Can the IR 543 initiate lighting scenes?
and if so, what else is needed?
if not, what is needed.

I want to use an MX-500 learning IR remote to initiate lighting scenes as well as have direct control over dimming/on-off of 4 lighting circuits.

I'm aware that the Ocelot can do what I want it to, but it's (apparent on discussion forums) slow response has me looking elsewhere.

That all depends on the switches that you use. If the switch uses standard X10 addresses to initiate the scene (like PCS or Smartlinc) then the IR543 will work fine. If the switch needs extended codes (like Leviton) then the IR543 won't work. If you're using a programable automation controller (like the Ocelot) then you can adapt to almost any method of initiating the action.

Larry in TN, if I opt to use standard X-10 addresses, how do I do that, I don't have any background in this.

Will a PCS type switch "memorize" more than one address or house code? so that it will work both dimming and scenes?

Each PCS switch has its own base address(A1,A2...)Also each switch can be assigned a "scene address" (B1,B2..)Each switch can have it own lighting level and also its own ramp rate up or down. After these are set the all the lights participating in a scene number are all set to the same scene address. This will allow you to control multiple lights with one X10 command. You can have upto 16 scenes on one house code. Larry can probaly explain it a little better but if you want to do some cool things with lighting this is the way to go.

Some addresses:
http://www.homeautomationnet.com
http://www.pcslighting.com

Each PCS switch has one primary address and up to 16 scene addresses.

so I could call my wall sconce's A1, my floor lamps A2, my overhead pot lights A3, and in addition to this, I could give the wall sconce a "scene" of 30% bright as B1, the floor lamps a scene of 50 % as B1, and initiate the B1 scene to automatically change the brightness of these two circuits to 30% and 50% with the press of one button on my MX-500?

Where or how do I get and store an infra-red a1, B1, etc?

help please, before I explode!!!

That is correct.

I'm not sure what you mean by getting and storing an infrared A1, B1, etc. What are you using as your IR -> X10 transceiver?

I have not made up my mind about the IR transceiver, either the OCELOT/TW 523, or PCS's own IRI-1 interface, I don't know what will suit my needs better, I need more info on the IRI-1 interface.

Ben,
You don't have to have anything more than the IR543 as your transeiver. It has the limitation of one house code though. This means that you can set base addresses of A1, A2 and A3 but then you would want your scenes set to addresses like A14, A15, etc.

You don't have to have an Ocelot or other controller if you keep it that simple.

When I said in my previous post that you could use A1,A2.. as your base address and B1,B2.. as your scene address I may have confused you. If you have only 4 lights to operate they would be assigned A1,A2,A3,A4 as base addresses. Then A5-A16 could be your scene addresses. You would only have to go to another house code if you need more scenes than unassigned addresses available . If you stay on one house code then your IR543 can operate scenes and also each individual light. If you go with another house code for your scenes then you lose control of each individual light since your IR543 is going to set to another house code other than what each light has for a base address. Have I totally confused you yet? :)

so does this mean that an individual PCS switch (receiver) can be assigned more than one house code?,
in other words I'll be able to get more than one scene per light by calling on my movie scene at, say A6, my entertaining guests scene at, say A7, my clean up after the 'rockin house party at scene A8, ...

you get the drift? if this is true, I have 4 seperate light circuits that I want individual control of, I would like to be able to dim/brighten A1, A2, A3, and A4, as well as have all 4 lighting circuits involved in various lighting scenes, maybe 5 different ones that would be on A5, A6, etc

Am I on the right track?

Also, are the Leviton switches with AGC the same as the PCS switches? Do scenes program directly into the switch? Larry mentioned above that they require extended codes(?) I don't know what an exteded code is.


Also, if more than one IR 543 is used, can the second IR 543 be set to "B" codes, and the third, etc?

1. Each PCS switch will have one primary address and up to 16 scene addresses. There are no restrictions on which of the 256 possible addresses can be used.

2. The Leviton and PCS switches are not the same. The Leviton scene-capable switches do not use standand X10 addresses to activate scenes, they use extended codes which only a few transmitters support. To trigger a Leviton scene from a transmitter that doesn't support the extended codes you'll have to use a programable controller (i.e. Ocelot) to translate which is OK but it slows down the process.

3. You can have multiple IR543s on different house codes but not in the same room. If you try to send "Unit 1 On" with two IR543s in the same room they'll each see it and transmit the command on their house codes so you'd get "A1, A-On" and "B1, B-On" at the same time. You could have one on A in the living room and one on B in the bedroom though or several in different rooms all on the same housecode.

thank you, I've got that much straight now.

Now I have to solve this neutral dillema, I've two three ways that are on the "far side" of the supply, meaning the load is first, then a "hot" and two travlers going on to the switches. What is to stop me from using the ground inside these device boxes? (other than electrical code)

I've addressed your 3-way situation in one of these schematics: [Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]