Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[bluechipjr]

Never used x10 so really dumb installaion questions.
I ordered:
4 - ms14a motion sensors
1 - SC546A - chime
1 - tm751 transciever
Is there a thread, for dummies, that gives detailed instructions for proper set up?
The motion sensors will be all outside and need to serve 2 purposes. Detect intruders and, more importantly, to let me know when my friends labradore retriever comes for a visit...she runs away from home when shes lonely
Do I flush mount to wall a few feet off the ground or mount higher and angle downward?
I believe all units will be within 100 ft of transceiver - is there any considerations for best performance?

I just ordered today so no doubt I'll have more ?? when it gets here.

MANY THANKS in advance

[Brian H]

Welcome to X10 Automation.

There is some good data in the X10 wiki.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Main_Page

Also the X19 Support Area also has good information on modules and typical questions.
http://www.x10.com/support/support.htm

Are you going to use all of the motion sensors on the same address? So that anyone of them will sound the chime?
Is there any metal on the area where you want to mount the motion sensors?

[bluechipjr]

For the chime - I would prefer to be able to set it so I know what zone it is, if that is possilbe. If not 1 chime for any will work.
The only metal I can thing of is gutters and downspouts. Should I keep away from them?

Thanks again and I will go right to the suggested links.

[Brian H]

There are no Zones with the devices you ordered. As they are not security devices.
The chime module has one address House Code A-P Dial and Unit Code 1-16 Dial.
You can program the motion sensor to send an X10 On and Off to the address the chime module is on.
The chime module will sound from the On signal sent on its address through the TM751 or any other X10 controller sending to its address.
The TM751 has a House Code Dial and can pass all 16 Unit code commands for the House Code it is set to. Back on the power line.
It also has a Appliance type relay in it hard set to Unit 1. So if you chose unit code 1 for motion it will also go on and off with motion.
More than one motion sensor can be set to the same address, just that you will not know which one sent the signal.
Motion sensors also have a Dusk Dawn sensor the sends an On at Dusk and an Off at Dawn. On the Address the sensor is set to +1 Unit Code.
So lets say M1 is motion. M2 is Dusk Dawn.

[bluechipjr]

I really did not comprehend - too many doobies in the 70's!
I need to over -ride dawn/dusk so it chimes any time of day. Can I do that?

[dave w]

With what you purchased, you can not zone the chime.

Cliff Notes version of what Brian said.
This will get you working.

1. Set the TM751 to "A" house code and plug in to an outlet fairly central to where you want to mount all the motion sensors.
2. Set the chime to House Code "A" Unit Code "1"
3. Put batteries in the MS14s. They will default to HC "A" UC "1". Leave them that way for the time being.
4. Avoid mounting the MS14As DIRECTLY to metal, it really knocks down their range.
5. Experiment with the mounting. Either way you described will end up working. Try to avoid pointing the mounted motion sensor directly at the sun, or a bright light. It makes them temporaly blind to movment, so mounting higher and pointing down may be required if you must point them towards rising or setting sun.

Read on forum or here: http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm , about the down side of X10. Namely: Phase Coupling, Noise, and Signal Suckers. You will probably run into these problems but they (usually) are not difficult to solve.
Now go forth, X10, and doobie not. 

[bluechipjr]

We love Cliff !
Thanks so much 

[bluechipjr]

PS to Dave
I will read the link suggested for sure. When I am in a better financial situation, what should I consider for perimeter detection that does not require monthly fees?

[davideinmd]

I really did not comprehend - too many doobies in the 70's!
I need to over -ride dawn/dusk so it chimes any time of day. Can I do that?

The ms16a (ActiveEye) motion sensor allows for choosing 'only when it's dark' or any lighting. It also allows you to choose how long to wait before sending the movement alert again.