Create a High Tech Haunted House with x10
| Published 10/29/04

 


Graphic by: Jenny Conner
X10 is a remote control system that uses your existing power wiring to send control signals from one signal to another. X10 is also a remote control system that shows a lot of do-it-yourself haunted house potential.

X10 commands are sent between "base stations" (transmitters) and "modules" (receivers). In order to make your lamp part of the X10 system, you need a "lamp module." This is a plastic box smaller than a pack of cigarettes. You set a dial on the module to a number that will correspond to the lamp; plug the lamp into the module; then plug the module into the wall outlet. You then turn the lamp's switch on and leave it on. You never need to touch it again, because the lamp can now be controlled from an X10 control panel anywhere in the house. You can have as many control panels as you want. The only one that is active is the one whose button you are currently pressing. You can also set more than one receiver module to the same unit number; they will all go on and off at once.< br>
There are tradeoffs involved in setting up an X10 based haunted house. First, the positive side:
  • X10 equipment is inexpensive.
  • It requires no special wiring since it uses wiring that already exists.
  • It is easy to set up and use.
  • Systems can be as small or as large as you want them to be.
  • X10 is easily placed under computer control.
  • A radio controlled version is available, and is very compatible with the rest of the system.

The system is also very flexible. If you have a fog machine you want in a certain place, you can simply place it there and plug it in at the nearest outlet. Then attach an X10 module to control it, and you're done. Control of the modules can be attached to the wall or radio and are wireless. Therefore, you can place something scary in the bushes, watch from your window with a remote, and push the button whenever someone walks by to make the scary something jump out at them at just the right time. It's devious, technical and pretty hilarious. Of course, there are some drawbacks to the system that you should be aware of. Some of them can be worked out though. Here are some problems:
  • X10 communication can be slowed down or stopped by other carrier-current devices, like wireless intercoms.
  • X10 signals can be degraded or stopped by power-conditioning equipment, like some power strips and computer power supplies.
  • Because any signal you send with X10 may get blocked by something, there is not always a guarantee that your command will reach its destination on time or at all.
  • Housing code limitations put the cap at 256 devices. But really, would you have 256 electric scary things? I doubt that will be a problem.
  • It takes about one second to send an X10 command. While that command is being sent, you can't send another or both commands will be lost.
Most of these problems can be navigated around as long as you test your system properly. A few trial runs will eliminate the majority of the problems, and give you more time to fix them. The most important factor in using X10 in your haunted house is that you can have numerous props triggered by X10, but shouldn't have too many transmitters sending signals. This minimizes the chance of signals interfering with each other.

 

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