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From: edm@nwnexus.WA.COM (Ed Morin)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens,sci.electronics,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: bsr x-10 for sprinklers, et al
Message-ID: <153@nwnexus.WA.COM>
Date: 4 Aug 89 19:05:26 GMT
References: <331@ringwood.Morgan.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Northwest Nexus Inc.; Seattle, WA
Lines: 69


Since it has been asked for, I will elaborate a little more on my BSR X-10
sprinkler configuration.  First of all, the X-10 components can be purchased
from several places such as Radio Shack, Sears (maybe not any more), DAK
mail order, and Egghead Software.  I got my PC controller from DAK, but I'm
told that Egghead has them too.  I don't think Radio Shack or Sears carries
that particular box - they just have the simple command consoles and the
various appliance and light modules.  Anyway, here is a block diagram of how
this fits together:

+----+               +-------------------+
|    | (Serial port) |                   | (110v cord)
| PC +---------------+ BSR PC Controller +-------------(= || (Wall Outlet)
|    |               |                   |
+----+               +-------------------+

The above setup allows the PC to download time-tables into the BSR box
for when to turn on and off various modules around the house.  (Once the
BSR box is downloaded, using the S/W that comes with it on a floppy, you
can disconnect the BSR box and reclaim your RS-232 port for something
else and the BSR box does its thing.)  Also, the configuration that you
download into the BSR box is backed up by a 9-volt battery; I use the
Kodak Supralife Lithium cell for long life.

Downstairs where the wires from the sprinkler solenoids come in, I do
the following:

     +------+     +------------------+
     |  BSR |     |                  |
|| =)| Appl.|= =)-----+ 110-volt/24-volt +----- - - - - - ----- to sprinkler
     |Module|     | stepdown trans.  |
     +------+     +------------------+

The above diagram will only control one sprinkler zone.  That's all I use
at the moment because I just water the vegetable garden, but here is my
expansion plan:

           +------------------+
           |                  |      /
|| =)------+ 110-volt/24-volt +-----o  o----------- to sprinkler
           | stepdown trans.  |      ||
           +------------------+      ||
                                  +--++---+
                                  | Relay |
                    +------+      +---+---+
                    |  BSR |          |
                  =)+ Appl.+=)--------+
                    |Module|
                    +------+

The relay is used to switch the 24-volts to whichever solenoid is to
be energized at the time.  The 24-volt transformer stays on all the time
in this plan (that's probably ok; a doorbell transformer would probably
do the job since they are on all the time too).  The relay shown can be
any 110-volt solenoid coil type from Radio Shack with at least a SPST
contact (all of them have this capability).  With this plan, for additional
zones just buy another BSR appliance module and relay and tap off of
the 24 volt transformer to drive the additional circuit.  The additional
zone would cost about $25 in parts.  The BSR pc controller box is about
$40-$50 and the step-down transformer is about $10.

Hope this helps!


-- 
Ed Morin
Northwest Nexus Inc.
"Unix Public Access for the Masses!"
edm@nwnexus.WA.COM