T&L Publications

Here is another link<p> http://www.smarthome.com/bookvid.html this has some books like the "X-10 hackers secrets vol 1" and x-10 applications guide" as well as a few other technical books on the subject.<p>Search "home automation" on a search engine then look at the support/...

X10 website itself has one app note on Tansmission theory. http://www.x10.com/support/technology1.htm <p>They also offer a RS232 compatible transmitter reciever at http://www.x10.com/products/x10_tw523.htm <p>A PDF app note with schematic (a link) can be found on that page (above) look for "Dow...

BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is firmware and is located in an EPROM on the Motherboard. It is specific to the motherboard hardware and has basic code for booting the system hardware and hard disk drives etc. Real low level stuff and it is independent of the operating system (Windows or DOS). Loo...

Just a guess but: Reciever 58Mhz <p>Rx often stands for reciever. I have one RC toy that comes in 27, 35, 45, 57MHz versions for competitive racing so 58MHz is in the ballpark.

Do you mean a grid of 6x8 lamps which you light up selectively to display numbers. or some other arrangement of lights. You could make a 7-segment display with the 12V bulbs if you built some sort of bezel/frame and filter to form the characters.<p>However you do it, you will quickly find that you n...

Check the output voltage with a resistive load and you may find that it no longer looks so good (see "PC power supply problems" in the computer part of this forum)

"Wall worts" molded transformers with integrated rectifiers and regulators cap out at less than 1A typically. most I have are less than 600mA. Fine for 1 or 2 fans but not 6. Higher current (compact) supplies are actually small switchers (like the ones used for laptop computers and digicam...

I basically agree, he should spend a little money and err on the side of safety. on the other hand, your example of death by 12V is a little extreme even if you tried. (and I would not build a pipe bomb any day of the year and thus would never hammer the ends on)<p>I am not as familiar with the UL s...

Correct me if I am wrong but it sounds like you have six 12V, .55A DC fans wired in series for a total of 72V. <p>First, and most importantly, these fans may not be isolated from their cases posing a potential shock hazard.<p>Second, the series configuration is unreliable in that an open in any fan ...

Most meters cannot determine time of use or change rates. The supplying utility would need to install a "smart" power meter on your house. This is computer controlled and addressable from the utility's main office (like a cable box) either by carrier current signals (like X10), radio, tele...

Mike,<p>I design and manufacture test equipment used in failure analysis labs in semiconductor companies. The boards we make are not quite as close to the cutting edge of packaging technology as you would require but the parts we test are often at the bleeding edge.<p>Your problem is not so much ele...

You are absolutely right, there is a battery and an antenna and the whole thing is about 50% bigger than you specified. In this case, most of the power is consumed by the load (motor) so the battery lasts only 5 minutes per charge but if your load were smaller then you might be able to use a smaller...

Be careful not to re-invent the wheel, you may be able to licence it cheaper than you can invent it. It all depends on you application and potential market.<p>For example: I'm looking right at something that meets your description right now. It is actually 0.8 inches by 0.7" and recieves 4 chan...

I personally would only tolerate a very small premium for power simply because it were green. Probably only a percent or two.<p>However, if such a company were to offer other features to augmant the extra cost, I would be more interested and pay a higher differential. <p>For example, if the power I ...

This thread is a little old but I couldn't resist replying.<p>I hope you asked about "how long it would take to kill someone" so you could avoid it. Boobytrapping you car or home with potentially leatal devices is clearly illegal in all states. Even if it is to stop a criminal.<p>Assuming ...