Getting started with 120v

kansaschuck

I've been poking around the forums and did some searches looking for a good starting point for working with 120v.

Lots of great X10 projects, but for the moment I think I'd just like to switch on a 120v light and off directly.

So we'd have a laptop/desktop PC. (the project in the end relies on internet input). The laptop/desktop PC running Perl script would be USB/Serial attached to.....

[noparse][[/noparse] here's were I could use a couple basic options and understanding ] and then on to a relay(?) and then off to the 120v device.

I think I'll start there.

Any advice and doc is welcome.

allanlane5

The X10 "Firecracker" device plugs into an RS-232 port and works really well, to talk to an X10 RF remote device which plugs into your wall, when then talks to an X10 light switch over your AC wires. I think X10 sells kits for this for less than $50.

All without getting yourself too close to 120 volts AC, which can kill you. Which is why "switching 120 volts DIRECTLY" is not as popular.

http://www.x10.com/automation/ck18a_s_ps32.html· There you go.

Post Edited (allanlane5) : 2/7/2008 6:09:59 PM GMT

Oper8r Al

Take a look at this http://www.efx-tek.com/topics/rc-4.html·it may·be something to start with to switch your 120v loads.

Al