turning multiple lights on and off from 3-4 locations?

[Paperman]

So I'm in process of laying out wiring for an 80x120. The building will have 3 maybe 4 points of entry. Id like to be able to switch on any of the different light segments from any of the entry points. I know I could go the old reliable way of 3-4 way switch's but that eats the wire for what could be 8 circuits. I assume there is a smart way to do it with some tech based item. If a guy can open his door from Aruba I should be able to turn on a light from across the building . Anyone have a link to a smart system that a normal guy can afford?

 

[checkthisout]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010NZV0GE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Zwave

 

[Paperman]

Anything that is not internet connected? I was hoping some hub could be wired on a cat6 cable and do all I needed. Like a cat 6 ran to all the switch banks and then to the relays.

 

[prostreetamx]

You could set up an Arduino with a relay bank. You can control it with cat 5, wi-fi, or even bluetooth. Looking into this stuff myself but don't have a lot of free time. Have the parts, just not enough time to create the system. Parts are pretty cheap.

 

[Paperman]

I had thought of a self engineered option but with all the professional types we have here I figured I would be tossed a bunch of commercial ready options. Seems in this age anything can be done wirelessly. I'm in no rush but want to start pulling wire in a few weeks. Ill keep digging and report back.

 

[American Locomotive]

They do make simple wireless light switches! Something like this: http://illumra.com/products/wireless-light-switches/ .

Our house is old with pull chain lights. We wanted a wall switch for the kitchen, but it would have been a huge nightmare since our walls solid wood+plaster, meaning there's no room to run wires. We the above brand wireless switch a year ago, and it's been awesome. The range is incredible - I was able to turn my kitchen light on/off from down the street.

The switch is battery-less, and is powered by the button presses themselves. What's great is you can have multiple switches control one receiver, or one switch control multiple receivers, or presumably some combination of both. So it would do everything you want to do.

Our switch is Illumra branded, and has been rock solid without a single issue. I'm sure there are other manufacturers of similar devices though. When finding a wireless switch, search for words like "energy harvesting" or "kinetic".

 

[cybrdyke]

www.casetawireless.com. You can even ask Alexa to do it for you with this system.
CD

 

[Bert_]

My personal preference would be something hard wires not wireless. There are several options out there for both low voltage and line voltage lighting controls using relays.

 

[checkthisout]

Anything that is not internet connected? I was hoping some hub could be wired on a cat6 cable and do all I needed. Like a cat 6 ran to all the switch banks and then to the relays.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00022OCC8/?tag=atomicindus08-20


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00022OCC8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Been around since the 70s

 

[ard]

Zwave
You don't need fancy controllers nor internet connections.

 

[dw1]

Not sure what type of lighting you are using inside the warehouse???? I have used these "Occupancy Motion Sensors" at man doors and leading to the area where the switches are to turn on the lights.
https://www.google.com/search?sourc...y-ab..0.22.2181...0j0i131k1j0i3k1.5FyP_RbnsPA

 

[jdm5]

ZWave or Insteon - both will solve this easily and without additional wires.

 

[klassenl]

A proper lighting controller with low voltage switching is the best way. You have to have a concrete plan for your lighting and switching if you go this route. It's going to be expensive but it solges your problems.

 

[PhysicsDude]

You can use ZWave switches without using the Zwave functionality. I would be leary of pure wireless switches, where there's a master switch that communicates wireless to accessory switches... I don't know that they would work that well in a large shop environment.

I have some of these in my house, they're great. They work well with or without ZWave. Maybe there are some cheaper ones out there but this is what I have direct experience with. You can hook up as many accessory switches as you want to the master switch, they just need a neutral and/or ground, and 1 traveler wire back to the main switch. The traveler wire can be shared among all the accessory switches and isn't a current carrying conductor, it just sends a signal to the main switch to turn on and off.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0035YRCR2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RKJS8MQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20