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[gg4000]

It's backwards. When the gate is closed, AH shows open. When the gate is open, 

The only thing I did different is use magnets from Home Depot. They stick to the gate and close and/or open the DS10A contact.
It's working, but backwards.

Is it a North/South thing or somptin?
Too strong of a magnet?
Any Ideas?

Tanks

[Brian H]

Did you use different magnets and switch or just a different magnet?

Is the gate metal?

If you used both a new switch and magnet.
Your switch is working backwards. It is closed when the magnet is not near it and opens when the magnet is close to it.

Now I hope I can explain this clearly.
In my electronic world. A Normally Closed Magnetic Switch. Is closed when not activeted. As that is its unactivated state.
If it is specified for a Security Console it is called used in a Normally Open Zone. As the zone when not violated has the magnet next to it and it is then open.

So you need a Normally Open switch if electronic terms are used or a Normally Closed if specified for a Security System use.

If you just used a new magnet then we have to think this over a bit more.

[gg4000]

Hi

Yes the gate is metal. And I just used a different magnet.
The DS10 worked like it should when I used the magnet that came with it. Gate was closed, AH said it was closed.
The magnet that came with it was too hard to line up because the gate does not always close to the exact same position. So I picked up two large magnets. They stuck to the gate (no two face tape) and is always lined up with the DS10.
I'm going to try a few things now. Turn the magnets 180 degrees, or 90. We will see..... 

[gg4000]

OK... Removing one of the two magnets and rotating the magnet has it working.
I guess I invented a way to convert a N.C. to a N.O.

[Brian H]

The magnetic fields must have been reacting with each other and maybe the metal gate material.

[mike]

another idea fwiw....

I have 10'x10' dual hanging metal barn doors, put a ds10 on top of each.  Like OP, too much variance in closed spacing so not reliable.  so i used a couple niodimium motor magnets for more distance also....

I found similar result in that if I LINED magnets up with the ds10 body when door closed, it showed open also.  I found that the magnetic strength was TOO strong:  as door was closed, it would close the ds10 reed switch from about 2" away, stayed closed UNTIL magnet was even with ds10 body - at which time it opened. 

I concluded that the super strong magnetic field was pulling BOTH sides of the reed switch and thus opened it again.   maybe not right but with this thought I fixed it by

moving magnet so it approaches the ds10 sensor and only covers it 1/2 way!  Now it never "goes over the top" and is reliable.

BTW, in order to diagnose this easier, I found I can put a simple LED across the ds10 sensor and so see the switch state real time;  works so well I put them on various sensors where I want confirmation of sensor state (like in barn away from any audable confirmation.) 

[gg4000]

 put a simple LED across the ds10 sensor 

That would have saved me a lot of walking.

Going to Radio Shack today for some LEDs.

[mike]

if it doesnt lite, reverse it so it has right polarity.  since it only lites when door is OPEn, it should not hurt battery life - i am prob 1+ yr on batt's in mine...

[gg4000]

Speaking of bulbs/leds...
I was just making a gate opener with a DS10A with a new door bell button.
Wondering why it did not work. 
So I took apart the button and found it was one of doze light up buttons.
I took out the bulb and now I have a push button to open the gate. 

Then installed two small book shelf lights by the front and back doors. If those lights are on, don't let the German Shepherd out. The gate is open. 

Then installed a couple of flood lights that will turn on if the gate is opened, between 9PM and 3AM.

Been a great Fathers Day. X10 Work, X10, and more X10 work... 

Now I'm trying to figure out some kinda macro to trigger a voice script if the gate is open longer then 3 minutes. The gate should auto shut in 120 seconds unless something happened. I want to trigger the script every minute or so if the gate is open longer then 3 minutes.
I think I siad that right. I'm logic pooped. 

Here's the *.vbs script.....


Dim message, sapi
message="gate is open"
Set sapi=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
sapi.Speak message

I'm gonna have a beer or nine. 

[mike]

this is worth a way-to-go helpful from me!  good ideas.  I will be adding similar from your ideas.  thanks for sharing!

[gg4000]

You're Welcome.

Here's some details.
For the gate I used the X10 momentary relay. What a great thing. Closes for 1.5 seconds. 
Then a macro sends a off command after 3 seconds. So the gate or garage is ready for the next command.
I also use these relays for each zone of my 24 volt sprinkler system. They a set to stay closed until the timed off command is sent.

The script:

Dim message, sapi
message="gate is open"
Set sapi=CreateObject("sapi.spvoice")
sapi.Speak message

Copy and paste into NotePad. Save as [FileName].VBS
Double click it to make sure it works.
Make a Macro with Advanced Functions.
Windows Command.
In the Command box use C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe
in the Arguments box type (Your Path to Your FileName.vbs) C:\Users\GG\Documents\gate.vbs

Another fun one was the wireless mic for BVC.
I used a wireless headset mic (Gemini). Took the little mic off of the headset and hung it somewhere.
Turned the gain all the way up.
Soldered a (Took a chance!) 5 VDC power supply onto the battery terminals. Don't try this unless you don't care if it burns it out. Maybe find a 3 VDC power supply.
The wireless transmitter was using 2 AA batteries. That 3 volts.
But I got lucky. Even at %66 over voltage, it's been working fine for 2 months so far. I don't have to raise my voice to say a command.
I'm just left at the mercy of the speech recognition software.