Auto pool ring inflator for Intex above ground pool.

[Plasbot]

I just wanted to share an idea I made work thanks to X10.  We bought one of those above-ground pools on a whim and set it up in the backyard.  Everything was fine for awhile but as I found out, everyone has trouble with these because they have an inflatable ring around the top of the pool that must stay inflated.  It doesn't take long for cats, birds, and other varmints to discover the pool and dig their little claws into the ring while they get a drink.  Finally got to the point that the ring was deflating about every 3-4 hours.  Sure I could have tried to painstakingly discover and patch all the tiny holes but that would have been too easy.  Instead I used an X10 appliance module to switch on the electric inflator that came with the pool every hour for about 30 seconds.  Using Activhome macros, that was the easy part.  The hard part was rigging up the tubing with a check valve so the air wouldn't leak right back out of the inflator after it shut off.  Actually that wasn't that hard either.  Another problem solved by X10!

[Brian H]

Great use of an X10 Module.
I am sure it may assist others.
Your second Helpful from me.

[Tuicemen]

Cool idea!
This may inspire others .
You get a helpful from me as well.

[cjhallx]

ditto

[Noam]

If you could get your hands on a PowerFlash module (they have been discontinued), you might be able to go one better: Hook up a pressure sensor to the inlet, and have the pump turn on when the pressure drops too low, and turn the pump off once the pressure has been restored.
Come to think of it, you probably don't need X10 for that. All you need is a pressure switch and a relay, and you can control the pump directly.