X10 anyone?

devgru · 02/05/2009, 08:17 AM

so i finally have the funding to buy a ACIII setup and have been researching for some time.

I know that the AC as well as some other controllers can also control X10 devices.i know the primary urge to buy a controller is automation and monitor/control of certain param's.

I have had X10 in my life for almost a decade and have also tried CeBUS and z-wave as well.I have a huge collection of X10 modules installed in the house and stored in boxes.

Has anyone out there ever used X10 for control of tank equipment?I know reef controllers can perform this as well as adding the ability to monitor pH,ORP,cond,disolve O2 and such.but an X10 active home controller($50) can control up to 256 devices,can be programmed by a pc and then disconnected(set and forget),and if you use the PRO devices they add 2way communication of status.plus you have the ability to automate around the house.

qfrisco · 02/05/2009, 04:29 PM

I've never used any kind of controller, but I just ordered an AC3 and it was just delivered and sitting on my front porch as I type this :-). I did a lot of research prior to ordering the AC3 and know that many people use X10 modules effectively to control all their various equipment. One common use is for controlling equipment on a second remote tank (in a different room, or a different floor of the house).

I have read though, that some ballasts generate noise on the AC circuits that prevent X10 modules from performing flawlessly, and a better way to control equipment is via the power bricks (DC4 and DC8 for the AC3). This is what I went with.

But if you've used X10 modules in your house successfully, you probably don't have any of those noisy ballasts and it should work fine for you.

devgru · 02/06/2009, 02:39 PM

thanks qfrisco.

i did order an ACIII with DC8 and DC4HD as well due to having a dual 400w and 2 175w MH's.

I have the active home in my house for lights mainly.but was thinking that it would be a cheaper alternative for those wanting to automate their tank w/o pH,ORP monitoring.when i had my 2nd tank,a 55g the lights were on a lamp module and i turned them on/off by remote control.

vresor · 02/06/2009, 02:43 PM

Hey Devgru, all I want to control are my lights (dawn actinics, main lights, moon lights and fuge light). What exactly would I need in the X10 world? I looked at their site and was overwhelmed with hard to figure out choices. Thanks.

chris4869 · 02/06/2009, 06:47 PM

Maybe it's the noise in my line, but I have problems with my X10. I have a few that I use to control the lights in my room, and the darn thing would go off (light on) in the middle of the night. Some more than others. There's no way I'll use it for my tank.

oldsaltman · 02/06/2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chris4869
Maybe it's the noise in my line, but I have problems with my X10. I have a few that I use to control the lights in my room, and the darn thing would go off (light on) in the middle of the night. Some more than others. There's no way I'll use it for my tank.

That is the major issue with anything X10. When it works all is well but when it doesn't it can cause serious problems.

woodwrangler · 02/06/2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chris4869
Maybe it's the noise in my line, but I have problems with my X10. I have a few that I use to control the lights in my room, and the darn thing would go off (light on) in the middle of the night. Some more than others. There's no way I'll use it for my tank.

Do you have a phase coupler installed? (also called signal bridge)

02/05/2009, 08:17 AM	#1
devgru Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: casselberry,fl Posts: 523	X10 anyone? so i finally have the funding to buy a ACIII setup and have been researching for some time. I know that the AC as well as some other controllers can also control X10 devices.i know the primary urge to buy a controller is automation and monitor/control of certain param's. I have had X10 in my life for almost a decade and have also tried CeBUS and z-wave as well.I have a huge collection of X10 modules installed in the house and stored in boxes. Has anyone out there ever used X10 for control of tank equipment?I know reef controllers can perform this as well as adding the ability to monitor pH,ORP,cond,disolve O2 and such.but an X10 active home controller($50) can control up to 256 devices,can be programmed by a pc and then disconnected(set and forget),and if you use the PRO devices they add 2way communication of status.plus you have the ability to automate around the house. __________________ It's time's like these when I think of the immortal worlds of socrate's who said "I drank what?" Current Tank Info: 125g w/125g sump/fuge,ACIII,RIO26hf,MAG9.5,PS,sulfer denitrate

02/06/2009, 02:39 PM	#3
devgru Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: casselberry,fl Posts: 523	thanks qfrisco. i did order an ACIII with DC8 and DC4HD as well due to having a dual 400w and 2 175w MH's. I have the active home in my house for lights mainly.but was thinking that it would be a cheaper alternative for those wanting to automate their tank w/o pH,ORP monitoring.when i had my 2nd tank,a 55g the lights were on a lamp module and i turned them on/off by remote control. __________________ It's time's like these when I think of the immortal worlds of socrate's who said "I drank what?" Current Tank Info: 125g w/125g sump/fuge,ACIII,RIO26hf,MAG9.5,PS,sulfer denitrate

02/05/2009, 04:29 PM	#2
qfrisco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Area Posts: 1,389	I've never used any kind of controller, but I just ordered an AC3 and it was just delivered and sitting on my front porch as I type this :-). I did a lot of research prior to ordering the AC3 and know that many people use X10 modules effectively to control all their various equipment. One common use is for controlling equipment on a second remote tank (in a different room, or a different floor of the house). I have read though, that some ballasts generate noise on the AC circuits that prevent X10 modules from performing flawlessly, and a better way to control equipment is via the power bricks (DC4 and DC8 for the AC3). This is what I went with. But if you've used X10 modules in your house successfully, you probably don't have any of those noisy ballasts and it should work fine for you.

02/06/2009, 02:43 PM	#4
vresor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 285	Hey Devgru, all I want to control are my lights (dawn actinics, main lights, moon lights and fuge light). What exactly would I need in the X10 world? I looked at their site and was overwhelmed with hard to figure out choices. Thanks.

02/06/2009, 06:47 PM	#5
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	Maybe it's the noise in my line, but I have problems with my X10. I have a few that I use to control the lights in my room, and the darn thing would go off (light on) in the middle of the night. Some more than others. There's no way I'll use it for my tank.