Argh! Controlling lights & sockets

[hobo28]

Why is it so hard!?!?!

I've got myself a new Harmony 885 and over xmas decided to go a bit green by replacing my lounge lights with energy saving bulbs. Hey, we all have to soon don't we?!?!

So I want something to be able to switch on/off the lights via my Harmony and also the table lamp.

B&Q Home Easy range is a good price but works from RF. Seems no easy way to convert this to IR.

X10 looks possible but will cost me mucho dosh!

I even already have a remote capable dimmer switch but ofc these dont work with energy saving bulbs!!!

Anyone any suggestions??? At this rate I might go back to good old energy guzzling bulbs and to hell with the environment!!!

[silver12]

What is your budget?

[hornydragon]

pity you didnt buy dimmable cfl bulbs...work fine with most dimmers inc IR ones

[hobo28]

Hi Silver

For the right solution i'm willing to splash out a bit....depends, why what do you have in mind?

Hornydragon, not sure I can bring myself to pay £10-£15 per bulb! I can afford it, thats not the problem. Just kills the Yorkshire man inside me!

[Steve149]

I am not sure that dimmable cfl bulbs are much better than say Xenon GU10 when used with a dimmer. If you are typically dimming bulbs to 25% output or less (not unreasonable in a lounge with an AV setup) then the difference in power consumption will not be as large as the claim at full power. Cfl bulbs appear to use higher percentages of power at given percentages of dimming. The actual figures are not easy to find and without actually installing both types of bulbs it may not be possible to determine for a particular setup as it is affected by the both the bulb and the dimmer. If anyone has further information on this I am interested. Personally I think the Lutron Rania dimmers represent a good IR control choice (on the Harmony database) which you can get from Screwfix and others.

[silver12]

Originally Posted by hobo28

Hi Silver

For the right solution i'm willing to splash out a bit....depends, why what do you have in mind?

Hornydragon, not sure I can bring myself to pay £10-£15 per bulb! I can afford it, thats not the problem. Just kills the Yorkshire man inside me!

I think if you're unwilling to spend this then my solution may not be appealing...

[neilball]

Originally Posted by Steve149

I am not sure that dimmable cfl bulbs are much better than say Xenon GU10 when used with a dimmer. If you are typically dimming bulbs to 25% output or less (not unreasonable in a lounge with an AV setup) then the difference in power consumption will not be as large as the claim at full power. Cfl bulbs appear to use higher percentages of power at given percentages of dimming. The actual figures are not easy to find and without actually installing both types of bulbs it may not be possible to determine for a particular setup as it is affected by the both the bulb and the dimmer. If anyone has further information on this I am interested. Personally I think the Lutron Rania dimmers represent a good IR control choice (on the Harmony database) which you can get from Screwfix and others.

Dimmable CFLs so use almost the same power across the entire dimmable light output, datasheets and faqs from Megaman & Varilight confirm this. So yes, you are right that the high efficiency GU10s & MR16s can offer similar savings when used dimmed although they are not much cheaper than the dimmable CFLs.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by neilball

Dimmable CFLs so use almost the same power across the entire dimmable light output, datasheets and faqs from Megaman & Varilight confirm this. So yes, you are right that the high efficiency GU10s & MR16s can offer similar savings when used dimmed although they are not much cheaper than the dimmable CFLs.

And there lies the point controlled lighting is better than un controlled lighting energy saving bulbs have a long way to come before they represent any significant advantages in all but the most basic set ups...

[magic8ball]

I use X10

I use my Harmony 1000 remote

Bayonette light adapter http://www.letsautomate.com/10614.cfm?
or Screw in http://www.letsautomate.com/10725.cfm?

IR receiver http://www.letsautomate.com/10863.cfm?

Works well, I control my front room light, front room lamp and bedroom light.
All the rest are downlights so cannot control, not messing about with wiring yet as it is a rented house.

Hope this helps.

[homeautonutter]

I use X10 for the same thing as well, and used to use a similar IR & RF to X10 Interface unit to that which magic8ball has mentioned above. I've since switched from using remote controls to using my iPhone as an X10 touch screen however. Still the same principal though.