X10 interface for spc panel

SemperFidelis

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on what x10 interface to use on a spc5320, I believe it needs to be connected thru RS232.


Anyone use something like this?


Thanks

fred funk }{

It's a CM12U interface.

KoolKid

If your ordering one make sure you specify RJ45 connection.
Its a nightmare making up the lead correctly.

Stoner

SemperFidelis wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on what x10 interface to use on a spc5320, I believe it needs to be connected thru RS232.


Anyone use something like this?


Thanks

you have seen this on my panel. Now stop getting ahead of yourself, stick to what you know, fix your PC and get moving on the C# interface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yacYzltaSKI

leo738

Hello All,

Not wishing to hijack this thread but what is required to get the X10 interface for the Siemens system up & running (beyond the receiving modules)?

I've got a 5320.

Thanks,

Leo

KoolKid

Connect the It's a CM12U interface.
Programme the serial post as X10 , enable X10 , Add & address devices.
They can then be switched manually from the panel (or the app) or you can add triggers , calendars and/or cause 7 effect alarm events to switch the desired units.

fred funk }{

X10 isn't very reliable and it's very prone to interference on the line. I'd try test your devices at each location before installing.

leo738

Thanks for the replies.

I understand that the connection to the panel is via RJ45 but I can't seem to find an appropriate module. The only module I can find with a CM12U interface is:

http://www.letsautomate.com/10075.cfm

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Leo

KoolKid

This place are pretty good. You can ask for an RJ45 in place of the serial connection or you can just swap it out and crimp it yourself.

leo738

Ok, many thanks.

Leo

Gabico

I bought a CM12 controller and it has a RJ11 connector on it. Does anyone know how to make the connection to the panel Rj45->Rj11.
Thanks

Gabico

Gabico wrote: »

I bought a CM12 controller and it has a RJ11 connector on it. Does anyone know how to make the connection to the panel Rj45->Rj11.
Thanks

Found it myself in the manual, page 273. Tested with one receiver and it seems to work fine but I have 2 problems
1) i think the receiver has some power leak when off.
2) not sure how to add 2 receivers. I tried adding a second but both of them are controlled by "device id 1" on the panel.

KoolKid

What type of receivers are you using.
Ids are set either manually using pots to select letter and number, or soft programmed by putting the device in programme mode and sending a signal from the ID you want to apply.
If 2 or more devices have the same ID both should respond to any signals sent to that address.

Gabico

KoolKid wrote: »

What type of receivers are you using.
Ids are set either manually using pots to select letter and number, or soft programmed by putting the device in programme mode and sending a signal from the ID you want to apply.
If 2 or more devices have the same ID both should respond to any signals sent to that address.

I got 2 sensors like this:
http://www.letsautomate.com/12168.cfm?
So the id are soft programmed, and now they both have id 1. I will try to change the id on the second unit. Reading the description of the receivers the power leak seems to be normal for them. I bought the kit from the site: controller + 2 receivers which for 35£ I think its decent value.

KoolKid

How are you setting ID 1 ?
The panel will send an ID of a letter & number.
eg A1,A2,A3 etc

Gabico

KoolKid wrote: »

How are you setting ID 1 ?
The panel will send an ID of a letter & number.
eg A1,A2,A3 etc

Initially I plugged both sensors in, added 2 sensors on the panel House A1 ID1 and ID2 and pressed test A1 Id1 and both sensors turned on. I guess they were either in learning mode or had Id1 already inside.
Now I plan to put one of the sensors in learning mode according to their instructions and from the panel send on command on ID2 hopefully this will set the id2 on the sensor. Is that correct?

leo738

Koolkid,

Is the plan for Siemens to implement their own protocol?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84583050&postcount=6

I'll hold off if it looks like it's going to happen.

Thanks,

Leo

KoolKid

Thats the plan . How far away it is I don't know.

leo738

OK, thanks.

Leo

leo738

Hello all,

I'm having problems myself getting a CM12U unit working with the panel.

I'm on firmware 3.6.6. I activated X10 on:

configuration>outputs>X10>settings & tried connecting the unit but no joy. No entries on the log on the status menu.

I had to make up the connecting cable (RJ11-> RJ45) myself so that could very well be the issue.

Can anyone confirm the orientation of the connectors as shown on the Siemens manual page 273 (attached)?

Tab up or down? Cable towards or away from the viewer?

Thanks

Leo

KoolKid

Don't have one to reference at the moment . From memory is with the clip facing down counting from left to right.

DublinDilbert

I don't think that diagram is correct, pin 5 on the rj45 is not ground, it's pin 4 on the rj45 I believe... I had this problem when making my own x10 wireless modem to connect to the spc.

leo738

Many thanks for the replies.

Will take a look at & if I get it working post what works for me.

leo738

Not having much luck with this. Perhaps a dodgy unit (bought second hand on ebay).

Can anyone confirm that the log shows some entries after connecting the unit or is there some other way to know if the unit is connecting successfully?

KoolKid

AFAIK The panel logs the events as long as they are sent from the panel. Remember X10 commands are sent out blind regardless of the unit connected or not.
The connections are one of 2 combinations either counting with the clip facing down or up when counting from the left.

rolion

Can someone explain to me how to use the x10 devices in combination with a SPC controller, please !?
What type of scenarios can you design, advantages or not ?
Thanks.

KoolKid

There are a number of ways X10 can be used with an SPC controller.

You can create manual short cuts to switch on/off from keypads or apps.
You can set up a calendar for automatic on / times for each day/week etc. Up to 4 on off sequences per day can be different for each day of the week.There can be 3 different week types as well as numerous exception days /holidays etc.
You can set up multiple different cause & effect scenarios which can be triggered by any zone actions or any alarm action. These can also be controlled by time/calendar or other events.
You can also have any combination of any or all of the above.
Pretty much limitless.

fred funk }{

rolion wrote: »

Can someone explain to me how to use the x10 devices in combination with a SPC controller, please !?
What type of scenarios can you design, advantages or not ?
Thanks.

X10 isn't reliable and most installers don't recommend it. It's hit and miss if it will work as there a few things that interfere with it.

KoolKid

Its down to the quality of the mains supply and what causes interference.
I have a large number of devices & the only issue I had was a device on the same sockets as an old plasma screen. Everything else I use regularly without any problems.

fred funk }{

KoolKid wrote: »

Its down to the quality of the mains supply and what causes interference.
I have a large number of devices & the only issue I had was a device on the same sockets as an old plasma screen. Everything else I use regularly without any problems.

My point exactly. Hit and miss.

KoolKid

One device in one location over the years, and that was easily diagnosed. Not hit and miss in my book.
Having said that something better and 2 way would be great. Must see if Vanderbilt are still working on their own protocol still.

DublinDilbert

My X10 to wireless bridge is working great, not a single issue. Actually made up another one for a second panel i have.

Quick question, on the SPC panels, is it possible to log in via SPCConnect.com to check the battery level? I have one i need to run off a deep cycle battery + solar for a couple of weeks?

KoolKid

Yes
It will be on the main status screen.

DublinDilbert

KoolKid wrote: »

Yes
It will be on the main status screen.

Great thanks, will have a look.

Anyone care to guess how long a 110aHr deep cycle battery will last? I measured about 250mA for the panel, bell is about 50mA. External GSM modem will probably be about 100-200mA. So probably about 0.5Amps, have a solar panel topping it up.

I'd imagine the 110Ahr battery with no solar would be down to 50% @ 4 days, so hopefully the solar panel can keep it float charged.

leo738

DublinDilbert wrote: »

My X10 to wireless bridge is working great, not a single issue. Actually made up another one for a second panel i have.

Quick question, on the SPC panels, is it possible to log in via SPCConnect.com to check the battery level? I have one i need to run off a deep cycle battery + solar for a couple of weeks?

Mind me asking for you to share details of your bridge? Home brewed? Sounds interesting & something I'd be interested implementing

Leo

wexfordman2

leo738 wrote: »

Mind me asking for you to share details of your bridge? Home brewed? Sounds interesting & something I'd be interested implementing

Leo

Gents,

I have a box of old x10 din rail modules taking up space in my shed if anyone is interested in them? Free to a good home, I am based in east cork.

leo738

Finally got back to this after a long break. Got the interface up & running. I found that connecting ground to either pin 4 or 5 worked for me. I attach a picture of the pin numbering for those that might be looking for it.

I'm probably missing something in the setup but an X10 module responds properly when it is tested via the outputs>X10 page on the SPC webpage, but doesn’t respond via the SPC app. Should I be mapping the output or perhaps I haven't set up the correct user rights?

Regards,

Leo

KoolKid

Yes you should set up a mapping gate and trigger. Also remember the assigned address & the trigger must be enabled.
Are you using the browser or SPC Pro? The latter is much easier.

KoolKid

leo738 wrote: »

Finally got back to this after a long break. Got the interface up & running. I found that connecting ground to either pin 4 or 5 worked for me. I attach a picture of the pin numbering for those that might be looking for it.

I'm probably missing something in the setup but an X10 module responds properly when it is tested via the outputs>X10 page on the SPC webpage, but doesn’t respond via the SPC app. Should I be mapping the output or perhaps I haven't set up the correct user rights?

Regards,

Leo

Thanks Leo.
It would probably help others it you posted both ends of that cable you made up.

leo738

KoolKid wrote: »

Thanks Leo.
It would probably help others it you posted both ends of that cable you made up.

I had to solder the other end to the unit as i didn't have the correct connector. I attach a pic of the pinout anyway.

A lot of confusion with 'rj' connectors. It's a 4p4c plug with the approx dimensions as shown in the second pic. Might be an rj11 but hard to verify!

leo738

Still not having a lot of luck with mapping gates, triggers & x10.

It seems that the X10 is activated by a trigger. A mapping gate is also activated/ controller by a trigger. However an activation of a trigger can be a mapping gate!! It seems circular!

Is the correct sequence
Trigger condition met -> X10 activated?

Or

Trigger condition met -> mapping gate activated -> X10 activated?

Leo

KoolKid

Start with the X10 house address pick & set this & enable it.
Once saved at this point the X10 module should switch manually from the test buttons in the X10 menu.
If that's good now add a keypad short cut. Click save and that should now work from any keypad.
Now create a trigger & name it. For now leave calendar at none and time as is (24hours)
Click on add a condition. This can be any of the options listed. Remember if you add multiple conditions these all have to be met before the trigger will activate.
So if you add a condition Zone 4 Open what that zone opens the trigger will activate.
If you now add another condition 50 5 open then Zone 4 & 5 must open before the trigger activates.
If you want either or scenarios then create a separate trigger for each scenario & then add each trigger to the output.
Also remember you may need to create a separate trigger scenario to switch a particular device off again.

leo738

Great, many thanks. I'm mainly using the app & the Output only shows up when a mapping gate is present. I hadn't been adding a mapping gate as a condition for a trigger, hence the X10 unit wasn't been switched.

Have it working now! Huge amount of ways to setup triggers etc, very handy!

I suspect however that my Solar PV inverter may not be playing nice with the X10 signals, will have to wait & see if it's the culprit...