remote lighting

[02RoadKing]

Hi, does anyone have any good ideas on how to turn the lights on in a detached garage from a remote? My garage is about 35-40 away from my back door, and we live in the stick so there is no st. lights. What I am getting at is we want to turn the outside lights on when I leave the dog out at night or when I come in from the garage I dont have to do it in the dark. Any ideas? Thanks Scott

 

[akdiesel]

What about a motion sensor?

 

[02RoadKing]

I thought about that but every time a critter crosses the path I would be grabbing the gun thinking someone was trying to break in! I thank you for your idea but I would like a little more control over it. I bought a heavy duty remote from carlon but it is not hard wired so if I was to use it, I would not be able to use the switch-it would be remote only.Owell I guess I will keep useing the flash light for know. Thanks

 

[akdiesel]

No problem. X10 makes some remote switches as well as another brand that Homedepot sells. Can't remember the name though.

 

[kbs2244]

Or get a garage sale door opener and disconnect the motor.
Then use the remote to turn on the lights only.
Use a screw in adaptor to plug in a cord to the lights.
They have a adjustable timer for the light on time so you can play with it.

 

[Jononon]

My friend who fits lighting says: "Lamson HW2190. Available at SmartHome and Ace Hardware."

 

[fotoflojoe]

No problem. X10 makes some remote switches as well as another brand that Homedepot sells. Can't remember the name though.

There's a technology called Z-Wave that evidently supersedes x-10.

 

[02RoadKing]

Thanks For All The Info, I Hooked Up The Remote To A Box And Put A Plug On The Switch . It Works But Not As Nice A Setup As I Wanted. I Will Look Into The Other Switches, Thanks Again

 

[ckucia]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I have pretty much the same problem.

It's surprisingly difficult to find information on X10. Everything is about these massive home-automation systems or interfacing with a computer.

I have a detached garage with an outside light. The switch is inside the garage.

I have a two-gang switchbox at the back door to the house that controls the porch and driveway lights.

All I want to do is replace the two gang box with a three gang box, and get some sort of switch in there that will control the garage light without digging up the yard to add an additional wire to the garage and tearing up the wall to run a switch. X10 seems like the solution, but darned if I can find some solid information on how to do it.

I guess what complicates things is I don't want a dimmer, I don't want to control it with my computer or a key fob or some George Jetson panel and I don't want my 1920's house to have a silly little square or a decora fixture.

Why can't I just get a simple standard toggle-type switch that looks like all the other toggle switches in my house?

Sorry for the rant. My opinion from my research is the X10 people have complicated themselves out of an entire market. There's a whole neighborhood of old homes around me that could use a simple solution for the situation I have without wanting the huge complication that all the vendors seem to be pushing.

 

[Cutch]

I'm also looking for something to control my outside garage lights from the house.

I know that X10 has a product that would fit that need. As I recall you plug the device into your existing socket and then the bulb into that. I think there is a small transmitter needed. The remote looks like a slimline light switch.

I just need to change my light fixture to accept the longer length of the X10 socket adapter. I also want tp purchse sdome remote video camers...just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Dave Carney]

I bought a $22, 20 amp x-10 light switch that's remote controllable and it died after about the 20th use. Junk. Alot of the x10 stuff is cheaply made, it's the choice of last resort imo

 

[hansen1]

I had tried X10 several times over the years. Very unreliable and tedious to setup and manage. I switched over to Insteon a few years ago and have been very happy. Not to say there hasn't been a couple hardware failures which I would expect from any technology.

Insteon is a updated digitial version of X10 which has much better noise tolerance, 2 way functionality as well as built in signal repeaters to make the system more reliable and scalable.

I have over 40 devices running in my home and it works great. The devices are not cheap (<$50) each but you would only need a couple to do what you are looking for. PM me if you would like more information on what you may need.

Good luck.

 

[02RoadKing]

Hi, I hooked up the remote I bought at True value and it works great! My wall in the garage are not sheeted yet so I kind of rigged it? The remote I used was for out door lighting in a yard, the kind you would plug in. I had to cut the wire leading to the switch and put a receptical above the the switch, next I installed a metal box with a lead from the switch that I left hang out of the cover and installed a male end of a ext. cord. So now in the remote takes a **** all I have to do is make up a small coard and plug in like a jumper.I am not sure if these is the best way to do thes but it works, and I dont have it buried in the wall. I will take a pic of my great wiring and post it tomarrow.

 

[e-tek]

two words boys - THE CLAPPER.