X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: sportsplanet on April 16, 2006, 05:03:06 AM
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Dear all,
I do not have an electrical enginering background.
I want to develop a PC billing system (for a snooker venue) that is activated by normal wall light switches. Eg. When the lights of a particular snooker table is switched on, the controller sends a signal to the PC (possible via the serial port) and the PC handles the billing based on the time the lights are turned on (and off).
I can handle the PC software, but what I don't know how to do is to send a signal that is readable by the PC when the light switch is turned on and off. I will need to know which switch is being turned on and off, and a signal informing whether the switch is being turned on OR off.
I believe some sort of control circuit/controller that is linked to the switch (and the PC through the serial or parallel port) is required to pass a readable signal message to the PC.
Anybody can put me in the right direction or advice on what I can do? What product should I get?
Much thanks in advance.
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This might work best using ActiveHome Pro's USB interface and SDK, and some X10 Pro products to control lights and send signals. In-wall keypads (XPT & XPT1) plus inline control modules (XPDF or XPFM depending on the types of lights) will allow you to send a signal to the computer and turn the light on or off.
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This might work best using ActiveHome Pro's USB interface and SDK, and some X10 Pro products to control lights and send signals. In-wall keypads (XPT & XPT1) plus inline control modules (XPDF or XPFM depending on the types of lights) will allow you to send a signal to the computer and turn the light on or off.
This would work, but a better solution might be to use 2-way wall switches (switches which will transmit their status) to control the lights. Unfortunately X10 doesn't make 2-way wall switches, but several other manufacturers do (including Leviton, SmartHome and ACT). Probably the best (and most affordable) module would be the SmartHome ICON Switch (http://www.automatedoutlet.com/home.php?cat=209) (either Dimmer (http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php?productid=940&cat=209&page=1) or On Off Switch (http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php?productid=941&cat=209&page=1)). These also have the advantage of being Insteon compatible, so you could migrate to that technology in the future if you want.
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You could also use the LM15A Socket Rocket (or the WS467 wall switch or XPDF In-Wall Fixture Module)with the SS13A Slimline Switch. All these products, excepting the XPDF, are often available at a deep discount (I've seen 80% or more) if you buy five or so. This will be a *lot* cheaper than buying two-way wall switches.