NEWBIE HELP: Basic Home Automation Lighting

[DieselvRR]

Hey all,

1st post here. I just bought a brand new house and would like some simple home automation with my lighting.

Current Need:

* Outside Garage Lights to come on sun down and turn off sun up
* Front Door Stoop Lights to come on sun down and turn off sun up
* Outside Driveway Light to come on sun down and turn off sun up
* Deck Light to come on sun down and turn off sun up

Each of these is controlled by a traditional toggle single pole toggle switch. I been noticing that most RF/Automated lighting light switches are the "rocker" type. Are there any manufacturers that make traditional toggle?

Its a pretty simple requirement, been reading on all different types of technologies. Would like a solution that balances easiest DIY setup and affordability but also have the capability to grow incase I decide at a later date I wanted to add a variety of indoor lights and dimmers to the mix as well.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[WayneW]

Each of these is controlled by a traditional toggle single pole toggle switch. I been noticing that most RF/Automated lighting light switches are the "rocker" type. Are there any manufacturers that make traditional toggle?

Welcome to CocoonTech. Insteon has some toggle devices in their product line. Look on smarthome.com for "togglelincs".

 

[Rupp]

Z-Wave offers these switches but they are currently out of stock.
http://store.homeseer.com/store/Dimming-Wa...itches-C42.aspx

HomeSeer has the ability to "trigger" events based on sunrise and sunset times. You can also use various external light sensors to more closely monitor the actual light and trigger events as well. I use my solar sensor on my Davis weather station to trigger lighting events in the evening. So if it's cloudy the lights will come on earlier than the calculated sunrise/sunset. You can download a free 30 day trial of HomeSeer from http://www.homeseer.com

A setup like this would be very easy to grow if you start with the correct platform.

 

[drozwood90]

A setup like this would be very easy to grow if you start with the correct platform.

Boy, that is the understatement of the year!

I started out with Firecracker and appliance module from X10. Then that grew to a BUNCH of X10 stuff.

THEN I found out about Homeseer. Got the free trial, just as they were coming out with V2.0. Wow, not I have that a bunch of plugins, RFID tags, custom sensors / hardware that I built, 40 or so X10 sensors, 35+UPB devices (my preferred control method), HTPC, etc...etc..etc...

So easy, I just can't seem to stop!!!

--Dan

 

[sloop]

if that is all you anticipate doing, i would use photoreceptors - as sunset nears on stormy days, a calculated sunset time does not know the lights need to be on

if you plan on doing more later, might be worth looking at a controller for a more encompassing system - the product lines change, but most are backward compatible

but if you don't have lots of money to throw at this stuff and a really, really tolerant wife, run like a somba bish

if you are still determined to do it, remember not all that can be automated should be automated - and enjoy the new hobby

 

[123]

If you want a lot of software functionality for $0 then give Premise a try. It may prove to be all you need.

If your immediate goal is to automate lighting, play distributed music, grab news headlines, and speak the weather forecast, Premise can do this (and much more). However, if you do outgrow it, your time will not be wasted because Premise will serve as an excellent introduction to the world of Home Automation software.

 

[beelzerob]

Each of these is controlled by a traditional toggle single pole toggle switch. I been noticing that most RF/Automated lighting light switches are the "rocker" type. Are there any manufacturers that make traditional toggle?

I think the reason most manufacturers make the rocker switches is because when you can control the lights from somewhere other than the switch, then "up = on" no longer applies. So, with the rockers, the stay centered and not in the "on" or "off" position. However, as always, pressing down would turn it off, and pressing up would turn it on, whatever state it's currently in.

Anyways, I THINK that's why that is. I'm not sure how toggle switches handle that situation of being in the wrong position. It's not the end of the world, really...just the same as a 3-way switch.

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Look on smarthome.com for "togglelincs".

Or just go to www.Togglelinc.com

 

[SteveQ]

Before you make your final choice, I would encourage you to rethink your entire concept! Leaving lights on all night is a waste of energy. I think you should consider a motion sensor.

SteveQ

 

[SnyperBob]

Look on smarthome.com for "togglelincs".

Or just go to www.Togglelinc.com

oh, now that's a sweet plug. haha....nice one!