Phillips said:
Hey,
I have been using X10 on my tanks (a little more than some neon!2 300 gallon
Reefs tanks) for about 4 yrs. I have been using a Neptune controller and
works fine, but it is a little BASIC in some functions, and would like to be
a little more responsive for certain things. I re issue the commands every 5
minutes to ensure the devices are in the correct state.
I have a JDS I/O and also a Time Commander.
I will take a look at the weedtech site and see how well I do calling from
Excel.
Excel as a programming platform?
Does the JDS do direct IO? If then, a simple relay switch or solid
state IO module (basically a triac in a box) will give you direct
connection. if the relay is a DP (2 pole), you use one pole for the
AC and the other for a digital input (yes, it's on).
I know many of the home controllers will control something via hardwire.
X10's attraction is that it's cheap, it usually works and you don't need
to wire. Otoh, if you could put one set of controllers at the fish
tank and CAT5 back to the controller, you can get high reliability.
(incidentally, was reading about folks sealing up ibuttons to read
water temp).
[I always figured if I was going to have fish again, I'd have trout or
bass or a tuna or something. Time to clean the tank? Get the cleaver
and start the grill. I'll clean if over the next week and restock
]
What's been nice about the weedtech is that it's a serial connection to
my computer. Which means I can put it 80' of cable away from the
computer. It's just a PIC chip, a BASIC Stamp or other 8051 chips on a
board could do the same thing. Burning my own PICs or other
uControllers could cost < $30 a pop.
But the weedtech is handy enough. I had it mounted in an Altoids tin,
but it's now in a lunch box with some work room inside for wiring. I can
chain weedtech devices together on one serial line. I can see, but
don't use, the value of that.
