Lighting Control Poll 2015

[Pete]

Here primarily utilize UPB for light switches. I also utilize X10, Insteon, Z-Wave and Zigbee today.

[Mattyjee]

My "other" being Arduino using the mysensors.org framework.

[Pete]

@Mattyjee,

Personally am not familiar with your methodology.

What is it specifically that you are using to turn on and off the high voltage piece of the lighting?

Are you doing this? Are you fitting the relay in the light switch / power box in the wall? Are you doing this wirelessly? Can you dim the lamp?

[LeoS]

Mainly PLCBUS, moving to zwave slowly. Also adding Hue now.

[Mattyjee]

@Mattyjee,

Personally am not familiar with your methodology.

What is it specifically that you are using to turn on and off the high voltage piece of the lighting?

Are you doing this? Are you fitting the relay in the light switch / power box in the wall? Are you doing this wirelessly? Can you dim the lamp?

I am 95% Z-Wave but have done one light and and blind controller using arduino basically the same as you have sketched. I fit the relay in the junction boxes in the ceiling (which is also where all my z-wave modules are) this is still switchable from the wall as it is where the wall switch wires, power wires, and light wires all intersect. I don't dim but it is possible if you use external mosfet transistors. Yes it is all wireless. Exact same functionality as z-wave (minus power reporting) but at 20% of the cost. It's not exactly compliant with Australian building standards but my two installs are quickly and easily removable and I don't plan on adding any more to the house itself but I will in the external garage.

[Pete]

Very nice.

Here I wish someday that the whole house be just LV / DC. It would be much easier.

I have over the years switched my outdoor LV (AC toroidal transformer) to pure DC and using LEDs. I have one run / zone of 12 gauge wire that is over 200 plus feet and see no loss of voltage at the end of it. I am currently using one automated switch to multiple DIN mounted DC power supplies. It would be nice to automate individual zones of the LED lighting.

[randycboone]

X-10 Motion/Light Sensors with Z-Wave Switches/Dimmers.

[Pete]

Here continue to utilize two W800's for wireless X10. (plus XTB amp and dual phased XTB TW-523 PIM)

I did upgrade my connected X10 PIMs to Jeff Volp's stuff a few years back and it works great.

IE: For Christmas decorations I did start with X10 (many many years ago), then tried Insteon, then UPB, then Z-Wave.

I returned back to using X10 about 3 years ago. I set the 20 plus X10 controllers (inside and outside) to one house code and test them outside with a wireless X10 keypad and geez they all go on at once which is a good warm and fuzzy for me.

[TeleFragger]

old light switches im trying to get my hands on more..

togglelinc 23890w 2 way... work great with my LED dimmable lights..

2 - HA20c intermatic... they are ok.. 3 second delay sucks...

[macromark]

This poll prompted me to put up another one but with a twist. I'm interested in the "primary" technology you're using or intending to use. The poll is here:
http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=176267

Please post there as well. I'm guessing the results will look a bit different than they do here, particularly with respect to X10.

[jlrichar]

My "other" interface is completely voice activated, but the reliability is hit or miss. Sometimes when I say "turn off the porch light" for example nothing happens. Other times it keeps turning off/on for many minutes prior to the interface doing a self correction. Also, the interface is only available part time, and usually not when light is needed. I was thinking of upgrading this interface, but I'm going to wait as the sales brochure promised that it is a self learning interface that eventually will become completely self sufficient. I'm not sure how popular this interface is, and I doubt there is a plugin for it. I wonder, does anyone else use the Kid interface?

[Pete]

Relating to Homeseer 3 check out the Kinect and or Amazon Echo stuff.

I think you will like it.

[stipus]

Most of my lights/sockets are PLCBUS. I'm moving to Zigbee/Hue to add colors.