Power Flash Mode 2 & Power Horns

[tom j 2]

Hi well I'm moving on to a monitored alarm
system so I can have fire support. x10 has a
monitored system but no fire support I
believe. The one thing I loved about my old
x10 system was its ability to flash all x10
lights. I understand that if you hook a
power flash up to any alarm system that it
to will flash the lights in mode 2. My
question is will this also trigger the three
power horns I have around the house these
thing are really loud and I think is one of
the reasons that when my house was broken
into back in November that the thief’s got
NOTHING, the neighbors told me they were
seen running from the house, three of those
large power horns plus a third party outside
siren had to be rough!!! and I just want to
make sure they will still function with my
new system. Thanks

Tcj

[Brian H]

I did a test. Setup a PH508 Powerhorn and a
PF284 Powerflasher, on an unused House/Unit
code. Mode 2; Dry Contacts trigger. When the
trigger screws where shorted on the
Powerflasher the Powerhorn did sound just
fine. Only thing to double check is the
Powerflasher needs either a dry closure from
the alarm or a low voltage from the alarm to
be triggered.

[Brian H]

More information. When triggered in Mode 2
the Powerflash sends out the X10 All Lights
ON then All Lights OFF command on the House
Code it is set to. So any light modules and
wall switches on that house code will also
flash on and off at about 2 second intervals.

[tom j 2]

Say Brian just wanted to really thank you
for checking that out for me it was really
really considerate of you! It's going to be
a few weeks before I get this new system
hooked up and I just got these new
Powerhorns 3 for 1!! So I just wanted to
make sure. And to quote "Only thing to
double check is the  Powerflasher needs
either a dry closure from the alarm or a low
voltage from the alarm to be triggered" This
is exactly what they say in the installation
manual that comes with the Powerflash, say
my x10 lights are currently on a1 so I guess
the in order to flash the lights and
activate the horn everything show be set
accordingly. Is this correct? Thanks

Tcj

[Brian H]

Yes the House/Unit code the lights are on
will be what you set the PowerFlash to. Also
a side note. I am using one to sound a chime
module in the cellar when the door bell
rings. With an ELK Door Bell current sensor.
It has a solid state output. If you set the
module to dry contacts the small sensing
voltage is exactly oposite of the + and - on
the case. First time I hooked it up nothing
happened. I had to reverse the connections.
The + and - markings are for en external
voltages polarity if it is DC.

[Brian H]

Correction. The Powerflash sends the All
Lights ON and All Lights OFF. So any lamp
module or wall switch on the House Code will
flash.

[tom j 2]

Thanks Again Brian GOT IT!

Tcj

[tom j 2]

Say meant to ask you something. I know this
isn’t the right forum but do you have any of
the 10 cameras??

tcj

[Brian H]

I have cameras but not in use. I printed out
my X10 signal reception logs and found that
the Powerflash send a All Lights ON and a
All Units OFF. Lights and wall switches will
flash on and off and the Powerhorns will
work. One quirk. Any Appliance type module
on the House Code if on will turn off with
the first All Units OFF command and stay off
as they don't respond to an All Lights ON
command.

[tom j 2]

Thanks the reason I was asking was that
after ordering all my cameras I got that VCR
Commander 2 to handle everything problem is
I've had to send the thing back going on 5
times and I still haven't gotten one that
works, these things won't even remember the
motion sensor codes let alone the record and
stop functions from your remote I was just
wondering if you had one of these. I just
tired of returning these things but I really
don't know what to do. I have two a VCR
Commander and Commander 2 neither of witch
work which kind of makes my wireless system
worthless to me as far as recording goes.
Thanks!

Tcj