X10 home automation with pic16f877

[ABSF]

be careful of HIGH voltage. Dangerous.

Yup. Especially, the transformerless ones

Totally agreed. That's why I suggested using transformer and during experimenting, isolation 220-220 transformers were also recommended by the Application Notes. Always have respect for the 220V AC as they are not so user friendly.

Allen

[waddah]

Thanks everyone,

When using 50Hz supply you have to amend the software to generate the burst at the correct interval as 50Hz is 20mS per cycle while 60Hz is 16.66mS per cycle.

Allen

well, if that will be possible, how about the plugged-in modules, lamp modules for example, are there any compatible with the 50Hz, I visited the x10 website, the products manufactured for usage in the US

Regards,
Waddah

[waddah]

I think it would be helpful if you read through this forum below. This person is doing the same project you're doing and he is from 230V ac country.

x-10 protocol and pic16f877 | CrazyEngineers
http://www.crazyengineers.com/community ... 877.28270/

Allen

Thank you Allen, it was very helpful. I did also refer to this forum, it's also helpful at the side of HW
http://www.edaboard.com/thread30833.html

but neither the 1st nor the 2nd had mentioned about the frequency issue. what do you think fellows ?

Waddah

[ABSF]

Well a lot of European countries and Australia are also making X-10 products. You'll get them by googling with "X10 for 220V systems". Some of them are here:

http://www.shed.com/not110v.html.

http://www.alibaba.com/member/kevinlohk.html

http://www.hansotten.com/attersjo/powerDistrubX10.html

but neither the 1st nor the 2nd had mentioned about the frequency issue. what do you think fellows ?

If you're making your own X10 with PIC and with your own designed circuit. It should be OK if the Master and Slave are consistent with the same point of frequency burst. But if you try to interwork with US X10, try first without the software adjustment and see if it works on 50Hz supply. May be it would still work even if the envelopes are slightly offset. I am just making you aware of the differences between 50Hz and 60Hz supply. As for the European X10 system, you'll need to read more if you buy from them. Try to google and see if there is any DIY projects on their X10 system.

Allen

[waddah]

try first without the software adjustment and see if it works on 50Hz supply. May be it would still work even if the envelopes are slightly offset. I am just making you aware of the differences between 50Hz and 60Hz supply.

Hi Allen,
I found this info about x10 modules

50 or 60 Hz
If you are on a threephase system 60 Hz X10 senders will cause problems.� At least you will need phase couplers to every phase and special versions of X10 controllers like the Lynx10.
But that is very rare in the Netherlands and most other parts of Europe.�

Receivers do not care about the frequency 50 or 60 Hz to read the X10 signals. They derive the moment in time to look at the X10 carrier at the zero crossing of the powerline cycle and have no idea of the powerline frequency. It might in theory have an impact on the dimmer in the lampmodule not being able to dim completely to zero. I have not noticed this.

So if you are not on a threephase system do not worry about the 50 or 60 Hz frequency

taken from http://www.hansotten.com/index.php?page=x10-modifying-advice

another finding :

Issues and solutions for X-10 in a 50Hz environment

Remember our three pulses generated by the controller? In addition to coupling, a 50Hz environment pose another issue: the internal timing of the X-10 controller. By this I refer to the time difference between each of the controller pulses. For example, take a look at the following figure, describing the time points within a powerline cycle in which an X-10 controller sends its pulses after zero crossing: .

This controller was made for a 60Hz system. To cover all three phases, it is programmed to send pulses at zero crossing (ZC), ZC+2.778ms, and ZC+5.556ms. The second and third timing points coincide with the zero crossing of the second and third phases. Now if we take this controller and simply plug it into a triple-phase 50Hz system, only modules on the controller phase will receive its commands. Why? Because at 50Hz the zero crossings of the second phase occurs at ZC+3.333ms and that of the third phase occurs at ZC+6.666ms. The controller sends its pulses at the 'wrong' times. This problem is not limited to controllers. All transmitters (such as the powerflash modules, all two-way modules, mini-controllers) designed for 60Hz will have the exact same problem.
http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm

I'll begin PCBs and see how it goes, I'll need guidance in selecting them and their ratings.

Waddah