch the monitor - you'll see if there are sensor trips.

Getting the MS10A's positioned correctly is the hardest part of the setup.  And these are different than the EagleEyes and HawkEyes - and for different purposes - the MS10A should generally be mounted lower than the Eye's.

And remember you can use tape or business cards to "narrow" or "focus" it's field of view.  If you are looking for motion in a small area, focus the sensor to that area.