Table Lamp automation ideas?

[IVB]

We have a ton of table lamps in our house. My wife & kids are constantly leaving them on. But, since they're table lamps with "convenient" on/off switches, I'm not sure how to best bring them into an automation solution. (and yes, i'm working on the personal responsibility turn off the damn lights without turning into my father)
 
Anyone have any ideas? I thought about putting appliance module switches at the base, always leaving the lamp in the "on" position, then triggering it, but not sure how to best trigger it in a way that wouldn't result in them ripping out the lamp module within seconds.
 
Anyone do this, or have you just succumbed to yelling at wife/kids to turn off the lights?

 

[pete_c]

Here most of the rooms in the house have overhead lighting in cans on switches, fans and table lamps on switched outlets all connected to 3 separate in wall switches or one multitoggle switch (so the average room has three switches on the wall).  The original contracted when house was built electrician did put switches by every entrance to a room which is nice.
 
I tried turning on and off with individual lamp modules and the occupancy sensors in the same room.  It didn't work and was very low on the WAF.  My wife preferred sometimes to just sit in the dark room.  I also tried the follow me turning on cans et al as you walked and that didn't work.   I do though have the lighting on schedules which turn it on and off a predetermined times; different schedules for different times and days of the week. 
 
I guess you could set up a timed event to just shut them off when there is no motion; giving the user the ability to just turn them back on manually.  I mean if they are not there to see it shut off then maybe there will not be any issues?

 

[IVB]

Not totally following you. If I use an automated lamp module, it requires turning on/off at the outlet. I noticed one lamp the other day with the module laying on the desk as wife got bugged and disconnected it as she didn't like going to the outlet to turn the light on/off.
 
These particular locations have no switches. House is 102 years old, wiring was run not much after that, so the real answer is to rip open the walls, take out the knob/tube wiring, and put in more switches. Sadly, thats also real expensive

 

[pete_c]

Not totally following you. If I use an automated lamp module, it requires turning on/off at the outlet

 
I can turn on and off the lamp at the lamp cord switch or by the bulb lamp switch and it will go on with a lamp module.  (historically with my Insteon/X10, Z-Wave and today its UPB modules).  Now I don't recall about the Z-Wave cuz they do turn on at the module button and I thought I was also turning them on and off at the lamp switch on the cord and bulb.  But if you turn it on at the lamp switch then turn off; it will not turn on via the automated Lamp module.
 
You could also leave a wireless one button control for the lamp next to the lamp for manual intervention whether its Insteon, X-10, Z-Wave or UPB.  For a time a few folks were purchasing that big red button which was a wireless X10 which you could utilize with a WGL W800 or older MR26A.
 
I utilize some wireless pads today for TTS status, manual landscaping zone watering, et al. 
 
It would be a major effort to put in wall switches if none ever existed.  But again you can go wireless and use a switch that looks like a regular light switch but is wireless and just tack it on the wall with double stick tape (I have a few of these around).  That could work at a high WAF too.

 

[electron]

I use UPB appliance modules, which offer local control (so you can still control the light via the original switch by turning it on-off-on).  Works very well, and the wife has never complained about it.  The switch is rarely used, and I do have an X10 RF palmpad on the table next to the light in case manual control is required.

 

[IVB]

I use UPB appliance modules, which offer local control (so you can still control the light via the original switch by turning it on-off-on).  Works very well, and the wife has never complained about it.  The switch is rarely used, and I do have an X10 RF palmpad on the table next to the light in case manual control is required.

 
An appliance module like this where you have to press a button on the actual module?  In my specific case, I have desk lamps where the outlet is low on the wall behind it. The wife & kids really don't want to go under desk to press that button. I'll look for wireless one button zWave controls, didn't think that existed at a decent price point.
 

 

[pete_c]

You don't have to utilize the button on the appliance device. 
 
The Z-wave switch will sense when you turn the lamp on or off at the the corded lamp switch or the switch by the bulb.
 
I have a lamp module behind one couch which would be difficult to move should I want to use the button the lamp module.
 
Here is a one button Z-Wave wireless device.
 
http://aeotec.com/z-wave-one-button-remote

 

[potts.mike]

The GE z wave modules supposedly can sense current draw and turn on when the lamp is turned on. I think you set some configuration parameter in the module but I have never actually tried to get it to work.

 

[IVB]

I just realized I have 3 unused GE keyfobs. I should see if I can get them to use that instead of the devices on/off, I can have Elk tell CQC to turn the light on/off...

 

[IVB]

And, I just found 3 unused wireless window/door sensors I could jury-rig into a triggering solution. Man, I've got a ton of unused crap, half still in the box it came in. 

 

[tmbrown97]

IVB - are you understanding what others are describing for local load control?  For example, I have a desk lamp on my desk that's on a UPB appliance module - it can be controlled by a UPB switch by the door (next to the one that controls the overhead lamp) but if I'm sitting at the desk and want the light on, all I do is reach over to the lamp's on/off switch... presumably the switch is already set to On but it's turned off because the lamp module is off - however, if I reach over to the lamp's switch and flip it off then on again, the lamp module detects this and turns the lamp on to the predetermined level.  There's no reaching for the appliance module or getting up to go to the switch.  I use this in a few rooms in the house.
 
As others eluded to, of course you can always use some palm-pads.  Depending on your technology, I use UPB for instance, so I have a W800RF32 connected to Elve so I can use some of the palmpads around the house.  One example is in my daughter's room - the rocking chair is right next to her lowboy dresser - and on the corner is an inconspicuously mounted keypad (the one that looks like a decora switch but is adhesive backed and super thin) - so while sitting in the chair, I can turn off the overhead light, turn on her table lamp at 30%, and turn off the hall lights outside her bedroom - all without getting up.  
 
The local-load switching also works well with normal table lamps - the kind with the turning knob up by the lamp - people barely even realize they're turning it twice instead of once (kinda used to it from the 3-way bulb functionality of the switch).  The real rub comes when they turn it off manually, but I use a few real-handy all-off functions... one to kill the whole downstairs from outside the master bedroom (my main reason for going nuts with automated lights after having to walk around to 15 different switch banks on my way up the stairs) and another that kills every light in the house as the system arms, so when we run the kids to school all their bedroom/bathroom lights are taken care of, and when we head upstairs for bath/bed, all the downstairs is taken care of - it's all quite convenient.
 
I don't bother automating much for lights coming on - my wife and I are very manual people and it's hard to predict at any given moment which mood we're going for.

 

[IVB]

IVB - are you understanding what others are describing for local load control?  For example, I have a desk lamp on my desk that's on a UPB appliance module - it can be controlled by a UPB switch by the door (next to the one that controls the overhead lamp) but if I'm sitting at the desk and want the light on, all I do is reach over to the lamp's on/off switch... presumably the switch is already set to On but it's turned off because the lamp module is off - however, if I reach over to the lamp's switch and flip it off then on again, the lamp module detects this and turns the lamp on to the predetermined level.  There's no reaching for the appliance module or getting up to go to the switch.  I use this in a few rooms in the house.

Wow thats really cool. I don't think the zWave appliance modules do that. I'll check, perhaps the newer ones do. That would solve my problem exactly.

 

[IVB]

BTW thanks, I didn't actually realize UPB allowed something that flexible.

 

[IVB]

Wow, just noticed that the zWave Leviton Vizia RF+ has this line. I still have old Intermatic modules, not nearly this advanced. Thanks to all for the tip, i'll pick 1-2 up to see how they work.
 

MANUAL ON: If Scene Capable Plug-In Lamp Dimming Module is OFF, turn the switch located on the controlled lamp OFF for a few seconds,then ON again. The module will turn the lamp ON to full BRIGHT. This procedure can be used to turn

 

[tmbrown97]

I know it's nothing new or terribly innovative - X10 did the same thing.  It might not be too clear in the specs but look for "local load control".