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Topic:
urc lighting options
This thread has 9 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Monday November 5, 2012 at 22:48
dcapone
Long Time Member
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I have a couple URC MX-980 remotes that I love. I am considering adding some remote controlled lighting into the living room. I have read on the URC about scheduling lighting scenes to come on and off at set times when on vacation and the like, but I cannot see what products allow this and would control these programs. From what I see, there are basically different types of RF switches/dimmers and that is about it. I understand how the remote controls the lights with the "addresses that can be stored in each switch/dimmer, but i am unsure where the schedule based control would come from.

Furthermore, i am wondering if their are any URC lighting products that are receptacle type to be used to control a plugged in lamp and if there is a dimmer available that would be compatible with dimmable fluorescent light bulbs installed in ceiling fixtures?

Any information that can be provided would be appreciated.
Post 2 made on Tuesday November 6, 2012 at 10:39
vapochill
Long Time Member
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January 2010
69
with your remote you won't be able to do a "vacation timer". well maybe; but i wouldn't recommend it, the only clock is in the remote itself. from experience, the only useful scenario of timed lights is with the play or pause button on a blu-ray,or an all off command that the lights turn off in 10~20 seconds.

They have a lamp dimmer which is basically a rf light switch in a box with an extension cord attached. it can be seen on page 4 of their light brochure.
[Link: universalremote.com]

Their new total control room stuff could be used to do timed lights... i think; but quickly looking at the program not sure how that would be accomplished. hmmm it should be possible but maybe they haven't implemented it in the software yet.
Post 3 made on Tuesday November 6, 2012 at 10:40
Lowhz
Senior Member
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April 2012
1,168
URC sources wall mounted dimmers and switches for incandescent and a wall mounted MLV dimmer. They also make a table top lamp dimmer in incandescent only. Your choices in those skus are white, black or light almond or after a 3 month wait you can get any color in the Lutron catalog for the wall mounted parts only. All skus come in 418mhz or 433mhz radio frequencies.

MX980 alone can't automate the lights beyond a user-triggered macro or the sleep timer. You'd need a different lighting system and have the MX980 control that.
Post 4 made on Tuesday November 6, 2012 at 15:29
MattBrotzge
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June 2007
426
The last two posts are correct there is no way to set up a "vacation timer" using an MX980 and URC's lighting control.

With the total control system you can set up a "vacation timer". You just need to set up an event timer under edit special macro's section of the programming software. Once the event is created you use a remote, iPad, or iPhone to turn on or off the timer, select what time you want them to go on and off at, and what days of the week you want the event to occur. It's very simple to set up, done it on a couple of jobs and had no issues.
Matt Brotzge
OP | Post 5 made on Friday November 9, 2012 at 20:04
dcapone
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Glad to see I wasn't missing something straightforward...

What exactly is considered the "total control system"? Is this a software package or is this a part of a particular device in their lineup? I have been considering adding a MSC-400 to my system for better multi-room control for some time now. Is this considered "total control system"?

Also, can the MX-980 / MX-6000 and/or the rest of the URC lineup control any other lighting systems with some type of signal conversion device, etc? I am thinking something like Insteon, X-10, and/or Zigbee devices?
Post 6 made on Friday November 9, 2012 at 22:29
Andrew 2
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187
Total control is URC's new product line which is only available to dealers. The MSC 400 and the MX 980 are part of the complete control product line. The software for complete control products can be legally given to you by an authorized dealer, but the dealer doesn't have to give it too you(if you don't already have it)
OP | Post 7 made on Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 12:25
dcapone
Long Time Member
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32
Andrew,

I have both the base MX-980 programming software and the newest CCP software.

I thought the MX-980 and MX-6000 were part of the total control lineup which is why Matt's comment about the vacation timers mentioned on the URC website not being possible from the MX-980 seemed conflicting.

Is what Matt's is referencing a separate software "product" in the total control lineup that allows event timers, or are event timers available only to certain pieces of hardware in the total control lineup such as the MSC-400? I guess I am looking to know what I am missing to use event timers.

Also, any insight into other lighting options that can be controlled from URC's remote's would be appreciated.
Post 8 made on Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 13:08
Lowhz
Senior Member
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April 2012
1,168
On November 14, 2012 at 12:25, dcapone said...
Andrew,

I have both the base MX-980 programming software and the newest CCP software.

I thought the MX-980 and MX-6000 were part of the total control lineup which is why Matt's comment about the vacation timers mentioned on the URC website not being possible from the MX-980 seemed conflicting.

Is what Matt's is referencing a separate software "product" in the total control lineup that allows event timers, or are event timers available only to certain pieces of hardware in the total control lineup such as the MSC-400? I guess I am looking to know what I am missing to use event timers.

Also, any insight into other lighting options that can be controlled from URC's remote's would be appreciated.

There are no event timers in the MX-980 or any other product which is programmed with CCP.
Post 9 made on Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 21:19
skynyrdfan
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2006
666
yes there are. i have 3 sets of outdoor lights that turn on everyday at 5:30 and turn off at 11pm.. the only problem is the system cannot adjust for daylight savings time. Currently these are controlled from my mx-980. Eventually I will change that to the kp4000 so i don't have a power issue..
Post 10 made on Thursday November 15, 2012 at 09:33
markandersonus
Long Time Member
Joined:
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December 2007
94
On November 14, 2012 at 12:25, dcapone said...
Andrew,

I have both the base MX-980 programming software and the newest CCP software.

I thought the MX-980 and MX-6000 were part of the total control lineup which is why Matt's comment about the vacation timers mentioned on the URC website not being possible from the MX-980 seemed conflicting.

Is what Matt's is referencing a separate software "product" in the total control lineup that allows event timers, or are event timers available only to certain pieces of hardware in the total control lineup such as the MSC-400? I guess I am looking to know what I am missing to use event timers.

Also, any insight into other lighting options that can be controlled from URC's remote's would be appreciated.

URC sell their own version of Lutron switches. They differ from all Lutron products because URC Narrow Band RF is built into every lighting dimmer and switch in either 418 MHz (standard) or 433 MHz (i series).

I control my z-wave switches with URC and IR matching triggers in HomeSeer. Will be changing that over to RS232 or PC Keyboard emulation from MSC-400 soon


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