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[singletrack]

I just ran across the X-10 products while searching for a way to better secure my detached garage.  The website is little overwhelming, but based on what I have read so far I think X-10's products should be able to provide the perfect solution.

I have a detached garage that is located approximately 75-100 feet from my house.  The garage opens to a very little used deadend alley.  Currently my security consists of a couple of motion sensor lights on the front and back of the garage and a locking door knob w/ a deadbolt for the door into the garage.  I have about $20k in bicycles in the garage along with two cars and various other items that I would rather not part with.

What I am looking for is a system that will allow me to disable the garage door opener for certain time periods (i.e. when I'm asleep) and that will automatically close the garage door after a preset amount of time if I forget to close it (and a way to temporarily disable the auto close function).  I am also looking for a way to send a txt message, email, etc. to me whenever the garage door is opened/closed.  This would be the bare minimum.

It would be nice to get a remote camera that I can look at online when I get a message that the door has been opened.  A door and window sensor indicating open/ closed would be other additional equipment that I would like to have the option to add on.

So what X-10 products will I need to create this system.  Any help in creating this system would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[HA Dave]

What I am looking for is a system that will allow me to disable the garage door opener for certain time periods (i.e. when I'm asleep)

Contemperary remote control door openers are pretty secure. I wouldn't worry so much about someone "stealing your remote code" to open a garage door. I would however arm the garage with an X10 DS7000 alarm system with BOTH door sensors and a motion detector. You should be able to mount the console in your house with the sensors in the garage (although the console in the garage wouldn't be bad ether). Sirens both in the house and the garage are reall attention grabbers. The alarm will/can flash lights and call your cell/work phone(s)as well.

automatically close the garage door after a preset amount of time if I forget to close it (and a way to temporarily disable the auto close function).

Very cool. And somewhat easy to do. You will need the CM15A with the AHP (Active Home Profession) software suite (both are $50 or less at the X10.com Web Site).

way to send a txt message, email, etc. to me whenever the garage door is opened/closed.  This would be the bare minimum.

This can also be done with the CM15A... with the OnAlert part of the AHP software suite and the alarm sensors (DS10A)

It would be nice to get a remote camera that I can look at online when I get a message that the door has been opened. 

X10 offers this.... but I'd look at a cheap IP camera connected to your broadband.

[hawk1]

Be advised "singletrack" that you might and I say might have to acquire additional hardware to make this setup work. (phase coupler, amplifier, better transceiver or receiver for rf)  Some users have no problems at all to make this setup work, others do.  It all depends on a lot of variables. (power line noise, rf interference and so on)

As Dave-X10_L stated, all of this can be done with X10.  Just be prepared that you might have to spend a little more to get it to work.

 

[HA Dave]

Be advised .......... As Dave-X10_L stated, all of this can be done with X10.  Just be prepared that you might have to spend a little more to get it to work.

hawk1 is correct! Your home runs on 220 (240) volts... which is really two 110 (120) volt lines. These two lines are separate phases... and if you have two X10 devices on different phases... they may not communicate with each other. The RF (radio freq.) of X10 devices can be limited as well. There is LOTS more about these issues here at the forum.

But putting an X10 alarm, with a (couple) sirens and phone dialer in the garage should be pretty simple. The X10 alarm is suppose to be the largest selling in America.

However... the more complex the setup... the greater the likely hood you'll have issues to deal with. X10 isn't really a plug-N-play technology. But X10 is an old well known and easy to understand technology. I don't work for X10... and I don't profit in any way from its use. I do have a somewhat large X10 setup... and I really enjoy it (you can check out my Site and videos at the links below) . I personally haven't had great success with the X10 cameras and software with Internet viewing... so I recommended the cheap IP cameras (I've had luck with them).

 

[singletrack]

Dave-X10_L thanks for pointing me in the right direction.  Is it possible to disable the siren?  I don't have a phone line in the garage, so the unit will be placed in the house and I don't want to be shocked from my sleep every time a mouse triggers the motion sensor.  Having the unit dial my cell phone, which I also use for my sleep alarm, will be much more tolerable notification.

Thanks

[HA Dave]

Is it possible to disable the siren?  I don't have a phone line in the garage, so the unit will be placed in the house and I don't want to be shocked from my sleep every time a mouse triggers the motion sensor. 

The siren that is built into the console can NOT be disabled (short of clipping a wire). However... I don't think anything smaller than a cat should trigger the motion sensor. AND... the alarm has two setting... "home" and/or "away". In the "away" mode: The motion sensors (as well as the door and window sensors) will trigger the alarm. In the "home" mode: Only the door/window sensors will trigger the alarm. Or... for that matter you don't need to install any motion sensors.

One of my favorite parts of my setup.... is the person detection voice warning. I use the X10 floodlights and BVC to (hopefully) warn away tresspassers before they damage property [breaking in].

[tom j]

Singletrack one thing you should remember is that x10 sensors do not like cold weather and are prone to failure in cold environments that's not just been my experience but I' have talked to numerous people who agree. The components have not been hardened to withstand cold below freezing environments, so just beware that my experience has been about a year before failure.

Tom j.