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This project will make it possible to turn on a
phone with x10 timer.
You will need an X-10 Appliance Module and one of the programmable timers
like a Mini Timer. If for example someone that does not want to
be disturbed when sleeping but wants the phone on at the same time the alarm
is set. The way it is done is to use a X-10 Appliance Module and
build this simple project. It is a 120 Volt relay that is plugged
into the appliance module. When the appliance module is turned on
by the X-10 timer the relay closes the phone circuit. This
means that the phone will work when the appliance module is on and the relay
is powered. Do not leave the power to the relay on all the time it
will use electricity and can heat up. To over-ride the relay, a switch
is mounted in the box and left in the off position for the timer to turn
on the phone.
This is the simplest way I could figure how to do it. I made something
similar when I worked the grave shift, (slept through a few alarms).
I did not use X-10 (they did not have timers in those days), but one of
those plug in appliance timers with the dials. The X-10 low volt relay
is a momentary contact relay so it would not work for this application. There
is a way to use a X10 momentary module but is more complicated to build
and need someone with electronics experience. See this here for an explanation.
Do not attempt this project unless you have experience. It may seem
simple but requires wiring 120 volt AC and will no doubt require soldering.
The plastic box is used instead of metal, is a necessity for safety.
These parts can be found on the internet or at your local electronics
hobby store or catalog, for less than $10. This parts list is just
a suggestion there are a number of ways to build this.
Parts List:
1 Plastic project box with screw on plastic lid.
1 120 volt AC relay, DPDT dry contacts, for mounting
in a box, bracket or screw mount.
2 Phone Jacks, surface mount.
2 Small grommets for phone wires run into box.
1 Power cord and strain support for the power cord.
1 In-line fuse 3 Amp, (if desired). I do recommend
a fuse but it is not necessary.
1 Hookup wire, no smaller than 20 gauge
1 Phone cord, you pick the length.
4 Machine screws and nuts or rivets for mounting
phone jacks.
1 Mount and machine screws for relay. There
are relay jacks available. The jack is mounted in a metal bracket
or plate which is then mounted in the box. This is more elaborate
then necessary. The only reason to do this is it will be easy to replace
the relay if it goes bad.
1 SPST toggle switch, for over-riding the X10 module.
Probably a SPDT is all that one will find.
If the relay contacts are not labeled the NO contact will be open when
the relay is not energized. You will need a Ohm meter or continuity
tester to determine which contacts is the NO. I have yet to see a
relay not labeled so I do not see that as a problem. Make sure that
the power plug safely to the coil. If you wire it to the relay contacts
it will most likely burn the relay up if you are lucky not lucky it will
start a fire or trip the circuit breaker. For those not familiar with
reading schematics there is two ways to show junctions one with dots the other
without. See Junctions for an explanation.
- Drill the hole for the power cord and mount the power cord with
strain relief with about 6" of wire in the box.
- Wire the power cord to the relay coil. This may have to
be soldered if the relay has only solder contacts.
- For added safety a in-line fuse could be used in line with the
hot (black) wire if a polarized power cord is used. The fuse is wired to
the relay in the box. a 3 amp fuse is large enough.
- Position phone jacks mark mount holes and hole for wires then
drill holes.
- Mount the phone jacks.
- I recommend running wires to both the NC and NO contacts and
put the NC one in the phone jack box with tape over the wire for future
use. Only the NO will be used for the to turn on the phone. If you
need to turn off the phone the use the NC contact. The problem with
having the relay turn off the phone is that when the phone is off the relay
is energized (using power). Label the wires NC and NO.
- Label the phone jacks, one "To Phone" and the other "Phone Line"
- Label the common wire and put in the "To Phone" phone jack and
wire it to the green terminal. In the end it makes no difference which
you use red or green. All this box does is to disconnect one of the
wires.
- Run a wire from the red terminal from one of the phone jacks
to the red terminal of the other.
- Fasten wires to the switch and each one to the green terminal
in both phone jacks. Label the switch "X-10 over-ride" and label
"ON" and "OFF" next to the switch.
Make sure your wiring is neat and check for lose connections.
Put electrical tape on any 120 volt connections or terminals or exposed
wires. Close and screw down the box's lid and plug it in. You should hear
the relay click. If you do not un-plug the box and check your wiring.
Do not plug in with the box open! Put a label with a warning
like "Un-plug before opening box." Red writing would be best.
If the relay is energized, (phone On) and there is a power outage the
relay will not go on when the power goes on. See the latching relay option
for this project to keep the phone ON in a power outage.
What else can this box do? This will close or open any low volt circuit.
Two examples:
- You can purchase a external phone bell and hook it to the relay
output. This will leave the phone useable to make outgoing calls
without flipping the over-ride switch.
- Trigger a low volt electric door or gate latch latch.
If someone needs access to a gate at a specific time, like a delivery person.
With imagination I am sure one can think of other uses. The reason
I recommend a DPDT relay even though all that is needed is a SPST is that
it will be hard to find a SPST relay (if you can find one at all), and I
will not cost much more and give you more options. To make use of the
contacts by putting a screw terminal strip and wire all the contacts to
this terminal strip, (label them). Do not put the contacts for
the phone jack to the terminal strip so you do not zap your phone.
Another way to do this project.
The X10 Universal Module and Leviton Universal Module momentarily closes
the dry contacts when sent a ON. Instead of an Appliance module the
Universal Module would be used and instead of the standard SPST relay would
need a mechanical latching relay. The latching relay latches it's
contact after a momentary pulse. The next time there is a pulse the
relay latches in the other direction. This then makes saves energy
by not having a relay energized when the phone is ON. The relay
will stay latched if there is a power outage. The problem is that these
mechanical latching relays are expensive $25 and up. The most practical
ones I have see have DC coils which means the box will need a DC power supply
instead of being plugged in to AC power. These relays are harder to find and
there are many types. I do not recommend using the latching relay unless
you have experience with building electronics projects. I will make
a wiring diagram if someone requests it. But as I said only someone
with electronics can build it so they would not need a wiring diagram!
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