Holiday Lights?

[bdee1]

I have started thinking about my holiday lights and how i am going to set them up this year. Of course i am going to automate them with x-10 and homeseer but i have a questions. are there any appliance modules that are specifically for outdoor use? last year i just took a ziploc bag and sealed in the appliance module and then poked the prongs of the plug through the bag. it seemed to work well but this year i will likely also be setting this sort of thing up for some friends too and i would like to come up with a more professional solution than a ziploc bag.

does smarthome (or anyone) offer any kind of outdoor weatherproof module or some kind of weatherproof housing for the modules?

[Rupp]

These kits offer 2 outdoor X10 controllable outlets. The cost of the kit is worth it if your only going to use the outdoor modules.

http://www.automatedoutlet.com/produ...3&cat=0&page=1

You have to use the controller to program them but after that I put the kit away.

Z-Wave also offers some outdoor modules but they are substantially more expensive than these.
http://www.smarthome.com/1183.html

[bdee1]

is there any wayto buy additional modules (not the kit just the modules). because i was thinking i will need 3 or 4 outdoor modules and i woudl rather not but a whole second kit for additional modules.

[Rupp]

Not that I know of but the way I look at it the 2 plugin modules come out to be $22 each. Still not too bad. Also don't forget about the X10 wall outlets behind a cover as DC posted in the other thread.

[bdraper]

Rupp is right, the X10 modules behind a weather proof cover is a very nice addition to your home. I have currently put 4 around the front of my house and then 2 around back. One plug is currently in the second floor dormer eve for icicle lights and is daisy chained to plugs in the other dormers. I was able to cut away at the brick with a hammer drill and then chisel away the bring and fish a wire through, giving a built in look. I like the SR227 from X10 or Smart Home you get 1 full time hot outlet and then one switched. See http://www.x10.com/automation/x10_sr227.htm

The reason I added so many of these plugs is that over the last 2 years we have added so many new animated and lighted items that the power requirements out grew the one standard plug out front. I had extension cord running every where. All of the new plugs added are home runs to our main panel, so hopefully no thrown breakers this year.
<O
Look what my wife picked up at Sams Wholesale for me. Check out the 8-FT Airblown Snowglobe - Snowman Family at http://www.gemmy.com/<O</O

[bdee1]

yeah good point about the pricing of those black and decker modules - i suppose $22 each is nto too bad. and depending on how much time i have i may replace my outdoor outlets (single gang) with dual gang boxes with a GCFI and an x-10 outlet. that just sems like a better solution. and it shouldnt be too hard - just gotta replace the box and add a coupel jumper wires right?

bdraper - its funny you shoudl mention the snowglobe - my fiancee just picked one of those up the other day - i dotn think it was 8ft though i think it was a smaller one. but still its a cool concept - inflatable snowglobe

[Rupp]

Look what my wife picked up at Sams Wholesale for me. Check out the 8-FT Airblown Snowglobe

I thought I was the only one that liked that Snow Globe until I tried to find one. WallMart Sold out. Sam's sold out. I kinda thought it was "hillbilly like" but maybe not if others like them so much?

[wpiman]

I've heard

I have heard of people taking regular X10 modules and putting them in Ziplock bags- letting the prongs push thru-- then taking the wire to be plugged in and putting that in the bag and sealing it as much as possible- or wrapping a rubber band around it.

Maybe not the most asthetic solution but I have a cover on my ourdoor outlet- so this isn't noticable for me.

[bdraper]

Rupp, try Lowes or Home Depot. Although, Sams was the cheapest we found for the Snow Globes...

I wasn't trying to be "hillbilly like"... Maybe a distant third cousin of the Griswolds. Ever seen Christmas Vacation?

I've used the Ziplock bag idea before, works like a champ. I later converted to a more permant solution.

[bdee1]

"oh ther's a little knot, why dont you work on that Russ."
"oh sorry dad , gotta go do my home work, wash the car, feed the hog..."
"a little full, lot of sap - looks good"

great movie.

oh and "cant see the lines can ya russ?" LOL

[AutomatedOutlet]

I like the outlet solution as well. But, for locations where I don't have a controlled outlet, I've been lucky with just putting the appliance module out without a bag. So far, rain hasn't seemed to kill them but perhaps I've been lucky.

[RAM]

Ziplock bag, not closed tight

A few years ago I tried an appliance module inside ziplock bag (just pushing the module prongs right through the bag). I found if I tried to seal it up tight an little moisture always got trapped inside and corroded things. Now I still use the bag, but more as just a rain shield and leave the bottom open. It keeps it dry and no moisture buildup problem. I have at least a couple of years on the one that controls my low voltage lights on and around my deck.

[stevene]

A few years ago I tried an appliance module inside ziplock bag (just pushing the module prongs right through the bag). I found if I tried to seal it up tight an little moisture always got trapped inside and corroded things. Now I still use the bag, but more as just a rain shield and leave the bottom open. It keeps it dry and no moisture buildup problem. I have at least a couple of years on the one that controls my low voltage lights on and around my deck.

I have done the same thing for several years, the last 2 with z-wave modules with no problem.

This year I put new outlets outside that will be controlled by z-wave switches inside, I am still debating overy relay or dimming switches. It would be nice to be able to fade some displays.

StevenE

[langenet]

Can a lamp module such as a LM465 supply enough power for 600-700 watts of lighting? I was thinking an appliance module would be better....

[Rupp]

Appliance modules are definitely better.