HOME CINEMA TOUR 2024

I've made this video because I showed the tabs (curtains) and motorized masking in operation during my recent review video for DUNE PART TWO and this resulted in several questions in the comments section, plus a phone call or two! Mainly we can blame Mark Stuckey for this video as he suggested it was something I ought to do so thank you Mark.

To clarify one point I make in this video, I bemoan the abandoning of motorized masking and tabs in cinemas. While this is true, I do accept that huge, genuine IMAX screens are impractical for such solutions as are the largest faux IMAX screens such as the one in the Empire Leicester Square which although not as high as a genuine IMAX house screen is nevertheless 90 feet wide. The engineering and expense for masking and tabs are probably not economic and possibly not viable at all.

I first started looking into automation possibilities for our home cinema in 2000/2001 and homed in on an X10 home automation solution, mainly because the curtain motors you see in this video were designed to work with X10. The basic premise of X10 is a transceiver module (TM13U) which receives commands from a push button X10 sender/remote control (model number HR10E). Up to 16 devices can be controlled by the remote control as shown in this video. Each device has to be plugged into an Appliance Module (AM12U) with some variations such as lights which require a Lamp Module. The transceiver receives the signal from the remote and sends it around the wiring loom of your house until it finds the relevant Appliance Module (each has a set number from 1 to 16) whereupon the curtain motor activates. It's a simple on/off procedure and after each activation 'off' has to be depressed for the relevant Appliance so that it can be activated again. In the case of the curtain motors they go forwards following the first activation and then after receiving the X10 remote signal for OFF the next time they are activated they go backwards. This means the curtains or masking will open after the first activation and then close on the second activation. Exactly what is required for a home cinema solution.

The top mask in this home cinema operates via a roller blind but is the same basic premise as the corded curtain track solution for masking and tabs (curtains). Because the curtains are rather big and heavy now the area they cover is around 12 feet wide they are each running on an individual curtain motor with both Appliance Modules set to the same code: i.e. the X10 remote activates both curtain motors concurrently from a single command to code number 3.

The bottom mask runs independently of everything else via a pair of linear actuator motors. This is because it had all got too heavy and cumbersome for a roller blind solution. Look up 'linear actuator motors' on eBay and you should find them. They are sold in pairs. You can also find the remote control for them but be aware that these motors require a 12v or 24v power supply as they are not built for 240v standard home electric supply. I found a relevant power supply on eBay for less than £20. Another solution would be to power them from an old (but not dead) car battery.

I do not cover the red lights atop the THX front speakers in this video but they too are controlled by X10 but must be in a 'Lamp Module' Applicance Module which is a slightly different model number LM12. This fades the lights up to full brightness and then down to completely off.

There have cheap versions of X10 and appliance modules for up to three devices on general sale in recent years and if you fancy just making a start or getting an idea of how it all works then one of these for very little money may be worthwhile. As it is, the X10 system I have now seem to be available in abundance second hand for a very small outlay.