International/US versions of Ocelot

[completelyhis]

I'm looking at purchasing an ocelot, but I have a question: I have heard that there are two versions of this hardware, and international one and one for the US. is this true? what are the differences? will the int'l one work in the US? vice versa?

[rirvine]

The only difference is the power supply and the X10 PIC chip in the Ocelot.
US Ocelots have a 60 Hertz PIC chip so it used the x10 ttl interface correctly for US 110V/60Hertz. "International" versions have a 50 Hertz PIC chip for the 240V/50Hertz power to allow correct X10 TTL timing.

If you are never ever going to use the Ocelot for X10, then you can get whatever one you want. However you may have to get a power supply with the correct plug for your local area. Both versions use the same power 9-12VDC @ 1AMP.

Ross.

[completelyhis]

My intention is to use the ocelot with a few secu units (mainly for IR - control of A/V equipment) but also thinking I'd like to use it for HVAC (open/close dampers) and possibly wired PIRs. So, I gues I'm mainly going to use it to interface with the secu'sI don't plan on using it to directly control any X10, but it will definitely need to be able to talk to HS, which controls the x10. Does the Ocelot communicate w/ HS via x10 or rs232? I'm only assuming, but I think that will be the deciding factor.

[rirvine]

You can use X10 to communicate but you would have to do a LOT of events in HS and the Ocelot to translate X10 commands into IR etc.

Most people (if not everyone) use the RS-232 serial connection, much easier to have direct control of the Ocelot rather than having to translate everything. So you only need the correct PIC chip if you want the ocelot to do any sending or receiving of X10.

Since both versions (US and International) are available, just get the correct one (even if you have to pay $10 extra) just so you don't have to worry about any X10 problems down the track if you connect the Ocelot to an X10 interface.

Ross.