[fire boy]

Hi to all
I fancy dipping my toe into atuomated lighting for my living room but i'm confused into what type to use.
Basically what I want is a chrome or black remote dimmer switch to control ten low voltage 35watt spotlights with the wall plate being able to overide the remote status and maybe some remote lamp dimmers via remote as well.

I think RF is the way to go over IR so I can hide the lamp dimmers behind a cabnet but I only want to add onr extra remote for the lot.

I like the lutron switches as they look the part and the get smart lamp dimmers look good but can I control them with the same remote?

The only remote I can think of to buy is a logitech harmony 895 but is a little expencive and i've heard its quite frustating to set up.

Does any of the AV gods have any idea's?

regards Brian

[davee]

The GET wireless dimmers are great value for money and easy to retrofit a well as installing from new. (also a lot less money than the lutron) I think each remote receiver is rated at 300watts so your 35 x 10 is just over although they are conservately rated and the extra 50 watts may not cause prolems, otherwise just split the circuit with 2 receivers on the same channel. There is a natty little hand held remote, yet another to lose down the side of the sofa. You cant control with the harmony however.
A nice feature is that you can plug any floor or tablelight into its own receiver and convert that into wireless dimming. You can assign as many receivers as you like onto a channel but each wall unit only controls 4 channels

Lutron would be too complex for what you are looking to do - and probably requires significant wiring changes. The lamp dimmers are independent of the grafik eye, so wouldn't work with the remote.

I suggest RAKO would work well for your requirements - as this is a radio controlled system so can be retrofitted to existing wiring. It can be a little awkward to set up if you have many different circuits, but in your case could work well, especially with the lamps. See:

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=467

Another wireless control system that might be worth a look (better priced than RAKO and simpler to install) is Wisecontrols, see:

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=466

or

http://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/controls.aspx?t=650&r=554

(for colour changing)

[hornydragon]

a varilight dimmer will work for £20 why go more complex?