Lithium Batteries

[Steve Hume]

Jerry,

Couple of answers. 

Lithium batteries work better to a lower outdoor temp than alkaline. You can probably search web for exact data but I did use them on an x-10 motion sensor in a garage in Canada and they worked. 

At the time I used a hack because I had a couple of 3.6volt cylinder lithium batteries that were used as lifetime computer motherboard clock batteries. 

This extra .6 volts also made the x-10 motion sensor have better range. But I think the cold weather performance solved my use case. The lithium cells that are sold as 1.5volt batteries must use a trick since 3volts is more in their chemistry. 

So there may be some eBay source for the old computer clock batteries but they are bigger and I had to add wires and tape it to the back of the sensor. 

So if cold weather is a factor try the 1.5 volt batteries. If range is still the real problem then an antenna added to the receiver is the best fix but a 3.6volt battery hack could be easier if it is just one sensor that needs a fix. 
My original antenna add on gave me 100 meter/yard range! So I turned down the booster amp and left the antenna in the basement. 

While testing with a palm pad while walking way down the street I started opening and  closing a neighbour’s garage door. I decided to focus on my second story reception. 

I evolved many sensor locations to hardwired pet resistant security sensors. They were more accurate and if you have multiple x-10 sensor trigger at the same time then the signals interfere and the batteries won’t fix that. 

I recall that if you put the receiver in debug logging then you can discover the signal interference. 

Steve Hume

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 7, 2021, at 1:28 PM, Jerry — MacSolutions <jerry at stlmacguy.com> wrote:
> 
> Folks,
> 
> I recently saw a thread discussing Lithium Batteries and how long that they last.  And I’ve noticed that my outdoor sensors work for a day or two and then the battery gets just a bit weaker and they stop responding.  Like they’re just out of range, or something.
> 
> Would Lithium Batteries drop off as well or, are they more consistent in power output?  I’m wondering if anyone has noticed or even gone as far as to test the range of the X-10 motion sensors with the two types of batteries?
> 
> I’m really not sure why I’ve never purchased them but plan to replace all of the Motion Sensor batteries in the near future with Lithium.
> 
> As always, Thank You for the input!
> 
> —Jerry
> 
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