In planning my electrical layout I'm thinking that I'd like to use some X-10 automated equipment but I'm wondering how susceptible it might be to odd stray signals or line interference either from shore power or generators?
Does anyone have any experience with using any of this in a bus?
-Dave
I don't know how the would work in a steel framed bus. I haven't had any problems with in-bus WiFi, routers in the salon and works inside and out. Maybe buy a small set ... also most conversion have 12V lighting if that make any diff.
Ron
Hi Dave,
I have one exhaust fan that is controlled by X10 module and it uses a small key fob to control it. It works both inside and outside the bus
and usually about 30 ft. away too. I don't see why you couldn't set-up your entire coach with x10. One thought, most of us use 12v
lighting, what are your plans of use for the x10?
Nick-
Now sure yet really, I know I'll have some 110v, probably a fair amount but pretty much as I use it for in the house, I have touch pads ( http://www.smarthome.com/12704.html ) that I can use for lamp control, change audio\video settings,send and receive ir, control hvac, automate bay slide outs, whatever. Just trying to see my options and make sure I plan for the future. Wouldn't want to find out later that I should have planned for something today. On the other hand I don't want to plan for something that will have too many troubles with carrier line interference to even work properly.
-Dave
I tried it a lot of years ago and it was very erratic on the inverter. That was an early model Heart modified sine wave unit and since square waves are all harmonics, that might have been the problem.
I have several and they work like a charm on shorepower... but on a less-than-stellar inverter you very well may have a problem. Mine won't work on my inverter at all.
I had a True-Charge 40 battery chargen in my bus and when it was plugged in to my house, none of my X-10 would work properly.
Len
I have 4 cameras at work that are on 24/7 and if your watching the monitor it picks up lots of stray signals.
My cell phone ringing, a micro wave oven sends it around the corner, 900 mH cordless phone causes waves on screen. But the on off will likly work good. Our building is Metal. :)
I ran X-10 stuff for years but when I went to the bus and dealing with the inverter I didn't have very good luck. The receivers would act flakey and the switches didn't seem to work right all the time.
Just FYI, If you also plan on using a video sender / receiver they mostly operate on the 2.4 ghz band.. Right in the middle of the same band that WiFi uses. The wifi will cause the video to chatter and ripple with a stobe effect.
The new wireless cameras including the little backup cameras also run in the same bands with cell phones 900/1800 and the 2.4 ghz bands. The "other" source of interference is the microwave oven. It's also in the 2.4 ghz band ( 2,450 mhz )
Put all of those radiant signals in a metal tube and stuff will act goofy at times.
So that said.. If you have one of the X-10 video senders and you have trouble with your WiFi range, Turn off the video and the wifi will work better. Works both ways! ::)
BTW... 12 volt Florescent Lights oscillate at 20khz (approx) and will interfere with IR remotes and generate line noise back out the 12 or 24 volt power circuit.
IR remotes may operate at 10 to 30 khz and the receivers get confused by flickering lights..( that's why.. )