X10 Community Forum

📸Cameras & Camera Software => Camera General Discussion => Topic started by: dhighlender on August 06, 2006, 10:48:41 PM

Title: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: dhighlender on August 06, 2006, 10:48:41 PM

The website is so cumbersome I cant figure out which motion sensor I need to purchase for the X10 Wireless instant on cameras.

Can anyone point me to the correct site I can read up on the correct ones please.

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: JimC on August 07, 2006, 06:53:05 AM

Try this link it has a comparison of the different X10 motion sensors. If you do some goggle searches for X10 motion sensors I am sure you will find some others.

http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Comparison_of_All_Motion_Sensors

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: steven r on August 07, 2006, 11:29:29 AM

Quote from: JimC on August 07, 2006, 06:53:05 AM

http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Comparison_of_All_Motion_Sensors

To sum up Jim's link and give me a lot of practice using the table feature here...
(The link still looks better.)

Feature	Detection	Dawn/Dusk Detection	No Motion Off Time	Weather Resistant
MS12A	Always	Fixed Enabled	Fixed 6 Minutes	No
MS13A	Always or Night Only	Fixed Enabled	Variable	No
MS14A	Always or Night Only	Fixed Enabled	Variable	Yes
MS16A	Always or Night Only	Variable	Variable	Yes

As you can see, the MS12A and the MS13A are best used indoors only. (If you have a kid that likes to steam up the bathroom when they shower they wouldn't be good for that indoor use either but that's another story.)
The MS12A is very limited. I'd only use it to trigger a macro unless you can live with an off signal at 6 minutes each time. All the others have programable off times. I think in powers of 2.   i.e. 2 min, 4 min, 8 min, etc
For outdoor use, you should pick the MS14A or the MS16A.
I have a MS16A and it has a way to adjust it's off time with a screwdriver. I don't recall a way to vary the Dawn/Dusk Detection as the chart indicates. Personally I think I'd of been just as happy with the MS14A. (I've already lost the little rubber plug that covers the adjustment screw.)

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: JimC on August 07, 2006, 11:36:23 AM

Steven,

You obviously have too much free time. ;D ;D

It took me all of 10 minutes to loose the rubber plug on the MS16. The sensor works great but they should have put this adjustment on the bottom and then they would not have needed the rubber plug.

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: steven r on August 07, 2006, 11:53:55 AM

Quote from: JimC on August 07, 2006, 11:36:23 AM

...You obviously have too much free time.  ;D ;D...

Yeah. I've had a bunch of free time.  I fell from a latter about 15 ft to the driveway last Fall while putting up the Christmas lights. Left me pretty banged up for awhile. I go back to work next Thursday so I won't have as much time to be creative here. This board has helped me from getting too board in the meantime.

Quote from: JimC on August 07, 2006, 11:36:23 AM

...It took me all of 10 minutes to loose the rubber plug on the MS16...

Mine is mounted horizontally under the porch overhang so I decided not to worry about the plug. I suppose I could hit it with a drop of hot glue if it really mattered.

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: TakeTheActive on August 07, 2006, 04:22:40 PM

I always use this chart because it's more complete (and possibly accurate):

Comparison of X10 Motion Sensors (http://www.activehomepro.com/sensors_compare.htm)

Title: Re: Which Motion Sensor do I need?
Post by: steven r on August 07, 2006, 04:36:15 PM

Quote from: TakeTheActive on August 07, 2006, 04:22:40 PM

I always use this chart because it's more complete (and possibly accurate):

Comparison of X10 Motion Sensors (http://www.activehomepro.com/sensors_compare.htm)

Yes this is a much more complete description. I won't try to summarize it here.  ;)
You can think of my work of art as the "Cliff Notes" for it.