This file is one of the Wolfstone archives of the Halloween mailing lists. You can find out more, and reach the entire collection here: http://www.pobox.com/~wolfstone/_r/HalloweenArchive.html This is a copy of Don Bertino's archive from http://www.calweb.com/~bertino/halloween.html on the subject of "automation". Minor changes have been made, mostly removal of E-mail headers and signatures, but the germane content is unchanged. - - From: "Dustin Moore" Date: Fri, 15 Sep 1995 19:47:35 -7 Subject: Show control [Lurk mode off] bzzz....whir...beep.. I don't know how many people out there know about the Basic stamp microcomputer. (A computer running basic the size of a stamp at about $49). But the Basic Stamp II has the ability with a TW-513 interface to send X-10 signals...If you have a proximity sensor/floor switch in a few areas you can hook the sensors to the I/O lines on the stamp, connect 2 of the I/O lines to the tw-513 powerline interface and have it fade lights in and out as a group of people go through. Spooky to say the least to just walk along and have the lights come on in front of you and the area behind you fade to black :) Of course you need to know a little about programming in basic/structuring programs to write the program to be downloaded to the stamp, but anyone in an hour would be able to go from complete novice to programmer..You would need X-10 modules on the lights/devices to be controlled but the price breakdown here: this assumes you do the programming on the cheap (i.e. make the cable and download the stamp manual from their ftp site) Basic Stamp II $49 Powerline int-face 20 +++++++ X-10 modules Dimmer 12 Straight switch 12 ++++Can be found at radio shack After I get through my que of homemade lighing devices I may create a x-10 lighting controller out of the bs-II... Current que: Border light 60% glycol fog machine 0% Lighting controller 0% "phaser" disco light 30% Buahahahaha.... Dustin Moore 15 year old homade lighting creator at large moore at teleport.com -----ohhh.....so thats a U-L knot.....hm... - - Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 05:24:04 -0700 From: milwiron at ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re: Show control You wrote: >[Lurk mode off] bzzz....whir...beep.. >I don't know how many people out there know about the Basic stamp >microcomputer. (A computer running basic the size of a stamp at about >$49). But the Basic Stamp II has the ability with a TW-513 interface >to send X-10 signals......etc. Hi Dustin, 15??? Geez! Thanks, now I really feel like an old fool. ;-) Let's pretend for a second I don't have any idea what your talking about (an easy stretch of the imagination) I remember Don Bertino mentioning a web site for X10 info. I lost that address with my hard drive. Can you suggest any on-line or other sources for the software and components you mentioned. Don, If you see this, do you have any sources for further study? 15??? Thanks, Denny - - From: Scott Axworthy Subject: Re: Show control Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 17:00:22 -0700 (PDT) Dustin (and everyone), Show control! What a great subject. > Basic stamp info deleted for breavity... > > Buahahahaha.... > > Dustin Moore > 15 year old homade lighting creator at large > moore at teleport.com > -----ohhh.....so thats a U-L knot.....hm... > I have been looking at these for some time. I have mentioned several times that I want some more automation in my setup from controlling lights to controlling sensors and the outdoor ghost. I have been looking at the Stamp, and the Motorola microcontrollers for some time but have not yet picked one to work with. The stamp looks easy to work with but it sounds like the Motorola units have more capabilities (and cost more.) I didn't realize it was so easy to interface the Stamp to X-10. I have been trying to find more information on MIDI show control as a possible solution as well. MIDI show control was an extension of the MIDI protocol but not very many products have ever appeared. I, as a home Halloweener, also have tight fiscal constraints and don't want to spend a fortune to put it all together. I'm thinking about diving in and coming up with a distributed PC to Stamp controller setup, with some generic digital and analog sensor inputs as well. From the prices I have seen lately, it looks like the Stamp has gotton more expensive. The X-10 connection would be handy as well for remote lights that I don't currently have control of. If I can ever stop wasting all my (free?) time at work, maybe I will get back to working on this project. I want to do one or two other smaller ones first though. Keep us updated on your show control projects. - - From: "Dustin Moore" Date: Sat, 16 Sep 1995 17:47:07 -7 Subject: Re: Show control > Hi Dustin, > 15??? Geez! Thanks, now I really feel like an old fool. ;-) Me too, I find 11 to 12 year olds routinely. It's tuff for me to fathom some days how kids in 5th grade get on usenet..whew... The manufacturer is at http://www.parallaxinc.com, the mailing list is stamps@parallaxinc.com(I think stamps-request@ but am not sure), and the t-shirt is un-available. Their disgustingly simple to program, in the www-site there are application notes being added every once and awhile... - - From: "Dustin Moore" Date: Sun, 17 Sep 1995 08:36:29 -7 Subject: Re: Show control > I have been trying to find more information on MIDI show control as a > possible solution as well. MIDI show control was an extension of the > MIDI protocol but not very many products have ever appeared. Hmmm.....I really don't think the the show-control extensions to midi are going to help us do anthing with haunted houses. I have "Control systems for Live Entertainment" here on the bench, and as far as I can tell, I think Midi show-control is best left to Theme-Parks. If your haunted house has a full blown stage lighting controller that will accept midi-s-c I would say go for it, but I think that the stamps and an x-10 setup would beat the socks of of a $5,000+ lighting controller, whatever it takes to create m-s-c (Probably a high-end show-controller another 3,000) And thats just to control the lights:)...What if you wanted to have a remote control ghost be triggered, get a $12 x-10 module, or get a plc (programmable l -something controller) that will take midi-c-s for $TooMuch. However. If your haunted house does have a huge light controller, and a plc laying around (or your a theme park) if you want to find some Show control companies on the web, hit: http://www.teleport.com/~moore/entertech.html There is some stuff on stage craft, moving lights, the huge light controllers that tkae midi etc.etc... I think M-s-c mostly only sends que's, not what actually happens on the que, thats up to the controller. All else fails, go down to radio shack and look at some of the x-10 home automation stuff, even if you don't do it completely automagically, you can get a manual controller and save running around your house to trigger lights. When x-mas rolls around I set up 4 circuits of lights on x-10 modules and I have a x-10 controller that acts like a digital timmer turning things on and off, makes a neat light show every hour...If you want to have a computer-controlled x-10 timer you can get one for $70 from Hal homw-automation-labratory, or for $90 one that will splay a graphical floorplan on your screen. This is transmit-only of course i.e. timers. If you want to have things trigger, you will need to right a quick-basic program that listens to the parallel port for switches and triggers. I still think it would be easier to use a stamp though...all though I could be wrong... It's the BSII stamp that has the x-10 stuff. It runs about 2 times faster, has 16 instead of 8 ports, and does some other cool stuff too... - - From: Scott Axworthy Subject: Re: Show control Date: Sun, 17 Sep 1995 20:34:42 -0700 (PDT) Dustin: > ...MIDI Show control stuff deleted... > > a plc laying around (or your a theme park) if you want to find some > Show control companies on the web, hit: > http://www.teleport.com/~moore/entertech.html I am in awe! What a great website! I am bowing in your direction as we speak. I'm not sold on M-s-c as a solution yet either. I like the fact that it can intermingle with music. As I mentioned before I do not have deep pockets for this project so I will probably end up with Stamps talking to my PC. I am also going to have to come to grips with my lighting system. I made it back in college and it is starting to show its age. It has worked well for a long time but now I need the computer control. > **Dustin Moore** > moore at teleport.com http://www.teleport.com/~moore/ > n7xzv at n7xzv.or.usa.noam *** > So, Dustin, do you do this for fun or is this your industry? - - Date: Mon, 18 Sep 95 07:57:22 CDT From: jeffh at oakhill-csic.sps.mot.com (Jeff Hunsinger) Subject: Re: Show control If you want to save quite a bit of money, you can avoid the BASIC Stamp II and just use a normal microcontroller. Many people have already written code for controlling X-10 devices via various micros (and even from DOS boxes). I have written code for the 68HC05 series, if anyone is interested. Regarding music selections: "Creep in the cellar", Butthole Surfers "Ballad of Jim McFry (?)" Alice Cooper - - Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 11:31:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Don Bertino Subject: Re: Show control On Sat, 16 Sep 1995, D.D. wrote: (Wow! great subject!) Hi Denny! > You wrote: > >[Lurk mode off] bzzz....whir...beep.. > >I don't know how many people out there know about the Basic stamp > >microcomputer. (A computer running basic the size of a stamp at about > >$49). But the Basic Stamp II has the ability with a TW-513 interface > >to send X-10 signals......etc. > > Hi Dustin, > 15??? Geez! Thanks, now I really feel like an old fool. ;-) Let's > pretend for a second I don't have any idea what your talking about (an > easy stretch of the imagination) I remember Don Bertino mentioning a > web site for X10 info. I lost that address with my hard drive. Can you > suggest any on-line or other sources for the software and components > you mentioned. > Don, If you see this, do you have any sources for further study? > > 15??? (As my 31 year old finger, begin to uncurl and s l o w l y type :) For more info, check out the following newsgroups: comp.home.automation comp.home.misc I too, wanted to look at X-10 stuff but I went the expensive way.... :( I bought a 32 port digital i/o board by PC-Labs for $175. They also sell a set of daughter boards that have 16 relays on each (220V AC/DC 5A rated) for $150 each. I layouted my house on the screen, with each section. (This you should be able to do with X-10 stuff) I forked out the money and bought the developers kits from Sound Blaster so that I could sync music with the lights. With X-10, you can get a extender can't you? Sync three or four houses all together! :) - - Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 06:22:57 -0700 From: milwiron at ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re: Show control/x10 compatibility X10 products seem cheaper by mail-order but for last minute changes or additions can Radio Shacks Plug n'Power modules be used? Are they fully compatible with X10 units? They "appear" to be maunufactured by the same company. Denny P.S. Very impressive web pages Dustin. - - From: "Dustin Moore" Date: Mon, 18 Sep 1995 20:06:18 -7 Subject: x-10 stuff-music-and some From: Scott Axworthy >So, Dustin, do you do this for fun or is this your industry? Izzza hobby...so is magic, stagecraft and pyrotechnics, but it still beats collecting baseball cards I think.... From: milwiron at ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) > X10 products seem cheaper by mail-order but for last minute changes >or additions can Radio Shacks Plug n'Power modules be used? Are they >fully compatible with X10 units? They "appear" to be maunufactured by >the same company. Same Oem, if it says x-10 you can usually bet that it will work fine.. From: AuggieBen at aol.com >Let me tell a little about the setup I've been using for the past several >years. It consists of an X10 CP-290 Computer Interface (approx. $45), >several X10 Lamp Dimmer modules, and a DOS shareware package called XA which >controls the CP-290. XA allows you to write X10 script files for lighting >effects. It also has the capability of reading input from your joystick or >LPT port, as well writing output to your LPT port. XA can "spawn" other DOS >applications where appropriate. Let me describe the setup I used last year. $45!!...thump thump thump doorslam. [1 1/2 hours later] I wonder, do they have em at radio shack, or do I have to go to my mail order automation resellers?(One is out of buisness and I can't seem to get catalogs from the other, bad sign:) From: lewisw at oasys.dt.navy.mil (Bill Lewis) >Hey what about the all time classic: Toccata and fugue in D minor played on >a big pipe organ. I have a cd here called "Improvisations for Christmas" It is a organ cd. I play organ/keyboard somewhat. In my untrained all though not totally unskilled ear it sounds like train reck. We have fun playing a guessing game withit "Name that tune", just, we play the whole song 2 to 3 times, and most people still don't get it. On other note (heh heh) I havn't heard anyone mention "Elvira's Haunted Hits" which I feel to be the defintative work of rock and roll horror songs. It so far has every mentioned on it. It's by Rhino Records, Inc... [Gee, I spent most of my time away from school tonight on this post, all 1 1/2 hours on it.] snooooze.... - - Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 00:40:48 -0400 (EDT) From: "Donna J. Logan" Subject: Re: x-10 stuff-music-and some On Mon, 18 Sep 1995, Dustin Moore wrote: > I have a cd here called "Improvisations for Christmas" It is a organ > cd. I play organ/keyboard somewhat. In my untrained all though not > totally unskilled ear it sounds like train reck. We have fun playing > a guessing game withit "Name that tune", just, we play the whole song > 2 to 3 times, and most people still don't get it. On other note (heh > heh) I havn't heard anyone mention "Elvira's Haunted Hits" which I > feel to be the defintative work of rock and roll horror songs. It so > far has every mentioned on it. It's by Rhino Records, Inc... Does she have "Dinner With Zach" on it? If so, I'm impressed with Ms. Peterson and the folks at Rhino..... Donna (dreaming of eating the tendons of a mummy named "Betty"... ...with a little bit of ketchup, they taste just like spaghetti... or something like that) ....good night.... ...whatever you are.... - - From: AuggieBen at aol.com Date: Sun, 17 Sep 1995 22:34:58 -0400 Subject: X10 Controlled Lighting Effects Let me tell a little about the setup I've been using for the past several years. It consists of an X10 CP-290 Computer Interface (approx. $45), several X10 Lamp Dimmer modules, and a DOS shareware package called XA which controls the CP-290. XA allows you to write X10 script files for lighting effects. It also has the capability of reading input from your joystick or LPT port, as well writing output to your LPT port. XA can "spawn" other DOS applications where appropriate. Let me describe the setup I used last year. We had a "headless" man sitting on the front porch. He holds a jack-o-lantern on his lap. The jack-o-lantern contained 2 lamps, one was a "flicker bulb" to give it that candle look, the other was a small 60 watt X10-controlled bulb. The doorbell was disconnected from it's usual powersupply, the contacts from the doorbell switch were wired into the joystick port. A couple of lines of XA commands were written to detect the doorbell being pressed which started the initial sequence: 1) The X10-controlled bulb in the j-o-l was commanded to go from dim to bright while... 2) A hidden speaker played a "VOC" file (SoundBlaster voice file) of a loud gong followed by the Addam's Family character, Lurch, saying "You Rang?"... 3) The bulb in the j-o-l would dim following Lurch. The lighting helped create the illusion that the j-o-l was doing the talking. Next, a magnetic alarm sensor mounted on the door and wired into the joystick port detected when the door was opened. This would trigger the second XA sequence. 1) As the door was being opened, another "VOC" file of a creaking door file was played followed by... 2) A "VOC" file of a thunderstorm. A hidden camera flash unit was rigged such that when the sound of a sizzling lightning strike was heard, the flash would go off. This was really cool effect and stunned many of the younger trick or treaters. 3) The magnetic sensor detected when the door was closed and a "VOC" file of a slamming door (with lots of echo) was played. The last effect consisted of a life-sized witch stirring a cauldron. As the trick or treaters walked away: 1) the witch would be illuminated by an X10 controlled floodlight. 2) A "VOC" file of the Wicked Witch of the West (from OZ) was played. This has scared many of the younger ones - there's nothing better than Margaret Hamilton as the witch. Having the lights, sounds, and other effects controlled via a computer is a lot of fun, not to mention a lot of work. I've spent days (weeks?) perfecting some of effects that typically are in use for only a couple of hours each year, but it's really worth the time. The only problem is trying to outperform last years show. I realize it's proper etiquette not to promote products on the net, but XA (which I authored) really evolved out of projects for Halloween and Christmas lighting effects. If you have a CP-290 and you are looking for ways to utilize X10, then check out this program. ftp://oak.oakland.edu/SimTel/msdos/x_10/x10xa300.zip - -