Looking for remote wall switch

[amdx]

I'm looking for a switch almost like the one in the URL below.

http://tinyurl.com/n5luoq3

This one has two problems,
It is made for incandescent bulbs only,
I need one that will work with CFL's.
I also need one that works just like an ordinary
wired two way switch. I don't see if this does that or not.

I would prefer to have this style flip switch,
but could put up with swmbo until she gets used to a
different style.

Mikek

 

[William Sommerwerck]

You might want to look at X10 modules. X10 has two-way switches.

It's not so much whether a switch system will work with CFLs, but whether CFLs
will work with switch systems. Most X10 modules can switch CFLs, and dim some
* models.

* Not to be confused with the food.

 

[amdx]

You might want to look at X10 modules. X10 has two-way switches.

It's not so much whether a switch system will work with CFLs, but
whether CFLs will work with switch systems. Most X10 modules can switch
CFLs, and dim some * models.

* Not to be confused with the food.

I may need to look into X10, but right now I need to look at the CFL I
have and see if it is dim-able.
I can't stand the kitchen light when I get up in the morning, already
changed it from a 6000K to a 4700K (4300K?) and it is slightly more
tolerable. I just need to shut it off long enough to get my first cup of
coffee and light adjust for a bit. Funny, I can fire up my computer and
that light has much less effect on me.
I did find this system uses piezo devices to produce power. Kinda neat,
But is more involved than I think I need to get.
http://www.lightningswitch.com/

Thanks, Mikek

 

[amdx]

You might want to look at X10 modules. X10 has two-way switches.

It's not so much whether a switch system will work with CFLs, but
whether CFLs will work with switch systems. Most X10 modules can switch
CFLs, and dim some * models.

* Not to be confused with the food.

I checked my CFL, it says "Not Dimable"
Btw, my bulb is 5000k 1550 to 1686 lumens? found three
ratings for the same bulb.
ECOT23 or sku384314. May look for new bulb, (again)

Mikek

 

[William Sommerwerck]

"dave" wrote in message

You might want to look at X10 modules. X10 has two-way switches.

Get an appliance module if you want hard on/off.

Correct. But I don't think X10 makes a three-way appliance module.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

"amdx" wrote in message

I checked my CFL, it says "Not Dimable"

I'll have to make this clear... Whether the module will turn a CFL on and off
has nothing to do with whether the CFL is dimmable.

 

[amdx]

"amdx" wrote in message


I'll have to make this clear... Whether the module will turn a CFL on
and off has nothing to do with whether the CFL is dimmable.

Ok, I don't have any interest in dimming. What I see is most of the
simple remote switches are for incandescent bulbs or resistive loads.


So, where does this leave me?
Also, I was posting two way switch, i just realized what I want is a
three way switch system.

Mikek

 

[mike]

Ok, I don't have any interest in dimming. What I see is most of the
simple remote switches are for incandescent bulbs or resistive loads.


So, where does this leave me?
Also, I was posting two way switch, i just realized what I want is a
three way switch system.

Mikek

Any switch module with two wires is unlikely to work with CFLs.
They rely on current thru the load to run the module.
When I switched to CFL, I had to rip out the dimmer modules
and replace with appliance switch modules.

There were also issues with some loads. Had to remove the module
resistor that senses the load. It's the thing that lets you turn
the lamp off, then back on for manual switching. Mods available online.

 

[[email protected]]

I'm looking for a switch almost like the one in the URL below.

http://tinyurl.com/n5luoq3

This one has two problems,
It is made for incandescent bulbs only,
I need one that will work with CFL's.
I also need one that works just like an ordinary
wired two way switch. I don't see if this does that or not.

I would prefer to have this style flip switch,
but could put up with swmbo until she gets used to a
different style.

How about this? The normal toggle style is available, too.

http://www.insteon.com/2477s-switchlinc-dual-band.html

 

[amdx]

How about this? The normal toggle style is available, too.

http://www.insteon.com/2477s-switchlinc-dual-band.html

I need to correct a couple errors I made. I want the new switch and
it's remote to work as a *THREE way switch, meaning, I can turn the
light on or off from the other switch no matter what position the first
is in. Also, I just recalled this this already is a three way circuit,
one switch is hidden behind the refrigerator.
In all my searches, one thing that never seems to be explained clearly,
will the switch work in a three way circuit? I have also seen that some
work with fluorescent lights, but CFL's are not listed. Made me realize,
ya, there's a difference.

After reading your link, I'm still undecided.

Thanks, Mikek


* previously I said Two way.

 

[mike]

I need to correct a couple errors I made. I want the new switch and
it's remote to work as a *THREE way switch, meaning, I can turn the
light on or off from the other switch no matter what position the first
is in. Also, I just recalled this this already is a three way circuit,
one switch is hidden behind the refrigerator.
In all my searches, one thing that never seems to be explained clearly,
will the switch work in a three way circuit? I have also seen that some
work with fluorescent lights, but CFL's are not listed. Made me realize,
ya, there's a difference.

After reading your link, I'm still undecided.

Thanks, Mikek


* previously I said Two way.

3-ways are always an issue because of the wiring required.

There's a thing for X10 that's called stick a switch.
Model is SS13A.
It's a switch plate that you just glue anywhere.
has three on/off switches and a dimmer switch.
You can stick as many as you want anywhere you want.
Works with the wireless transceiver module to access
three wired X10 modules in the house. I've never used it.
I just have HR-12A remotes scattered around the house.

There are similar keyfob transmitters that do the same thing
for x10.

And there are many different remote switches that don't use X10.
I have a sack of remote systems designed for ceiling fans.

If you're gonna buy a whole new set of stuff, X10 is pretty
outdated. Might be better of with a more modern technology.

 

[amdx]

Z-wave 3 way switch
<http://www.smarthome.com/59464/GE-45614-Z-Wave-3-Way-On-Off-Kit/p.aspx>
<

>

Same warning, "The device controlled by this Z-Wave switch must not
exceed 600 watts (Incandescent); 15 Amps, 1800W (Resistive);
or ½ HP (Motor)."
I found lots of remote controls (tv type) but not a normal wall mount
flip switch.
I'm using a CFL, until I change it.
Mikek

 

[Phil Allison]

"amdx"

I checked my CFL, it says "Not Dimable"

** That is a lighting industry term that means " standard CFL".

All of which are dimmable, with the right dimmer.

A variac works well as do most trailing edge dimmers - some might need an
incandescent lamp in parallel.

Cheap triac ( phase control) dimmers do not dim and must never be used with
a CFL.

Even when set to 100%, there are large current pulses that will eventually
kill the CFL.



.... Phil

 

[[email protected]]

I need to correct a couple errors I made. I want the new switch and
it's remote to work as a *THREE way switch, meaning, I can turn the
light on or off from the other switch no matter what position the first
is in. Also, I just recalled this this already is a three way circuit,
one switch is hidden behind the refrigerator.

X10 has 3-way switches (and 4-way - same remote switch). I'm pretty
sure the Insteon will do that, too. I'm just starting with Insteon
(so far not it's not working as I expected, though).

In all my searches, one thing that never seems to be explained clearly,
will the switch work in a three way circuit? I have also seen that some
work with fluorescent lights, but CFL's are not listed. Made me realize,
ya, there's a difference.

As long as it doesn't dim, what's the difference?

 

[[email protected]]

They sell X-10 at Beast Buy don't they?

Not here and it's not in their online catalog. Insteon is on their
site but no reason to buy from them. I looked for some X-10 stuff a
while back and could find no one who carried it anymore (other than
online). Seems "home automation" has gone away.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

X10 has been around 35 years. It's cheap, and it works.

 

[mike]

X10 has been around 35 years. It's cheap, and it works.

I'd agree, BUT.
I buy the stuff dirt cheap at garage sales.
Works well enough, but it's really old technology.
Susceptible to noise.
Needs help bridging phases of the line.

If I were gonna buy it at retail prices, I think
I'd investigate some of the newer lines.

 

[Robert Baer]

I'm looking for a switch almost like the one in the URL below.

http://tinyurl.com/n5luoq3

This one has two problems,
It is made for incandescent bulbs only,
I need one that will work with CFL's.
I also need one that works just like an ordinary
wired two way switch. I don't see if this does that or not.

I would prefer to have this style flip switch,
but could put up with swmbo until she gets used to a
different style.

Mikek

One time at Home Depot, i saw an answer to a remote light switch.
Looking at the receiver box i see: Westek (brand name of American
Tack and Hardware) Wireless plugin receiver Model RFA-110.
I have 2 loads on it: one LED light and one Dell Monitor with the RGB
color face and polarizer stripped off for a diffused light source.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

"isw" wrote in message news:isw-B09B64.21412324112013@[216.168.3.50]...

Correct. But I don't think X10 makes a three-way appliance module.

[/QUOTE]

They all are. You just need an X10 wireless receiver and two (or more)
X10 remote switches.

Ahem. That is not the common usage of "two-way" or "three-way".

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

X10 was originally a one way system and lacked a way of verifying that
the destination switch was successfully actuated. I had X10 (mostly
BSR) lighting control at my house for many years. One day, I noticed
that while I was running the drill press in the shop, the outside
lights failed to activate at their appointed times. A little testing
showed that the drill press produced enough EMI on the power lines to
jam the X10 signal. The X10 protocol tries to get around this problem
by sending the codes several times, but that's ineffective against
long duration interference.

Many current X10 models offer bi-directional 2-way control, where the
device transmits an acknowledgement. The older controllers and
devices lack this feature:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard)>
Look for the buzzword "2-way" in the name.

I've got a Wemo device in use now, pretty slick stuff. I can switch my
lights on and off from Jena Germany or China, with confirmation (if I
don't want to look at the webcam).


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany