X10 Motion Detectors

Most X10 motion detectors (available for purchase here) use the X10 RF protocol, much like X10 remotes. So, you'll need an X10 RF transceiver of some type. Once you have that in place, any X10 command sent from an RF motion detector will be put onto the powerline and acted upon, simple as that. X10 motion detectors generally work the same way: when it senses motion, it sends an ON command to the address it's set to. Some also send OFF commands after a configurable amount of time sensing no motion.

So, how do you use those in Indigo? Well, when a motion detector triggers an X10 command, Indigo will “see” that command. For example, let's say that you have Active Eye Sensor (model MS16A) which is set to address A1. If you had a switch module (say, on your porch light) with the A1 address, the switch would automatically respond to the commands sent from the Active Eye (and the light would go OFF because the Active Eye has the ability to send an OFF after a configurable amount of time with no motion). If that switch module wasn't 2 way, Indigo would still represent the state correctly because it “snooped” the ON/OFF. But, basically, the motion detector is directly controlling the switch module because they have the same X10 address: A1.

You can, however, have Indigo ONLY respond to the motion commands. When it sees a command to A1, it would then perform some action(s). Anything that Indigo can do, in fact. An example of this can be seen on the Motion Sensor Basics How-To.

If you have a new and interesting way of using an X10 motion detector, apply for an account (follow the instructions on the bottom of the start page) and write it up!