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[bitman]

Hi,

It looks like the pf284 manual says it wants 6 -18v of audio signal to trigger it.
I can indeed verify that no matter how hard I drive one with a consumer -10 line out level, It won't trigger.
So I can build an opamp pre with gobs of gain or modify the pf284. However at first glace at the PF284 front end
schematic, It is not clear to me if increasing the sensitivity is possible. I want to trigger it with a steady state tone
from a Digital Audio Workstation in order to light a "Recording" indicator lamp. 

Here is the schematic according to the 'net.


What do you think?

:Ron

[Brian H]

The 3.3K resistor on the input is a fairly low resistance. So your driver would have to be able to feed a 3.3K input impedance. Also the diode in the input; when on voltage; will also be a voltage drop in the forward direction.
May work if you can drive it enough.

If you found the input schematic on: http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm
You may want to also look at the Leviton 6330 as it is also a PowerFlash type device.

One thing I have found with my PF284 is the + and - markings on the interface terminals; is for a voltage input mode; when DC is the voltage source.

If you have it set to Dry Contacts and have a solid state switch like my ELK DoorBell Sensor. The - terminal is +6 volts and the + terminal is the - return in Dry Contact Mode.  So I had to wire it + to - and - to + between the two devices.

[bitman]

Hey thanks a bunch!

The Leviton 6330 front end is far more complex.
I am going to replace that 3. resistor with a pot to see if I could dial in the sensitivity.
the six tenths of a volt drop accross that diode should be easy to overcome.

We will see... Monday night.   

:Ron

[bitman]

Ok ,

I ended up removing the 3.3K resistor and then a 100k across the inputs allow me to activate the x-10 with a line level audio tone at about -3db level from a -10 consumer level sound card. I can also trigger the x-10 with a 1.5volt AA battery too. So it's more compatible with real world signals and digital logic. 

:Ron

[Brian H]

Thank you for the follow up message on results. Glad you got it to do what you needed.

[bitman]

No thank you!

By the way when a 100k resistor across the inputs worked, I raised it further to 220k in an attempt to make it even more sensitive. No dice. The  circuit became unstable and would turn on then off then not at all. But 100k is a sweet spot and I have it now semi integrated into my studio and activating a "recording" light (One of my wife's night lights)  And it is very very stable and reliable.

Now if I could only reduces that x-10 delay...

:Ron