I'm looking for a solution to control my outdoor lights from inside of my house. Not practical or possible to run a wire for a switch. I currently have all of the lights on a single switch inside of the garage. Is there a remote control type of product that would be easy to install? A quick amazon search is only showing me switches that control an outlet.
Control exterior lights on detached garage from inside house?
- Thread starter wotan
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lakeroadster
Well-known member
We used motion detector lighting. When you walk up the light / lights comes on. 10 minutes later they go off.
Unfortunately it's a lot of accent lighting (including some of those cheesy tuscan string lights) that this won't work with.
You should be able to get a Z wave switch like this for starters
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035YRCR2/?tag=atomicindus08-20
And to control it - it depends on how complex you want to go. You could get a simple remote like this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRGU2E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or get a hub a build out a whole system. Lots of options. With Z wave, the more devices you have the better because they all work to relay the signal to the proper device
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035YRCR2/?tag=atomicindus08-20
And to control it - it depends on how complex you want to go. You could get a simple remote like this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRGU2E/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or get a hub a build out a whole system. Lots of options. With Z wave, the more devices you have the better because they all work to relay the signal to the proper device
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Leviton (?) and others used to make a very simple wireless 3 way switch kit. Swap out the existing switch for the new one. Add a battery to the remote which looked like a typical switch and wall plate with sticky tape to mount it to any wall.
No fuss, no muss. I have not seen these in a couple of years and I think Z-wave is over kill for many applications, such as this one.
No fuss, no muss. I have not seen these in a couple of years and I think Z-wave is over kill for many applications, such as this one.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
What exactly do you want to control? The amount of time the lights are on and then go off? The time of day the lights go on, then stay on for a few hours, and then go off? Do you want the lights to automatically go on at dusk and off at dawn? Or do you want complete control over each set of lights from inside the house so you can turn them on and off as you wish?
Also, does your garage have some type of wall board/dry wall on the walls, or does your garage have open walls, meaning all the studs are exposed and there is no wall board/dry wall?
I ask these things because there are a few things you can do depending on exactly what it is you wish to control with the lights, and if you can gain access to each light fixtures wiring from inside the garage.
Jim
Also, does your garage have some type of wall board/dry wall on the walls, or does your garage have open walls, meaning all the studs are exposed and there is no wall board/dry wall?
I ask these things because there are a few things you can do depending on exactly what it is you wish to control with the lights, and if you can gain access to each light fixtures wiring from inside the garage.
Jim
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Was really just thinking a switch inside would be nice -- I don't see any reason to program these or require any kind of logic to them. I turn off the house lights when I go to bed and want to be able to turn off the garage lights at the same time. I do have motion-activated security lights.
Walls are dry-walled although I do have relatively painless access through the attic if I need to change something.
Walls are dry-walled although I do have relatively painless access through the attic if I need to change something.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
I know you said you didn't really want to program the lights, but I installed a programmable timer switch from Home Depot in place of a regular switch for two sets of lights at my house. The switch was in the garage, same as yours, and in order for me to turn the lights on and off I had to go into the garage each time to do so. That got old real fast, because my wife and I would sometimes forget to shut them off and they would stay on all day, so I installed one of these.
It can be programed to turn the lights on whenever you want, and shut off whenever you want on different days of the week (7 day programmable), or it can be set to turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. Or you can even use it like a regular switch by pushing the big button.
I have it set to come on at dusk and then shut off at midnight. I can't even tell you how many headaches this thing has saved me, as well as the savings on the electricity. Don't throw out the idea of programing the lights with one of these. It is cheap, easy to install, and requires no afterthought when you are laying in bed and thinking did I shut off those lights or not?
Sorry for the big picture, but I copied the link right from the Home Depot website.
Jim
It can be programed to turn the lights on whenever you want, and shut off whenever you want on different days of the week (7 day programmable), or it can be set to turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. Or you can even use it like a regular switch by pushing the big button.
I have it set to come on at dusk and then shut off at midnight. I can't even tell you how many headaches this thing has saved me, as well as the savings on the electricity. Don't throw out the idea of programing the lights with one of these. It is cheap, easy to install, and requires no afterthought when you are laying in bed and thinking did I shut off those lights or not?
Sorry for the big picture, but I copied the link right from the Home Depot website.
Jim
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Having re-read the OP, I am not sure this is what he wants.
SK-8 Wireless DIY 3-Way On Off Anywhere Lighting Home Control Wall Switch Set
They also sell a Edison-base screw in light bulb adapter or a wire-in receiver (not sure how you would mount this - behind the electrical box that holds the light fixture ?).
SK-8 Wireless DIY 3-Way On Off Anywhere Lighting Home Control Wall Switch Set
They also sell a Edison-base screw in light bulb adapter or a wire-in receiver (not sure how you would mount this - behind the electrical box that holds the light fixture ?).
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paranoid56
Well-known member
how about just a timer switch?
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
That is a good idea, and those timer switches work excellent, but due to his situation, he would still have to go into the garage every day to turn it on and set the "On" time he wanted.
The switch I showed does what you suggested, but you only have to set it once, and then it will turn the lights on and off without you having to be there.
Jim
Sal Bandini
Well-known member
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OP just wants simple wall switch.
Git post #4 had it right. I think the range on it is like 120 ft so should be fine.
Git post #4 had it right. I think the range on it is like 120 ft so should be fine.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
Having re-read the OP, I am not sure this is what he wants.
SK-8 Wireless DIY 3-Way On Off Anywhere Lighting Home Control Wall Switch Set
They also sell a Edison-base screw in light bulb adapter or a wire-in receiver (not sure how you would mount this - behind the electrical box that holds the light fixture ?).
That looks like a good idea for this situation. Replace the existing garage wall switch with the receiver piece, and mount the remote transmitter piece inside the house near the door.
Nice.
Jim
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trashmanssd
Well-known member
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JJY0S4G/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I bought this one few years ago for tv room in the basement, and I just got another to control my garage lights from inside the house with the remote. The electrician is coming tomorrow to do final install on lights plugs and switches I can report back on how far it works for me this weekend.
I bought this one few years ago for tv room in the basement, and I just got another to control my garage lights from inside the house with the remote. The electrician is coming tomorrow to do final install on lights plugs and switches I can report back on how far it works for me this weekend.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Works at my buddy's horse farm. His wife can turn the barn lights on from the house which has to be >200' away !
There are a number of ways to skin this cat
I would suggest you do some reading at smarthome
http://www.smarthome.com/sc-buyers-guide-automation-controllers#z-wave
If your only going to control 1 device, it probably won't matter which technology you use, but keep in mind, once you buy one I guarantee you will probably buy another, and another... So think of the 'big picture'
I would suggest you do some reading at smarthome
http://www.smarthome.com/sc-buyers-guide-automation-controllers#z-wave
If your only going to control 1 device, it probably won't matter which technology you use, but keep in mind, once you buy one I guarantee you will probably buy another, and another... So think of the 'big picture'
I use GE wireless hubs (with multiple 120V receptacles/remotes ) to control exterior low V lighting and transformers running at 120V...............funny watching the 12 volts "travel" along the paths after the 120V transformers do their thing................(things don't light up simultaneously due to DC, voltage drop, etc.)
I've had good luck with the X-10 stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=x10
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=x10
I use WeMo .......low cost, no hub to purchase:
http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/
http://www.belkin.com/us/Products/home-automation/c/wemo-home-automation/