X10 connectivity
Posted: 27 Dec 2017 10:34
Hello, I have an X10 system installed for over 35 years and have friends with X10 controlled lighting switches and outlets.
Short problem....not about to go to the considerable expense to rewire my home to 'add a white wire' for ZWave in wall lighting switches - building permits, contractor......I am wheel chair bound...don't get into attics anymore!
My idea is to use a RaspPi and a Z-UNO to literally interface to my existing X-10 controller by simply replacing the push buttons with soldered wires to an external 'device' - the ZUNO with what ever minimal hardware I need to become the
momentary contact switch actions. The controller has 16 buttons - controlling units 1-8 (or 9-16 as selected and not important to this discussion) - one 'ON' push button, obviously one "OFF" push button for 8 devices.
What I need to know is the following:
1. Can a single ZWAVE device control 16 outputs?
2. Can the ZWave (or ZUNO) turn off the selected outputs in some way after a few milliseconds? I can use ttl devices to perform the MC requirements BUT the ZWAVE still has to be told the device is 'off' again.
I need to say 'zzzz01 ON' and have it literally somehow momentarily pulse 'zuno pin 'one'
Say "zzzzz07 OFF" and same deal....pulse 'zuno pin 'four' (or what ever.)
I read somewhere that the ZUNO can 'easily expand the number of it's output pins' - if this is not true then the four known output pins could be used......
One idea that I have used on Ardinos is to use a 74hc595 to let 3 of the pins select one of the 8 lines and the fourth
output 'pulse' the 595 - so 0100 is 'unit' 4 - that gives me 8 circuits; greatly helps solve my home lighting needs! Still only four ON-OFF units - takes care of the bed rooms anyway!!!
Sorry so possibly complicated. Using an Arduino, piece of cake - but no Arduino has ZWave to my knowledge!
And yes, I know almost nothing about ZWAVE! Will learn if someone gives me an idea that MY IDEA has a chance to work!
Thanks, George
P.S. Hopefully this will 'excite' more people to semi-migrate to ZWave.
Short problem....not about to go to the considerable expense to rewire my home to 'add a white wire' for ZWave in wall lighting switches - building permits, contractor......I am wheel chair bound...don't get into attics anymore!
My idea is to use a RaspPi and a Z-UNO to literally interface to my existing X-10 controller by simply replacing the push buttons with soldered wires to an external 'device' - the ZUNO with what ever minimal hardware I need to become the
momentary contact switch actions. The controller has 16 buttons - controlling units 1-8 (or 9-16 as selected and not important to this discussion) - one 'ON' push button, obviously one "OFF" push button for 8 devices.
What I need to know is the following:
1. Can a single ZWAVE device control 16 outputs?
2. Can the ZWave (or ZUNO) turn off the selected outputs in some way after a few milliseconds? I can use ttl devices to perform the MC requirements BUT the ZWAVE still has to be told the device is 'off' again.
I need to say 'zzzz01 ON' and have it literally somehow momentarily pulse 'zuno pin 'one'
Say "zzzzz07 OFF" and same deal....pulse 'zuno pin 'four' (or what ever.)
I read somewhere that the ZUNO can 'easily expand the number of it's output pins' - if this is not true then the four known output pins could be used......
One idea that I have used on Ardinos is to use a 74hc595 to let 3 of the pins select one of the 8 lines and the fourth
output 'pulse' the 595 - so 0100 is 'unit' 4 - that gives me 8 circuits; greatly helps solve my home lighting needs! Still only four ON-OFF units - takes care of the bed rooms anyway!!!
Sorry so possibly complicated. Using an Arduino, piece of cake - but no Arduino has ZWave to my knowledge!
And yes, I know almost nothing about ZWAVE! Will learn if someone gives me an idea that MY IDEA has a chance to work!
Thanks, George
P.S. Hopefully this will 'excite' more people to semi-migrate to ZWave.