X-10 Info and questions
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am doing this. Cal's computer mall has loads. I can set it up to control a few other things. [img]smile.gif[/img]

X-10 Info and questions
 

[quote]Originally posted by DJ88:

Quote:

I am doing this. Cal's computer mall has loads. I can set it up to control a few other things. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">hey Darren how much are you looking at for a basic laptop?

Bill thanks for the reply, I remember that solid state mode on RC and he was going to get back with pic's hmm I should maby e-mail hime and find out how it is comming..

Steve

X-10 Info and questions
 

here is he thread if anyone is interested in reading about this mod..

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...&highlight=x10

hey Darren would this mode be hard to do, I need more detailed instructions than they list here but you should be able to figure it out :D

Steve

[ 09 July 2002, 17:48: Message edited by: StirCrazy ]

X-10 Info and questions
 

Anyone have to return anything with X10?
I tried to order on the last day via the net. But it would not take my card or something. So I called it in and she said the 15 bucks would be credited after the sales order was entered to the system. On the confirmation I got, this was all true, but they charged me full price on the Firecracker module :mad: :mad:

Lee

X-10 Info and questions
 

Lee, I had the same trouble. I'm holding off getting one now until a few things get cleared up.

X-10 Info and questions
 

Troy- it looks like the "sale" is still on. But in order to get my $15 off, I had to get my voucher first, then place my order. I was able to see my voucher validated before we even entered our Visa card no. The whole cost was $16.04 USD (approx 25.66 CDN).
But, I am not happy about Bill's program needing the computer on all the time. There has to be another way around this than to spend $300 USD for a Solar 1000 to get the same results (or close to it).

X-10 Info and questions
 

Jeanna,

You will not find a dynamic timer with all these features which does not need a computer to run. Some, Like the Neptune AquaController have their own computer, but you pay for that.

You cannot do moon light simulation unless you daily compute the moon/rise/set times and it's phase and adjust it accordingly. Same for sunrise/set although you dont have to worry about phase.

If you're satisfied with fixed times, then your cheapest way out is manual timers.

I do not recommend a manual timer for the moon, I think that does more harm than good. You need the moon to vary in duration and intensity and also provide a number of moonless nights.

I agree with Stircrazy, the x10 for wavemaker isnt the best thing...too noisy unless you remote the modules or do the solid state modification. However Soft Start for pumps isnt a big deal, I've been running with 3 maxiJets on a wave timer strip for over 3 years and they are quite and still running well. Even the AquaController doesnt have it. Whatever you buy, dont pay extra for that feature, it's not worth it. eLightMaster does work well with the X10 universal module which is silent and is used to switch a motorized ball valve (which was the actual reason for adding the Wavemaker). That being said, the WaveMaker is an option anyway.

And the leaving the computer on thing, in the long run, your computer will thank you. Most electronics fail from the thermal shock of startup or shutdown. As long as you turn off your monitor I dont think you would notice any change in your electric bill.

I hope you all have fun with your FireCrackers, we'll probably have to wait till next 4th of July for another sale like that one.

X-10 Info and questions
 

ok, if you guys want a timer system that you can turn the computer off then you should be ordering the "active home" NOT the "firecracker"
Myself I leave my computer running all the time so that isn't a big deal but I also find Bills program a little of a "in the way" inconvenience on my computer and sence I have decided all I want to use X-10 for is my lighting, I have decided to use a different program that is Freeware and set up beautifully for running light or any other specificaly times events.

Also part of my desision for not using Bill's program (besides the $30.00 price tag) is that I purchased a red sea wave maker the otherday along with two more MJ1200's amd I am ipmressed with the currents in my tank now.

Jeanna, what all do you want to do with your firecracker? Bill's program has somee very cool features but for the average person it is overkill, I understand the reason behind the price of it (over 100 hours to develop the algarythems for the sunrise stuff alone) but I will never use thoes features. my actinics come on at 0700, my PC's come on at 0830 , PC's go off at 1930 (7:30 pm) , and my actinic go off at 2100 (9:00pm) I use the palm pad to over ride the computer when I am working on stuff and thats all I need. If I add more lights I get more apliance moduals.

I must also mention that a big part of the reason I got the red sea wave maker was that if I used bills program to controle my power heads I would have a loud ugly "click" everything a power head turned on or off, with 4 powerheads going I would slowly go nuts I think, also with Bill's program and X-10 you do not get the soft start feature for our powerheads.

the program I have been using for two weeks now is called "FireworX" it sits in the task menue beside icq and you don't even notice it is there.

this page will let you look at it and download it if you want. like I said it is freeware so it never expires or anything.
FireworX Page

Steve