Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Lighting & Home Control Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Topic:
How to dim-on a light that's off?
This thread has 13 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday September 9, 1999 at 21:42
Larry
Historic Forum Post
I have some lamp modules and the simple dimming wall switches. When I got started in this I figured controlling these things would be straight forward. It is, with one exception. When a light is off, (power is on, but X10 is off) the only thing I can do is turn it on full. I would like the ability to turn it on by increments -- like it was fully dimmed instead of off. A fully dimmed light can be brightened a step at a time, but an off light can only be turned full on?

Anyone know a way to "dim-on" a light that's off?

Thanks,

Larry
OP | Post 2 made on Friday September 10, 1999 at 01:32
David B
Historic Forum Post
Unfortunately, I think that feature lies in the Module, and the lesser modules don't have it.

Dave
OP | Post 3 made on Friday September 10, 1999 at 16:51
Bundi
Historic Forum Post
Try the PCS wall switch .....around 50 bucks.
OP | Post 4 made on Friday September 10, 1999 at 17:00
Roland S
Historic Forum Post
This has nothing to do with the first message on this thread (lamp module and dim-on), but it is regarding dimming, so I thought someone might be interested.

Here's a link to make your X-10 wall switch capable of local dimming.

It's just a matter of soldering two contacts points together on the circuit board.

[Link: members.aol.com]

** The webpage has it's own disclaimer, so I'll spare you the repeat.

Roland
OP | Post 5 made on Saturday September 11, 1999 at 02:35
Robert (RCI Automation)
Historic Forum Post
Larry:

David B is correct in that the ability to ramp up a light's brightness from the off mode is contained in the switch or module being used. The most common type of X-10 switches and lamp modules require the lights to go to 100% brightness before they can be dimmed back down. Lamp modules that have the feature you asked about are about $35 and wall switches start at about $40.

We carry all types of home automation equipment. If you have any questions please send us an e-mail.

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]
OP | Post 6 made on Saturday September 11, 1999 at 11:41
Larry
Historic Forum Post
Thanks for all the responses. I am aware of the more expensive switches -- but the bottom line is I'll play with stuff for ten bucks a pop, but not for 30, 40, or 50 per switch. If I buy (as I have already done) seven switches, it's the difference between $70 and $350. For $70 I'll play with the stuff and see what I can do. For $350 I'll start looking for a new stereo receiver or something.

Can anyone tell me how fast the cheap switches respond to commands? With a macro that powers on a switch and then immediately sends multiple dims it might be possible to simulate a dim-on condition in a cheap switch.

Thanks again for the info...

Larry
OP | Post 7 made on Sunday September 12, 1999 at 21:01
Robert (RCI Automation)
Historic Forum Post
Larry,

Each X-10 command takes about 1-2 seconds to be sent and received. So the first X-10 command will turn the "cheap" switch on to 100%. Then send successive dim commands via a Pronto macro at 1-2 seconds per command to get to the desired brightness level.

Robert
RCI Automation
OP | Post 8 made on Sunday September 12, 1999 at 23:08
David B
Historic Forum Post
Larry,

A little experimenting and I determined that using a Cinema6 remote or my Pronto set to emit IR X-10 codes to my IR543 would get it's commands to any light faster than any RF controller I had. A small but perceptible difference.

Dave
OP | Post 9 made on Monday September 13, 1999 at 00:50
xtremist
Historic Forum Post
If you never turn the light "off",you never need to turn it "on". When a light burns, it draws the most current so if it doesn't emit light, is is really not drawing that much current. In other words, never turn off the light, Just dim it!

Xtremist
OP | Post 10 made on Monday September 13, 1999 at 12:20
Ed Maurus
Historic Forum Post
I do this with my bedside light at night. Then in the morning I brighten the light with a series of brighten commands 1 minute apart. Much better than getting blasted by full on.
OP | Post 11 made on Thursday September 16, 1999 at 14:30
Vince
Historic Forum Post
Larry,

Remember the old rule: 'you only get what you pay for?' Bundi is absolutely correct about the PCS light switch. It happens to be the finest switch on the market and as 'xtremist' says, you just dim it down to '0', not off which is what you should be doing with your inexpensive switches to avoid the initial full bright then dim. My guess is your using Leviton or Lutron.

Neither your switches or the PCS (Powerline Control Systems) doesn't have to go to full bright then dimmed to a desired level when dimmed to '0' plus Ernesto Natel, the owner of PCS, is a delight and total gentleman to do business with.

Robert's comment from RCI Automation of brightening and dimming using the Pronto with a macro will work well if you have plenty of time to spare verses paying one time for the right equipment.

If you want to add real power to your collection of switches I recommend that you invest in a JDS Technologies TimeCommander whole house computer for about $299.00. There you can couple it with there IRXpander for another $229.00 +/- to recognize your Pronto transmitted commands and then use a macro having all of your lighting circuits behave exactly the way you would like (ever hear of light scenes?) not to mention the limitless power available to you for the time it takes to write some simple stepping commands to your X-10 addresses. This gear will allow 256 stepped increments using the PCS micro switch.

I hope this shed some light on your frustration!
OP | Post 12 made on Thursday September 16, 1999 at 15:17
Chris Couture
Historic Forum Post
If you were going to purchase a controller to do this, the Adicom 2500 may be one to look at. It is only 159.00 and can do all this:
Receive IR codes like the IR543 (16 more and any code will work)
Turn that IR into X-10 signals (all 256), X-10 macros, IR commands and IR macros (learns up to 512 IR codes).
Turn X-10 into X-10 macros and into IR macros!
It has as PCS programmed dimming built into it
It has time, date, season, sunrise sunset knowledge
Available are several upgrades to allow 16 IR outs, relay expanders and input status for IF, THEN, ELSE logic
Much, much more

Check it out at www.smarthomeinc.com (note the INC)

Chris Couture
OP | Post 13 made on Thursday September 16, 1999 at 17:20
Roland S
Historic Forum Post
I've heard it's not safe to dim to 0% as an alternative to turning it OFF.

Is this true?

Obviously, several of you have tried it or are currently doing it.

So, is this what you would do?

Assign a lamp to B3 (not a main house code)
Macro A3-ON : turn lamp up to 100%
Macro A3-OFF : turn lamp down to 0% or 1%

Roland

OP | Post 14 made on Thursday September 16, 1999 at 19:02
Ed Maurus
Historic Forum Post
I'm using Homevision and this is my good night macro. Before that when I had the CP290 I would turn off the lights in the house using all lights off on the mini controller. Then turn on my bedside light and dim it manually to zero.

MACRO EVENT # 2 'Good Night'

X-10: A 1 (KITCHEN SINK) Force Off
X-10: A 2 (LIVING ROOM TABLE) Force Off
X-10: A 4 (UP LIGHTS) Force Off
X-10: A 5 (LIVING ROOM CHAIR) Force Off
X-10: A 6 (OVER STOVE LIGHT) Force Off
X-10: B 1 (BEDROOM HUMIDIFIER) On
X-10: A 3 (BEDSIDE LIGHT) Set To Level 0 of 16(0%)

I use a trigger to start the macro.

X-10 SIGNAL 'ON' EVENT # K 9 'Good Night/Now'
If
X-10: K 9 (Good Night/Now) is on
Then
Clear all flags
Do macro #2 (Good Night) once
End If


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse