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Author Topic: Motion Sensor Conflict  (Read 5007 times)

Dave4720

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Motion Sensor Conflict
« on: January 02, 2013, 02:49:03 PM »

I think I know what is going on, but I though I'd look for insight anyway.

I have a MS16A Motion Sensor near a room door to sense entry to turn on a light.  Later I added a MS10A Security Motion Sensor near (but not next to) the MS16A.  The MS10A is for the security alarm, and the MS16A is for the light.

Well, the light socket-rocket fried a while back, so I never had both these working at the same time.  I got around to fixing things recently, and found the light operation is intermittent.

I figure the MS10A and MS16A are stepping on each other RF-wise.  BTW, the receiver for the MS10A is a DS7000, and the receiver for the MS16A is a WGL V572, so the "listeners" are different, but if both sensors "talk" at the same time, the RF gets corrupted.  This does assume they are both on the same frequency.

I could move the MS10A away from the MS16A, but I want the alarm to trip upon entry into the room.  But I also want the light to go on upon entry into the room.  Hmmm ... sounds like a conflict.

I thought about mapping the MS10A through the WGL V572 to control the light, but the MS10A's don't seem to "catch" motion as well as the MS16A's.

Any thoughts on this?
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Noam

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Re: Motion Sensor Conflict
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2013, 04:23:47 PM »

When you say the light operation is "inermittent," could you give some more detail?
Are you using AHP with a CM15A (or other computer software) which allows you to monitor the signals being detected?
What housecode/unit code are the motion sensors and the light set to?
Are you using any macros with the light, or is the motion sensor supposed to control the light directly?
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Dave4720

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Re: Motion Sensor Conflict
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2013, 04:48:26 PM »

When you say the light operation is "intermittent," could you give some more detail?

Walk past MS16A, see LED flash, sometimes lamp lights, sometimes not.

Are you using AHP with a CM15A (or other computer software) which allows you to monitor the signals being detected?

Hmm … have XTBM … should use that.  Don’t know why I didn’t think to do that.  Plus, I can move lamp module and MS16A near WGL V572 and verify V572 green LED and check operation sans MS10A.  Also, I can hide MS10A and see if reliable operation results.

What housecode/unit code are the motion sensors and the light set to?

B15

Are you using any macros with the light, or is the motion sensor supposed to control the light directly?

I’ve tried both (CM11A), just using direct control now.

Sure, I can troubleshoot.  Looking for the short answer that "yes, two motion sensors will interfere with each other, don't even try".
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Brian H

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Re: Motion Sensor Conflict
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2013, 05:54:10 PM »

Yes two motion sensors can interfere with each other. If both trigger together.
All X10 Motion sensors both Security and Standard Motion types use the same frequency of 310MHz.
The MS10A security motion sensors commands are not a standard protocol type and the WGL V572 will not process those signals.
The V572RF32 model will process a MS10As command and map it to a standard X10 power line command.
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Dave4720

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Re: Motion Sensor Conflict
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2013, 06:18:44 PM »

Yeah, I meant 'V572RF32'.

That also 'splains something else. I use True X10 Compatible Toggle Switch Modification (http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=20348.0) that also is sometimes hit-and-miss ... if I flick the toggle switch at same time sensor "sees" me, that's also a problem.

I think it's time to relocate the MS10A.
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bkenobi

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Re: Motion Sensor Conflict
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2013, 07:31:14 PM »

You can use SmartMacros or some other type of scripting of your choice to use the same motion sensor to do multiple tasks...potentially.  I have one sensor that's used to trigger lighting when dark and also trips a chime not more than every 5 minutes.
 

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