X10 - Idiots guide?

[djr55]

Guys,


I want to have some sockets which are controlled via my PC - i.e they can sense when something is on - and tell me it is on - but also allow me to turn them on and off.

This will go further but I think this makes sense to start my system.

I've other aspirations like when you do X it triggers Y - such as turn off my LED lights behind my TV when I turn the TV off and turn them on when I turn the TV on etc.

can anyone suggest an idiots guide?

cheers

[djr55]

I wouldn't mind integrating this with an alarm - and also my AXIS camera externally - tagged with PIR lights inside and out

an example - I'd like the lights in the garage to go on when I walk out there - from the PIR light sensor...

I would also like an X10/Wireless linked Weather station in the garden.

Reason to control all via PC? I am away on biz a lot and it would be good to monitor all

[wywywywy]

Hi.

There are a million ways to go about this. The best thing would be to look at the range of modules and see how/where they fit into your plan. However, X10 may not be the best way to go about this due to the reliability (or lack of) issues. For example in your garage flood light + camera scenario, it may be best using a PIR-integrated flood light with a trigger output to the camera.

If you list out what exact would you like to achieve, we can fire off a few ideas to get you started?