Light controls question

[theodotcom]

Hi can anyone advise on the following,

In my tv room I currently have 12 downlights which are currently controlled on a standard light switch 1G 2Way, each switch controls 6 of the downlights,

I want to change this to be dimmer switches however I want them to also be controlled by remote control.

Can anyone advise how I would do this, there seem to be so many different types of controlled lights I dont know where to start.

Also I dont want to spend a fortune, and would ideally like it to link to my harmony control via IR.

Thanks

[owain_thomas]

B&Q do remote controllable dimmers which are pretty reasonable in price.

[hornydragon]

Basic control you can use Varilight IR dimmers
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIC1252.html
MOoe expensive options include Lutron Rania IR and Funtronix dimmers

[theodotcom]

Thanks for the advice, the one at tlc-direct does that require any additional wiring to the light socket or is it simply a case of taking the old one off and putting this one on.

Thanks again

[hornydragon]

tlc unit should be straight swap, check the manual available online IIRC you need to check wattages of lamps as 6 x 50W is 300W and its a 250W max per channel. if they are 12V downlight you need to add 10% to the Lamp Wattage so 50W 12V is actually 55W total load (to account for the transformer)

[theodotcom]

thanks for the advice, that looks like what i need then, on a seperate note is there any other type lights similar to this that would also be able to be controlled via a pc?

[hornydragon]

For PC control IR isnt the best option, X10 may be better

[luke90]

With the product that was listed before http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VLIC1252.html can this be used with a harmony remote to dim the lights? or do you have to buy the remote that they sell to dim?

[theodotcom]

from what i can tell the harmony will control them lights because they are IR.
However as you can probably tell im new to this too

[luke90]

I didnt know if it was IR though, i couldnt see anything that said it was.
If it is a harmony remote could be in order though. haha

[luke90]

i have just gone back and read again and now see that it is IR so ignore what i said before