I want to set something up on the porch so that when somebody approaches, a fogger, strobe light, and cassette player all turn on.

I was thinking of using an X10 motion sensor, transceiver (which I already have for my lights), and lamp module.

Will one lamp module be able to handle all three of those devices?

Any other suggestions for what I'm trying to do?

Is there any way I can define the time interval...that is, turn everything off after x number of seconds?

Thanks,
Mitch

I tried this last year with little success.

First, the lamp module should only be used with lamps. You can use an appliance module for the strobe and cassette. For the fog machine, you need to leave this turned on as the warm up cycle is too long. You can use an Universal Module to make a switch to activate the pump.

I set mine up last year with an eagle eye motion detector. The results were too sporatic to be effective. I will try again this year.

Here's more Halloween Ideas:

[Link: smarthome.com]

This thread my help:
[Link: x10ideas.com]

Yep, forgot about that.
Here's what I want to do. I want to build a fake electric chair with a ghoul/skeleton/dummy in it.

When someone approaches, I want the cassette player to play screams and electricity noises, I want the fogger to spew fog, and I want the strobe light to go on.

The fogger has a remote control.

I wonder if I'm over my head.

Speaking of "over your head", I think fog emanating from the metal hood would look awesome. How does the fogger remote work? Hard-wired, RF, or IR? Any can be rigged for X10 control.

The cassette can be triggered by a simple appliance module, as long as the player has a 'timer' mode, meaning play can be initiated by applying power.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Oops...not gonna work.
I dug out the fogger and checked it out. The remote is wired.

Hmmm....the strobe and cassette player connected to an X10 appliance module, triggered by a motion detector seems like a good system. But how to get the smoke.

Larry,
I love your idea of actually having the smoke come out of the head/cap. Since i can't control the fogger via X10, I wonder if I could find an X10 controllable butterfly valve. I could rig up some vacuum cleaner hose in a Y, and always have the fogger on, fogging the yard. Then when the scene activates, a valve could temporarily divert the fog to the electric chair.

Overthinking it?

You can control the fogger. You will need to use a universal module and a controller that will give you descent time management (like the Ocelot) because you would not want to leave the fogger on.

Can it be done? Sure. Is it over your head? It's not that complicated. I had similar display. The weak link in mine was the eagle eye.

Off topic but a neat fog machine idea. Chill the fog. Since the fog machine uses heat to generate, it rises. If you pass the fog through a chiller, it will hug the ground, like real fog.

I made mine out of a old cooler. Using 4" pvc and chicken wire, my fog machine sits on top of the cooler. Fog is directed into the cooler filled with dry ice. You can then plumb the fog to go anywhere. I have seen this done on a roof. The effect is fog pouring off the roof onto the ground. Very cool.

ahh, a fellow haunter. greeting Iresq.
here is a place for other halloween projects (many do use x10)
markbutler.8m.com/monsterlist.htm
caution, halloween can be addicting :0)

Great link equium. I am sure my wife will greatly appreciate!

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Yikes. The Ocelot is more than I want to spend.
What problems did you have with the Eagle Eye?

Inconsistant triggering.