Lighting Control

[Energeezer]

Guys
I need an education in lighting. (X1 I guess)
Can someone explain to me how this stuff works and where I can buy what I need. I have three light switches that I'd like to control from da couch via pronto.




The Future of HT lies in FP SPREAD THE WORD

[Energeezer]

I did some searches on the net and found the info I needed.
What I would like to know is where the cheapest place in Canada, prefereably but not only Winnipeg is to get them?




The Future of HT lies in FP SPREAD THE WORD

[Andrew Pratt]

Steve the only place I know of locally that sells X10 gear is Radio Shack and they're $$$. I order all my X10 stuff from the US. I have both X10 and Lutron lighting in my house and both work ok for what I need. You can buy Lutron from Home Depot which is what I run in my theater room and its about $80 for the spacer unit. X10 can be a lot cheaper but you'll need to make sure all the lighting is on the same power circuit. Try http://www.smarthome.com they're very good to work with

[Bent]

Greetings, I get to shine here (notice the pun?)

I have an automation set-up in my house that allows scene lighting control. via X-10, but my hardware is a lot of overkill for what I'm doing. I have an ADI ocelot PLC that can learn IR, transmit IR, X-10, serial data as well as control switching modules. It can also respond to X-10 and IR as wll as time-of-day/date/season/latitude-longitude settings.

I would suggest you contact a fella in Calgary named Randy Lejeune,
rlejeune@quantum-electronics.com and tell him what you would like to do, You'll need at a minimum, 3 x-10 capable switches (or in-line modules, but theywon't be as convenient unless you are talking about plug-in lamps), an IR543 interface (plugs into the wall) and possibly a phase coupler, depending on which "leg" the cctsare that you wish to control, dig up my e-mail address (Andrew has it) and give me a call if you want help.

(I am an electrician, but not a normal one...)

[Sonnie Parker]

Great thread... help me out too, genuises! :arrow:

I wired my entire home but I can't begin to tell you about X-10 or even how it works. I just know how to pull wire, connect the wires to whatever and fix up a nice and neat power panel. For some reason X-10 is confusing me as to what I need.


I have 8 light fixtures with 60 watt bulbs around the top of our great room that I'd like to have remote dimming/on/off control. I have a dimmer switch on them now but it's not remote.

I have a 3 speed ceiling fan that I'd like to have remote variable speed/on/off control.

The light dimmer switch, the ceiling fan light switch and the fan switch are all 3 ganged in the same box. The ceiling fan light switch can stay like it is.

I don't believe I'd care anything about scenes and timers.

What's the cheapest way to go to get these remote enabled. My MX-700 only does IR.






SONNIE

Cedar Creek Cinema

DVD Collection

BFD Comprehensive Setup Guide

[Bent]

Sonnie, the MX-700 should already have X-10 IR protocol onboard, so again, the minimum you will need is an IR 543 interface, X-10 capable dimmer switches for each cct,(my 1000 watt single gang Leviton Decora Home Controls was costly, but there are alternatives, like PCS brand which are even more versatile), and possibly a phase coupler in case the receptacle you plug your IR 543 into and your lighting ccts happen to be on opposite legs.
I don't wish to drag anyone away from here, but there is lots of usefull info on Remotecentral.com's X-10 forums. That's how I got started.

Oh, B.T.W. - PCS switches are pretty impressive when used stand alone with X-10 control, you can do preset dims, variable ramp rates, multi scenes, but they are a bit tricky to program.

I have to go to work, or I could ramble on for another hour.

Later,
Ben

[Bent]

Sonnie, the MX-700 should already have X-10 IR protocol onboard, so again, the minimum you will need is an IR 543 interface, X-10 capable dimmer switches for each cct,(my 1000 watt single gang Leviton Decora Home Controls was costly, but there are alternatives, like PCS brand which are even more versatile), and possibly a phase coupler in case the receptacle you plug your IR 543 into and your lighting ccts happen to be on opposite legs.
I don't wish to drag anyone away from here, but there is lots of usefull info on Remotecentral.com's X-10 forums. That's how I got started.

Oh, B.T.W. - PCS switches are pretty impressive when used stand alone with X-10 control, you can do preset dims, variable ramp rates, multi scenes, but they are a bit tricky to program.

I have to go to work, or I could ramble on for another hour.

Later,
Ben

[Sonnie Parker]

I frequent remotecentral forums occasionally so I'll check this out more.

Thanks!






SONNIE

Cedar Creek Cinema

DVD Collection

BFD Comprehensive Setup Guide

[Bent]

Just resurecting an old thread, any of you folks look into this automation thing for your home theater?

I had a job offer yesterday from a WPG B&M A/V store to become an automation instalation consultant for them (part-time), they seemed very impressed with my little setup I have at home.
I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this. :T

[Andrew Pratt]

Cool care to let us know which B&M?